Kashmir stand-off between India and Pakistan:
By: Jamila Noor
Tags: War, Stand Off, Human Rights, Conflict, Kashmir

Kashmir stand-off between India and Pakistan:

By: Jamila Noor

An introduction

Kashmir has been a dispute between India and Pakistan, which has deteriorated the political environment of the Indian Subcontinent. The Kashmir issue has become a catastrophe for nearly six decades and there have been brief almost no progress in sorting out the issue. Kashmir has a very important geopolitical location. It is surrounded by Pakistan in the west and China in the east. In the south the Indian provinces of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab are present. The northern border of Kashmir connects the borders of Afghanistan too. There is extra-ordinary natural beauty and resources in the Kashmir region. At present, the northern and western sides of the region are occupied by Pakistan while the southern and eastern parts are managed by the Indian Union. For over six decades Kashmir territory has been a disputed territory. Shortly we can say Kashmir is at the diplomatic hyper point of the bilateral relationships between Pakistan and India.

Pre-history of the Conflict

The British Indian Empire was constituted of hundreds of princely states present in the Indian Subcontinent .when the British finally decided to bring their rule to an end after world war 2, the fate of these princely states came into inspection. After the British authorities leave the Princely states were now supposed to join either India or Pakistan. In this consideration, Jyoti Trehan remarks, "The process of integration of princely states was not without its highs and lows."(Trehan 201).The British accepted Pakistan Plan in June 1947. But the Hindu Maharajah Sir Hari Singh was hesitating to join either Pakistan or India. However, the census of 1941 showed that almost 77% of the population of Kashmir was comprised of Muslims (Das 264). Until the formation of India and Pakistan in August 1947, Maharajah Sir Hari Singh had not acceded to any side. Pakistan decided to act along communal lines. As Pakistan had a Muslim majority, Pakistan decided to 'liberate' Kashmir and supported the Azad Kashmir Force. Pakistan invaded Kashmir in October 1947 and captured its northern and western parts. On the Maharajah's request, the authorities in Delhi reacted by sending troops to the region and captured the southern and eastern parts of the region and was constituted as the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Causes of the Conflict

To understand the causes of the conflict, the historic Partition of India has to be known. Indian Subcontinent was mainly inhabited by the two major religious groups, Hindus and Muslims, under the British Rule. During the latter half of the nineteenth century, The two communities had friendly relationships and they started a united struggle to achieve independence from the British Rule. But with the lapse of time, tensions between the two communities became forceful. Tensions between the All India Muslim League and Indian National Congress (the two major political powers of undivided India) ended up widespread communal violence during the 1930s and early 1940s. Resultantly, partitioning India became a colossal task. Pakistan became a Muslim dominated state while India became a secular, democratic country after partition in 1947. And the Kashmir region was entrapped between them.

The Course of Indo-Pak Confrontations

The course of Indo Pak Confrontations is as follow

• 1940 – In the Pakistan Resolution, M. A. Jinnah postulated the Two-nation Theory, and the demand of Pakistan was marked up

• 1946 – Muslim Conference enlisted the Azad Kashmir Resolution.

• October 1947 – War was broken out between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue.

• 1965 – Indo-Pak War was broken out again. Pakistan was defeated and the Tashkent Pact was signed.

• 1971 – Indo-Pak War had broken out once again over East Pakistan.

• 1972 – separation of East Pakistan and West Pakistan, and the Bangladesh Republic came into being.

• 1978 –There was a Military Rule in Pakistan. A proxy war with India was started. Pakistan started support for the separatist organizations in Punjab and Kashmir.

• 1999 – Kargil War was broken out between India and Pakistan, Pakistan supported the intruders.

• 2008 – Successful Assembly Elections in the Jammu and Kashmir State in India had occurred. National Conference emerged as a major political power in the state.

The Current State of Affairs

With the time out, Pakistan had shown tendencies towards Military Rule and autocratic governance. On several matters, India blamed that Pakistan has sponsored the different terrorist organizations in Kashmir. Furthermore, India blamed Pakistan responsible for several devastating terrorist attacks directed against India. On the other hand, Pakistan kept on extending 'moral support' to the separatists in Kashmir. In this condition, the common Kashmiris were suffering the most. The innocent people are being victimized by pernicious separatist propaganda. Wars between the Indian military and armed separatists caused a huge loss of property, money, and lives so far. Also, the phantom of Al Qaeda and the Taliban made the situation more complicated and dangerous.

Conclusion

It is concluded here.

Kashmir dispute has become the principal cause of diplomatic, political, and military stand-off between India and Pakistan. Of late, both countries are showing interest to begin bilateral talks once again.

The solution of the Kashmir issue sits in a planned conflict Resolution, Farah Ibrahim said (Ibrahim 289).

The way to this conflict resolution is totally dependant upon the methods of psychological intervention.

The psychological perspective of the problem is important rather than its military, political, and diplomatic analysis.

Both countries will have to understand that

Kashmiris rate to live a peaceful life. The acceptance of this fact is very necessary.

The terrorist organizations functional in Kashmir should be annihilated by both countries. Pakistan and India both should come forward to continue the bilateral talks.

By mutual efforts of India and Pakistan, peace can be brought into the damned province.