Essays - Kashmir and Peace Process

Kashmir and Peace Process

Kashmir- Past, Present and Future

The state of Jammu and Kashmir, a land locked territory, with enormous natural resources and exotic scenic beauty, geo strategic location, origin of waters, having Muslim majority of 80%- is a flash point between India and Pakistan since 1947. It is surrounded by the Indian states of Himachel Pradesh and Punjab on the South, on the northwest by Afghanistan, on the west by Pakistan, and on the northeast by China.

Ethnic and geographical Division of State: The inhabitants Kashmir valley were predominantly Muslims, with a small community of Sikhs and Pundits, Jammu had a Dogra Hindu majority, the western strip from Muzzafarabad to Mirpur had a majority of Punjabi speaking Muslims, Gilgit, Skardu, and Kargil were also inhabited by the Muslims, and a majority of Ladakh’s residents were Buddhists. Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir valley controlled by India. Azad Kashmir administered by Pakistan. Northern Areas also administered by Pakistan. Aksai Chin controlled by China.

At the time of partition, Kashmir was given the choice to join India or Pakistan. Although J & K had a Muslim majority (77 % in the census of 1941) and shared a long border with Pakistan, the Maharaja refused to opt for Pakistan and decided to remain independent. The Kashmir Muslims revolted against his brutal rule. In October, 1947 tribesmen led rebellion succeeded, Mahraja Hari Singh and Sheikh Abdullah requested aid from India, and d ceded to accede to India on October 26, 1947. The first Kashmir war lasted 1948 when Inia moved to UNSC which passed resolution 47 on April 21, 1948, stating “that the final disposition of the state of Jammu and Kashmir will be made in accordance with the will of the people through the democratic method of free and impartial plebiscite.” The constituent Assembly under the leadership of Sheikh Abdulla ratified the State’s accession to India.

After Sino Indian war 1962, China got Aksia Chin area of Kshmir, the line between them is called as Line of Actual Control. Following the 1965 war, the Tashkent Declaration was issued in Jan, 1966 with no concrete solution of Kashmir. After war of 1971, Simla Accord in July 1972 stated, “the Line of Control shall be respected by both sides without prejudice.” After withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan (1988), the Mujahdin joined the Kashmiris in their freedom struggle and launched violent resistance and till now 80 thousand Kashmires have been killed by more than half million Indian forces. Since hen India is blaming Pakistan of giving armed assistance to the infiltrators. Pakistan calls them freedom fighters and claims that it gives only moral and diplomatic support. The Kargil conflict(1999) did not bring either military success or force India to talk on Kashmir. Instead it culminated in international pressure to back off and made the International community more amenable to India’s position on Kashmir.

Reasons behind the conflict:

Pakistan claims that majority of the Kashmiri Muslims would vote for Pakistan if they are given right of Self Determination which India is constantly denying. In accordance of two nation theory, Muslim majority Kashmir should part of Pakistan. The Indian Army is using barbaric methods to quell the movement. Pakistan believes that election in Kashmir is farce where majority of the people boycott the elections.

Indian View: Accession by Maharaja is ‘final and legal and cannot be disputed. For UN plebiscite, Pakistan should vacate its part of Kashmir. The state Assembly had ratified the accession. India does not accept two nation theory. The state is made autonomous by the article of 370. Pakistan is involved in cross border terrorism. Water dispute: Kashmir is the origin point for many rivers and tributaries of the Indus River Basin. Pakistan fears that India could choke the agrarian economy, also the construction of Baghliar dam is an indication of using Pakistan’s waters.

Reasons behind Peace Process and Composite Dialogue:

9/11 drastically changed the world politics, nature of friendships and conflicts. Bush Administration wanted complete annihilation of the terrorists in the region. Three wars and three battles (Run of Kuch, Siachin, Kargil) have miserably failed to bring the desired results by both India and Pakistan. A disturbance on the western borders of Pakistan with Afganistan has compelled Pakistan to seek peace with India. Pakistan labeled as Terrorist country needs to clear its image of assisting the terrorists in any form.

Growing population and poverty on both sides demands for mutual cooperation. Under WTO-free trade, rising threat of China for India, fast growing Indo-Pak economies with energy deficit syndrome, bilateral trade would be in the greater mutual interest. Both nuclear countries could not solve the problem by the use of force. The people of the region are sick of violence and want prosperity. The media campaign has contributed in developing this approach.

Obstacles in the way Forward:

India’s ambitions to assume the leadership of the region, confronting with 11 separatists movements and extremists Hindus, Manmohan’s coalition government, are the factors which are obstructing the solution. For Pakistan, the geo strategic importance of the land, origin of waters and wish of the majority of Kashmiris are the major policy concerns.

Proposed solution to the Kashmir Dispute:

Plebiscite: To hold a plebiscite under UNSC, initially India supported but backed out later. Partition: Partition the state in the basis of communal composition- the Muslim majority areas to Pakistan and non Muslim territory of Jammu and Ladkah to India. This is not acceptable to the Kashmiries. Independence: award independence status to the entire state also demand by AJKLF. China, India and Pakistan are not willing to withdraw from the territories. Confederation/ Condominium: establish a condominium of both Pakistan and India over the whole of Kashmir with maximum autonomy for the state. This solution implies joint management of the state’s external defense affairs by India and Pakistan.

Mushraf on Kashmir:

The president has floated a package of four proposals;

1. Kashmir will have the same borders but people will be allowed to move freely back and forth in the region.

2. The region will have self governance or autonomy but not independence

3. Troops will be withdrawn from the region

4. A joint supervision mechanism will be set up between India and Pakistan and Kashmir representatives.

During his visit to Pakistan on Jan 20, 2007, Purnam Mukergee, Indian Foreign Minister has given positive response to these suggestions.

Win-Win Solution for Kashmir on the following lines: Defense. Let India and Pakistan continue to be responsible for the defense of the borders by making a consultative body to which state should be a member. Thus Line of Control almost 800 Kilometers ceases to exist saving their defense expenditure. Foreign Relations: India Pakistan may jointly responsible for foreign investment, aid, and grants, commerce and trade. Access to Trade: the communication, transportation, trade, and educational facilities of India and Pakistan may be available to Kashmiries without any discriminations. Autonomy: The Legislative of Kashmir may exercise full autonomy.

The bottom line is that none of these ideas can be pursued without sustained dialogue process centred on Kashmir and no outcome of this process will yield an enduring peace unless it enjoys support of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.