Kashmir was one of the existing princely states of India. According to the Partition Plan of 1947, these states were given the free will to join either India or Pakistan.
The ruler of Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, was a Hindu while the majority of Kashmir’s population was, and still remains, Muslim.
The Maharaja was left with three choices - joining India, joining Pakistan or remaining independent. In the end, he took the decision to make Kashmir a part of Indian Territory. Since Muslims constitute the majority of the population, Pakistan asserted that Kashmir should be a part of it.
This event has remained much in dispute. Pakistan argued that the Maharaja was forced by India to accede over Kashmir to them while India still maintains that this was not the case.
Pakistan also argues that the indigenous people belonging to Kashmir were not given a fair chance to decide their own future.
It should be pointed out that in accepting Kashmir as a part of India, the then Governor General of India, Lord Mountbatten, made it extremely clear that such a decision would held as binding only after the people of Kashmir vote in a plebiscite or referendum on this particular matter.
The Aftermath
India accepted this stance but has never permitted such referendum to actually materialize. The United Nations went on to pass three resolutions calling for a plebiscite but India ignored all such calls.
Many believe that India refused to go for a plebiscite due to the fear that a majority of Kashmiris would vote in favor of joining Pakistan.
Ever since these events took place, both India and Pakistan have met on the battlefield twice over the unresolved issue of Kashmir, first in 1947-8, and then again in the year 1965. Over the years, sporadic clashes have taken place between the two sides.
The Maharaja wished to stay independent but ultimately chose to accede to India, giving away key powers to the Indian government - in return for military aid and a promised referendum.
Since that period the territory of Kashmir has been the single largest flashpoint for two out of the three major India-Pakistan wars.
The initial one in 1947-8, the next in 1965. In 1999, India underwent a brief but bitter period of conflict against Pakistani forces that had made an attempt to infiltrate Indian-controlled region located in the Kargil area.
There has also been a mushrooming and more often than not violent separatist movement against the Indian rule in Kashmir since 1989.
What Are the Rival Claims?
Islamabad claims that Kashmir should have become part of Pakistan in 1947, due to the fact that Muslims are in a majority in the specific region. Pakistan also argues that Kashmiris should be provided with a chance to vote in a referendum on this issue, following endless UN resolutions on the matter.
Delhi, however, escapes any kind of international debate on the Kashmir issue, putting forth the argument that the Shimla Agreement of 1972 dispensed a resolution through the mode of bilateral talks.
India furnishes the Instrument of Accession signed in October 1947 by the Maharaja. Both India and Pakistan have repeatedly rejected the possibility of Kashmir transforming into an independent state, left untouched by both India and Pakistan.
Effects of This Conflict
Measuring costs of Conflict is a means to estimate the price of armed struggle to the human race, not only in terms of the deaths and casualties and the economic costs borne by the people involved, but also the social, environmental, developmental and also strategic costs which are considerably high.
Too much of anything is bad; and that is how catering to the overzealous causes of the Muslims fundamentalists in the Kashmir valley have resulted in them committing wrongdoings against the country, its citizens and also the soldiers of the army fighting for the integrity and sovereignty of the nation.
They have done nothing but squeeze the greatest benefits from India and yet collude and align with secessionists and fundamentalists.
After committing such acts, they conveniently detect a clout within the country, which at times goes out of the way, not only to conceal the truth, but also instigate a blatant and outright disinformation campaign.
400,000 Kashmiri Pundits, who constituted 99% of the total population of Hindus living in the Muslim majority state of Kashmir, were forcibly coerced out of the Valley by Muslim extremists, trained in Pakistan, ever since the end of 1989.
They have been compelled to live far from their homeland, by unleashing systematic maneuvers of murder, terror, loot and arson.
The Future
Is there a rationale to give rise to the hope that the dispute over Kashmir can be resolved?
Past few years have seen both highs and lows in relations between India and Pakistan. Alongside holding more number of talks, there have been quite a few confidence building measures with respect to Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the development of the state has been at stake. Vast levels of unemployment and lack of opportunities continue to plague the valley. The high hopes given with respect to abrogation of article 370 have not yet been witnessed and any kind of economic growth is still awaited in Kashmir.
The two countries have a great level of international backing and support in order to continue with the peace process and ensure that their continuous negotiations succeed. An end to terrorism and uncertainty in Kashmir valley would be warmly welcomed in both India as well as Pakistan.
Written by - Isha Singh
Edited by - Sandhya R
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