No Maps for these Territories

The Senkaku/ Diaoyu are a cluster of islands off the coast of Taiwan that are in close proximity to both Japan and China. The reason that these islands have been a source of conflict is that they are of Geo- strategic importance to both China and Japan who are both competing to expand their sphere of influence in the region. Japan has the distinction of being one of the countries that has an amount of consideration for land claims, even if it does not skimp on security arrangements to back its own claim.

Map Unveiled by China in 2014
Source: dailymail.co.uk

Under Shinzo Abe, there has been a distinct change of narrative that has emerged from Japan. Its distinct nationalist flavor now has diluted some of the bi- partisan brownie points that Japan might have earned in political discourse if it had maintained its school textbooks, and the different claims made by different countries over contested regions.

It is in this vein that I hope to bring up the Jammu and Kashmir and Arunchal Pradesh land issues that India faces in its interaction with both China and Pakistan. We shall stick with the problem of POK and the Aksai Chin region, since we are dealing with the Kashmir issue here. 

Status Quo Boundaries
Source: economist.com

As Claimed by Pakistan
Source: economist.com

As Claimed by China
Source: economist.com

As Claimed by India
Source: economist.com

Here I propose that as opposed to being militant and shrill about the land issues, it would make sense to educate children in the actual politics of land and how these varying claims also have varying degrees of legitimacy and Indians being aggrieved by this issue makes us no better than that one spokesman of the People’s Republic of China who claims that Arunchal Pradesh and China’s claim to it is for the purposes of ensuring that the people of China have an understanding of China’s “maritime” and “geographical” claims, as it were.

The only people who can legitimately be aggrieved by this situation are the people in the contested territories. Both the valley and Aksai Chin. Where, when the politics of the South East Asian region play out, we treat their homes like tiles on a chess board. 

Sources/ References:

The Economist on the Controversial Border Issue

China and the Modi visit to Arunachal Pradesh

China and Arunachal Pradesh

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.

The Resumption Of Talks: A Beginning?

The Kashmiri Separatist Leadership places great importance on people’s freedom to choose their own paths. This was brought to light when the Leadership criticized the Indian government of attempting to steal the Kashmiris’ power to shape their own destinies when India pulled out of talks with Pakistan.

The Pakistan government has huge support due to the Muslim population in present in the area but both parties control equal territories of the state. Although both parties control equal parts, they each claim that Kashmir belongs only to them - Pakistan due to heritage and India because of history.

However, with the decision of resumption of talks, the leaders have publicly supported both parties and have made several encouraging statements with regard to the outcomes of the talks that would lead to the welfare and development of Kashmir.

These talks were abandoned for various reasons and there seems to be no solution in sight as both parties declined to release any meaningful information about decisions that were formulated during the talks.

However, it is safe to assume that India has new information and solutions that would not only benefit its position but also help improve its image among the people of Kashmir, and prove to them that their welfare and prosperity is the priority of the Indian government.

The Chinese Super- Highway

It has been confirmed through various sources that Pakistan is now seeking to help China build a superhighway connecting the south regions of China directly to Europe. This has been confirmed by both parties and has been a long standing project of China. The construction would be made considerably easier if the road is built through Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.

The advantages of having a super highway are huge not only in terms of financial gain but also the political and emotional support of the Kashmiri people. This project would create jobs for the people of Kashmir and also boost development along the route. This is one of many deals that have been concluded between Pakistan and China.

If the deal does go through, it will only improve the relations of Pakistan and China, which is unfavorable to India amidst prolonged tensions regarding the Kashmir territories. India must act now to stop this project as it can be used by Pakistan to tilt the support of the Kashmiri people further in their favor.

India needs to use the political instability in the proposed region and highlight the safety concerns that the current situation would bring to the users of the highway. Increased military actions to counter militant activities would only deteriorate the faith that people have in the super highway. This could lead to the road being unused and could ultimately cause China to suffer an enormous amount in loses.

India needs to stop the developments between Pakistan and China so that outside parties don’t interfere in the territorial conflict between India and Pakistan.