2. “The accession of Kashmir to India was not a
bona fide one since it rested on fraud and
violence and would never be accepted by
Pakistan – accession was the end of the long
intrigue”.
Quaid – e – Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah
3. INTRODUCTION
• The history of Kashmir is a torturous web of
conspiracy, blackmail and treachery. Enslaved for
centuries by Mughals, Afghans, Sikhs and Dogras,
Kashmiris consider that they have never been
free people. The legacy of contemporary
enslavement of Kashmiris dates back to 13th July
1931, when the killing of 22 Muslims in front of
Sirinagar Jail set off the sentiments of liberation
movement and sparked a fury into the entire
Muslim populace of the State of Jammu and
Kashmir (J&K) against the ruler Maharaja Hari
Singh.
4. • A year later, Muslim Conference emerged as a
collective voice of the Kashmiri Muslims, which
laid the foundation of their belief that
independence from the oppressive rule of
Maharaja was the only way to relieve their
sufferings. Nevertheless, their slavery continued
as the Maharaja was coerced to proclaim the
State’s accession to India through a much
suspicious ‘Instrument of Accession’. This unfair
accession is the legacy of following fifty five
years of misery and intimidation for the
Kashmiri Muslims.
5. • Today once again the question of Kashmir stands at
the cross-roads in the backdrop of prolonged
military stand-off between India and Pakistan and
the post 11th September scenario. The armed
struggle in Kashmir since last one and half decade,
nuclearization of South Asia, Kargil conflict, failure
of Lahore and Agra Summits and post September
11 scenario have added new dimensions to this
Issue. Pakistan’s support to US in her war against
terrorism and Indian subterfuge to brand Kashmir
Freedom Struggle as terrorism are the major
challenges that Pakistan’s policy planners are
fraught with
6. Geographical Over View
• The state of Jammu and Kashmir before 1947 had an area
of 84,471 square miles. It is located in the extreme NW
corner of Sub-Continent. where borders of five countries
converge, i.e. former USSR, China, Afghanistan, India and
Pakistan. Strategically, the importance of this area cannot
be over emphasized as it lies at the intersection of the
great Himalayas, Hindukush and Karakoram ranges. It
borders in north and east for about 600 miles with Sin
kiang and Tibet provinces of China and in the south and
west for about 750 miles with Pakistan. A thirty miles
stretch of Wakhan, an Afghan territory separates it from
Tajikistan, whereas towards south, it forms a border with
India. The terrain configuration, from semi to snow capped
mountains, deprives it to have a homogeneous entity
7. • a. Kashmir Valley. Also known as the Vale - with its
capital at Sirinagar, is the demographic and economic
heartland of the state of J & K. It has 95% Muslim
population and forms 65% of the entire population of the
State under Indian control.
• b. The Jammu Region. Located on the Tawi River,
Jammu is situated in an agricultural area. It was conquered
by the religious community of the Sikhs, under their
leader Ranjit Singh in 1819. From 1846 until the partition
British supremacy was recognized in Jammu. Its
Population according to census in 1991 was 63% Hindus.
• c. Poonch District. NW of Jammu having a Muslim
majority. Some portion of Poonch District is with Pakistan.
• d. Ladakh. Ladakh, having a land mass of 480 km
from northwest to southeast and about 240 km in width is
under Indian control.
8. • The eastern boundary is poorly defined. It is
extremely mountainous and rugged. The main
population centres are located along the Indus River.
The largest towns such as Leh (the capital), Khalatse
and Tolti are towards Indian administrated areas
whereas, Skardu lies in Pakistani controlled part of the
region. After the British departure, Pakistan gained
control of northern Ladakh, while India occupied the
rest. The Chinese seized Tibet in 1950, which later
resulted into Sino-Indian War and other border
disputes.
• e. The Gilgit Region. Also formerly known as Gilgit
Agency, is part of Northern Areas of Pakistan since
1947.
• f. Baltistan. It is a predominantly Muslim majority
area under Pakistan’s control.
9. Demography
• The current number of inhabitants of the state
including refugees in Pakistan and abroad is
around 12.8 million. At the time of partition, the
population of the State according to the census
report of 1941 was 4.21 million, Muslims
constituting 77.11% whereas the Hindus made
21.2% of the total population. In the vale of
Kashmir, more than 90% were Muslims. As per the
census report of 1981 issued by the Government
of India, the Muslim population has decreased to
64.19% in Indian Held Kashmir; particularly in
Jammu, the Muslim population has been reduced
substantially.
