Kashmir ControversyKashmir ControversyPresented byPresented by

Ven MerjaVen Merja

The Kashmir conflict is a territorial dispute The Kashmir conflict is a territorial dispute over Kashmir.over Kashmir.

There are total 4 parties involved in this There are total 4 parties involved in this dispute – India, Pakistan, China and the dispute – India, Pakistan, China and the people of Kashmir.people of Kashmir.

Partition and dispute Partition and dispute

Before Independence from British in 1947 from Before Independence from British in 1947 from 1820, Kashmir was ruled by the Maharaja of 1820, Kashmir was ruled by the Maharaja of Kashmir who was Hindu although the majority of Kashmir who was Hindu although the majority of the population were Muslim, except the Jammu the population were Muslim, except the Jammu region.region.

The partition was made on religious lines resulting The partition was made on religious lines resulting in to the formation of two separate countries – in to the formation of two separate countries – India and Pakistan. Pakistan insisted that Kashmir India and Pakistan. Pakistan insisted that Kashmir should be given to it.should be given to it.

Because of its location, Because of its location, Kashmir could choose Kashmir could choose to join either India or to join either India or Pakistan. Pakistan. Maharaja Maharaja Hari SinghHari Singh was the was the ruler of Kashmir. ruler of Kashmir. Unable to decide which Unable to decide which nation Kashmir should nation Kashmir should join, Hari Singh chose join, Hari Singh chose to remain neutral.to remain neutral.

Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 But his hopes of remaining But his hopes of remaining

independent were dashed in October independent were dashed in October 1947, as Pakistan sent in Muslim 1947, as Pakistan sent in Muslim tribesmen who were knocking at the tribesmen who were knocking at the gates of the capital Srinagar. gates of the capital Srinagar.

Hari Singh appealed to the Indian Hari Singh appealed to the Indian government for military assistance government for military assistance and fled to India. He signed the and fled to India. He signed the “Instrument of Accession”, giving up “Instrument of Accession”, giving up Kashmir to India on October 26. The Kashmir to India on October 26. The Instrument of Accession of Kashmir Instrument of Accession of Kashmir to India was accepted by to India was accepted by Viceroy Lord Viceroy Lord Mountbatten of BurmaMountbatten of Burma..

India and Pakistan fought the India and Pakistan fought the first first war over Kashmirwar over Kashmir in 1947-48. India in 1947-48. India referred the dispute to the United referred the dispute to the United Nations. In a resolution, the UN asked Nations. In a resolution, the UN asked Pakistan to remove its troops, after Pakistan to remove its troops, after which India was also to withdraw the which India was also to withdraw the bulk of its forces. bulk of its forces.

India was confident that it will win the India was confident that it will win the referendum, because Sheikh referendum, because Sheikh Abdullah, the most influential Abdullah, the most influential Kashmiri mass leader, was firmly on Kashmiri mass leader, was firmly on its side. Hence an emergency Govt. its side. Hence an emergency Govt. was formed on October 30, 1948 with was formed on October 30, 1948 with Sheikh Abdullah as the “Prime Sheikh Abdullah as the “Prime Minister”.Minister”.

LOC – LINE OF CONTROLLOC – LINE OF CONTROL Pakistan ignored the UN mandate and Pakistan ignored the UN mandate and

continued fighting, holding on to the continued fighting, holding on to the portion of Kashmir under its control. portion of Kashmir under its control. On January 1, 1949, a ceasefire was On January 1, 1949, a ceasefire was agreed, with 65 % of the territory agreed, with 65 % of the territory under Indian control and the under Indian control and the remaining 35% with Pakistan. remaining 35% with Pakistan.

The ceasefire was intended to be The ceasefire was intended to be temporary, but the temporary, but the Line of ControlLine of Control remains the military control line remains the military control line between the Indian and Pakistani-between the Indian and Pakistani-controlled parts of the state of Jammu controlled parts of the state of Jammu & Kashmir.& Kashmir.

Tashkent agreement Tashkent agreement In 1957, Kashmir was incorporated into the Indian In 1957, Kashmir was incorporated into the Indian

Union. It was given a special status under Union. It was given a special status under Article 370 of Article 370 of India's constitutionIndia's constitution, which ensures, among other things, , which ensures, among other things, that non-Kashmiri Indians cannot buy property there.that non-Kashmiri Indians cannot buy property there.

