The political uncertainty in Kashmir coupled with an unprecedented security clampdown has entered fourth month. As a section of people is predicting the coming of doomsday for the erstwhile state in the aftermath of the centre’s decision to bifurcate J&K into two union territories, the signs of normalcy are springing back to life on the roads. The restrictions that were imposed after August 5 have been slowly and steadily eased up and the situation has come to a point where curfew is barely imposed and both landline and postpaid mobile networks have been restored. Even the paramilitary forces deployed for maintenance of law and order at the peak of tensions in the Valley have withdrawn to the barracks. The early winter cold may have played a role in this withdrawal but it is also true that a realization has started to dawn on people that continuing with the shutdown was tantamount to inflicting wounds on your own body. This senseless pursuit of self-flagellation cloaked in the robes of resistance politics has been exposed. But the Valley is suffering due to the continuous suspension of internet which has taken a huge toll not just on the private sector but even the government’s day-to-day functioning, particularly in health and education departments, has suffered badly. In absence of any internet connectivity, students have suffered a great deal. Besides being unable to procure study material from their respective institutions due to the absence of public transport, they couldn’t even stay in touch with their teachers. While the restoration of postpaid mobile service brought great relief for people, the pre-paid mobile connections should also be restored at the earliest so that those who don’t have the luxury of affording a postpaid connection are not left out in the process of building confidence in Kashmir. Most importantly, the LG’s administration as well as the union home ministry must give fresh thought to the restoration of broadband service in Kashmir. Since August 5, the situation hasn’t shown any inclination of going out of control. Maintaining the internet shutdown in Kashmir for over two months now has come at a great diplomatic cost. As the recent UNGA session showed, the internet shutdown has provided some countries with the ammunition for projecting New Delhi’s ‘bold move’ on J&K in a bad light. Broadband services must be restored in Kashmir at the earliest so that a semblance of normalcy returns in the virtual world as well.