10.
11. • Kashmir – Implications on Pakistan
The importance of Kashmir to Pakistan as the lifeline of
Pakistan can be well -understood by having a look at the
map of Pakistan.
Three out of six rivers, which run through Pakistan,
originate from Kashmir namely Rivers Indus, Jhelum and
Chenab where as remaining three Rivers Ravi, Sutlaj and
Biyas originate from India. Economically, the waters of
the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab, which originate through
Kashmir, are vital to the agricultural life of Pakistan.
Assuming that Kashmir was to accede to India, the same
would also apply to the other three rivers, and not only
the water of the rivers which flow from India to Pakistan
but also that of the rivers which flow from Kashmir into
Pakistan would be denied to Pakistan.
12. • Millions of acres of cultivated land would be
turned into wasteland and millions of people
would be faced with starvation
• b. Kashmir also assumes added importance for
Pakistan from military point of view. Without
Kashmir, Silk route to China will be greatly
endangered and there will be no link with China-a
time tested ally and friend of Pakistan.
• c. There will be no ground defense of Pakistan if
the rivers and canals of Pakistan are dried up.
• d. The strategic location of the state, close
proximity of its SE borders to 180 miles long vital
road and rail route between Rawalpindi and
Lahore.
14. Kashmir – Implications on India
If critically analyzed, the presumed strategic
importance of Kashmir as per Indian viewpoint
is more based on desire to having hegemony in
the region rather than based on security
compulsions, as is the case with Pakistan. It is
exactly what was termed by Mr. Liaqat Ali Khan,
the Late Prime Minister of Pakistan in 1951 as
“luxury to India” and a “vital necessity of
Pakistan” if judged from the security
compulsions of both the countries.
15. Kashmir – Implications on Pakistan
• Three out of six rivers, which run through Pakistan,
originate from Kashmir namely Rivers Indus, Jhelum and
Chenab where as remaining three Rivers Ravi, Sutlaj and
Biyas originate from India.
• Kashmir also assumes added importance for Pakistan from
military point of view. Without Kashmir, Silk route to China
will be greatly endangered and there will be no link with
China-a time tested ally and friend of Pakistan.
• There will be no ground defence of Pakistan if the rivers
and canals of Pakistan are dried up.
• The strategic location of the state, close proximity of its SE
borders to 180 miles long vital road and rail route between
Rawalpindi and Lahore.
16. UN Mediation
• Consistent Indian delays and inflexible attitude to agree
on any viable course to hold plebiscite eventually led the
UN to employ seasoned mediators
• Total four solution reports were presented by the UNO
Mediators
• In almost all the cases the story was same, acceptance by
Pakistan and an emphatic rejection by India
• In all the cases India readily rejected every bill on Kashmir
issue from education to human rights
• For lat 4 decades India is violating Human Rights ignoring
all the International Human rights
17. How dangerous is the Kashmir
dispute?
• It is potentially one of the most dangerous disputes in the
world and in the worst-case scenario could trigger a nuclear
conflict.
• In 1998 India and Pakistan both declared themselves to be
nuclear powers with a string of nuclear tests.
• In 2002 there was a huge deployment of troops on both
sides of the border as India reacted to an armed attack on
the national parliament in Delhi the previous December.
Tension between the two countries has rarely been so high.
• India said the attack was carried out by Pakistani-based
militants assisted by the Pakistan government - a charge
always denied by Pakistan.
• For much of the last two decades, separatist militancy and
cross-border firing between the Indian and Pakistani armies
has left a death toll running into tens of thousands and a
population traumatised by fighting and fear.
18. Conclusion
• Kashmir is the unfinished agenda of Partition of the Sub-
continent. It has caused two of the three wars between
India and Pakistan. Notwithstanding, the UN Resolutions,
India has been firm in defying the will of Kashmiri people for
the last fifty-five years.
• The undercurrents of over decade long uprising of the
people of Jammu and Kashmir, nuclearization of SA, post
11th September situation and military stand-off in Kashmir
has made the region a potential flash point of nuclear
conflict.
• On the other hand, the Indian effort of branding the
movement as cross-border terrorism appears to have some
effects on the movement. The prospect of the Freedom
Struggle and Pakistan’s strategy for a favourable resolution
of the Issue thus needs to be evaluated in its futuristic
context.
