Miliband’s Kashmir remarks upset India.

[burqaposhx]

^ This is a hypothetical scenario, ...

Fair enough.

....but separatist/anti govt groups already exist

1. in North East.
2. South India has also shown an anti-Hindi stance in the past.
3. The Khalistan movement ....

1. It is true that North East rebels remain active. But their movement is not "state wide"
2. South India may have some anti-Hindi stance, but it is not related to a specific state. Which state in the south says their "ethnic" or cultural rights have been violated by the Federal government?
3. Khalistan movement comes closest to support your argument.

However majority of Sikhs are law abiding Indian citizens, and legal issues about Punjab's status in the Union do not exist. I don't see how Kashmir's freedom would automatically trigger the revival of Khalsa movement. Even if there is a remote chance, would you want India to live in constant tension with the next door neighbor out of fear of tiny minority of pro-Khalsa Punjabi Sikhs?

..... ...separation of Kashmir from the Indian state is off the table.

Are you sure this is not the base of your argument, and other things are just thrown around to muddy the water? In other words a limited autonomy for Kashmiris could have been a middle ground. But the use of the word "separation" makes it impossible to even talk about Kashmir?