The Kashmir Conflict: A Historical Context

Kashmir is a matter of conflict between India and Pakistan before independence. It has lead to wars between these countries.  They have fought three wars for Kashmir, which includes the wars of 1947, 1965 & 1999. India is claiming the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir including Kashmir valley, Ladakh and most of Jammu. Pakistan has approx. 37% of Kashmir, known as ‘Azad Kashmir’.

In 1947, British rule in India ended with creation of a new country, Pakistan (earlier, part of India). All the states were free to choose either to join India or Pakistan or to remain independent. At that time, Jammu and Kashmir had majority of Muslim population ruled by Hindu King, Maharaja Hari Singh. He chose to join India. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, leader of the newly created Pakistan wanted Kashmir as it was Muslim dominated. The king did not decide anything for months and Pakistan sent a troop of raiders to force the king to join. The king fled to India and agreed to join India in return for protecting Kashmir from Pakistanis. Soon, India & Pakistan were involved in the war in 1947 & Pakistanis were pushed back.

Kashmir belongs to India as the last king had signed the instrument of accession to join India. Its history and culture is similar to the India.

Pakistanis has encouraged separatists for 5 decades and now, China has involved to be in aid of Pakistan.

Essentially, it is a two party conflict (between India & Pakistan) where external parties are quite interested.

Kashmir - My Perception

Kashmir denotes a larger area that includes Indian administered state of Jammu and Kashmir (consists of Jammu, the Kashmir valley and Ladakh), the Pakistan-administered territories of Azad Kashmir and the Chinese-administered regions of Aksai Chin and the Trans-Karakoram Tract.

The Kashmir dispute is a major territorial conflict between India and Pakistan that dates back to 1947.

The question is: To whom does Kashmir belong: India or Pakistan?

Well, it depends on who you ask.

As an Indian, I would say that Kashmir was not a part of British India and was an independent province under British suzerainty. Partition does not govern where Kashmir belongs. Accession is a matter to be decided by each Princely state. In 1948, when Pakistan attempted to annex Kashmir, the Hindu ruler of Kashmir signed up to accede with India to get India’s protection. He was supported by Sheikh Abdullah, the Muslim leader of Kashmir’s popular political party.

But if you ask any Kashmiri, he/she would say that the future of Kashmir should be determined by Kashmiris. Not by India, not by Pakistan. Some may want to remain in India, some may want to join Pakistan or some may want to be independent.

Though in reality,

Both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers. It is not easy for political super powers to adjudicate on this matter and force either India or Pakistan to do what the political powers think is fair.

Public opinion in both India and Pakistan are so entrenched that any politician who cedes Kashmir away will never get re-elected. Kashmir can be taken away only by force. Such force against a nuclear power is not easy; not available.

Therefore, the LOC is likely to remain a de- facto international border splitting Kashmir unfortunately into two: one under Pakistan control, one under India control.

Such a beautiful place and such a wonderful people caught in such a milieu of politics!

- Mosam Acharya

This is an opinion piece written by the author who has been credited, and the views that are expressed are exclusively hers.