Fighting broke out again in 1965, but a ceasefire was Fighting broke out again in 1965, but a ceasefire was established. Indian Prime Minister, Lal Bhadur Shastri, established. Indian Prime Minister, Lal Bhadur Shastri, and Pakistani President, M Ayub Khan, signed the and Pakistani President, M Ayub Khan, signed the Tashkent agreementTashkent agreement on January 1, 1966. on January 1, 1966.

They resolved to try to end the dispute, but the death of They resolved to try to end the dispute, but the death of Mr Shastri and the rise of Gen Yahya Khan in Pakistan Mr Shastri and the rise of Gen Yahya Khan in Pakistan resulted in stalemate (deadlock).resulted in stalemate (deadlock).

Simla AgreementSimla Agreement In 1971 a third war, resulting in In 1971 a third war, resulting in

the formation of Bangladesh was the formation of Bangladesh was broken out and India declared broken out and India declared war on December 3, 1971. When war on December 3, 1971. When Indians entered 50 km into the Indians entered 50 km into the area of Pakistan, a ceasefire was area of Pakistan, a ceasefire was reached.reached.

In 1972 Indira Gandhi, the Indian In 1972 Indira Gandhi, the Indian prime minister, and Zulfikar Ali prime minister, and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto signed the Bhutto signed the Simla Simla AgreementAgreement, which repeated the , which repeated the promises made in Tashkent.promises made in Tashkent.

Infiltration of Pakistani guerrillas Infiltration of Pakistani guerrillas The status quo was maintained until 1989. Thereafter The status quo was maintained until 1989. Thereafter

Pakistani guerrillas struck in the Indian Kashmir valley. Pakistani guerrillas struck in the Indian Kashmir valley. They established a reign of terror and drove out almost They established a reign of terror and drove out almost all the Hindus from the valley. Meanwhile Indian and all the Hindus from the valley. Meanwhile Indian and Pakistani troops regularly exchanged fire at the border. Pakistani troops regularly exchanged fire at the border.

India and Pakistan both tested nuclear devices in 1998, India and Pakistan both tested nuclear devices in 1998, and then in 1999 test-fired missiles. When the Indian and then in 1999 test-fired missiles. When the Indian Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, visited Lahore by Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, visited Lahore by bus in 1999, the world felt that such a genuine effort at bus in 1999, the world felt that such a genuine effort at friendly neighborhood relations would lower the tension friendly neighborhood relations would lower the tension along the LOC.along the LOC.

Kargil War & Cross-border Kargil War & Cross-border troublestroubles

But, again the cross-LOC firing in Kargil began But, again the cross-LOC firing in Kargil began during the mid-1998. Indian forces drove them out during the mid-1998. Indian forces drove them out fighting bravely. The death toll, including both fighting bravely. The death toll, including both soldiers and civilians, was more than 30,000. soldiers and civilians, was more than 30,000.

India argued that the infiltrators were trained and India argued that the infiltrators were trained and armed by Pakistan, and based in "Azad Kashmir" armed by Pakistan, and based in "Azad Kashmir" with the full knowledge of the Pakistani government. with the full knowledge of the Pakistani government. Pakistan said that they were freedom fighters (!) Pakistan said that they were freedom fighters (!) from Kashmir and that it was giving only moral from Kashmir and that it was giving only moral support.support.

A Few Questions to Ponder overA Few Questions to Ponder over

Was Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru mainly Was Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru mainly responsible for the Kashmir issue?responsible for the Kashmir issue?

Why India always takes soft stand? Why India always takes soft stand? Shouldn’t we be offensive rather than Shouldn’t we be offensive rather than defensive?defensive?

Shouldn’t the Article 370 of India's Shouldn’t the Article 370 of India's constitution be removed?constitution be removed?

Isn’t Kashmir our Natinal Pride ? Isn’t Kashmir our Natinal Pride ? Shall we allow Pak to snetch it from Shall we allow Pak to snetch it from us ?us ? – NEVER.– NEVER.