A country within a country-Kashmir Conflict
- 1. A COUNTRY WITHIN A COUNTRY KASHMIR CONFLICT
- 2. KASHMIR: An Introduction Kashmir is a region located in the northwestern part of the Indian Subcontinent. It includes the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, the Pakistani states of Giligit and Baltistan, Azad Kashmir and Chinese region of Aksai chin. To its north lie Chinese and Russian Turkistan. On its east is Chinese Tibbet. On the south and south-west lie the states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. On the west is the north- west frontier provinces of Pakistan, China and Russia.
- 4. Demographics • According to a 2001 census, Kashmir has about 10 million residents • 7.5 million in Indian-controlled territory • 2.5 million in Pakistani-controlled territory • Three-quarters of the population are Muslim, and the remaining one-quarter is predominantly Hindu.
- 6. The Basics of the Conflict • The Kashmir conflict is a dispute between India and Pakistan over control of the region of Kashmir • Each country lays claim to Kashmir due to nationalism and the controversial politics of the region • Conflicting ideologies and the refusal of either party to compromise have stymied efforts to reach a solution
- 7. History of Occupation and Conflict Great Britain controlled India from 1612 until 1947 Under British rule, Kashmir was a princely state—it was directly ruled by a maharaja that answered to the British 1947-India gains independence from Britain The independence agreement partitions India into two nations, India and Pakistan The Maharaja of Kashmir accedes his province to India, prompting war between India and Pakistan 1948 – UN Security Council passes resolution 47, mandating a ceasefire along the Line of Control (LOC) and paving the way for a potential plebiscite
- 8. •1957-India declares all of Kashmir a state of the Indian Union •1965 – Alleged infiltration attempts by Pakistan instigate a second Indo- Pakistani war in Kashmir. •1989 – Militancy in the region escalates. •1999 – Pakistani forces cross the LOC, and India responds by declaring war. •2005 – India and Pakistan agree to a new ceasefire
- 9. Divided Kashmir INDIAN KASHMIR • India controls the southeast portion of Kashmir, which has the most fertile land • Indian territory is governed as a state, called Jammu and Kashmir PAKISTANI KASHMIR • Pakistan controls the northwest, with a harsher climate and sparser population • Pakistan’s territory is divided into two regions: Azad Kashmir, or free Kashmir, which has its own government, and the Northern Areas, which are governed directly by Pakistan • Azad Kashmir is about 4,500 square miles, and the Northern Areas are about 28,000 square miles
- 10. The Importance of Kashmir to India and Pakistan The geography is mostly rural, with large mountains, deserts, and valleys. The region could have natural resources such as oil, gold, or silver that has not yet been discovered.
- 11. 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.
- 12. India’s Positions • The accession of Kashmir to India is legally indisputable • Religion is irrelevant in determining control of Kashmir—a large Muslim community supported the accession of Kashmir to India • The Pakistani sponsorship of terrorism in Kashmir disrupts the democratic process in the region • International intervention is out of the question, as Kashmir is strictly India’s affair
- 13. Pakistan’s Positions • Kashmir rightfully belongs to Pakistan due to their religious and economic ties • Pakistan does not provide material aid to any terrorists or insurgents in Kashmir • In accordance with the UN Security Council, Pakistan considers India’s claim to Kashmir invalid • The Kashmiri people should be allowed to choose between Pakistani and Indian control through a plebiscite
- 14. Kashmir’s Positions • Kashmiris overwhelmingly favor independence • A poll conducted in the Kashmiri capital of Srinagar in 2007 revealed that 87% of Kashmiris desire independence, 7% favor Indian rule, and 3% prefer Pakistani control • Kashmiris oppose Indian rule due to the restrictions placed on them by Indian security forces and alleged human rights abuses by the Indian government
- 16. Should Kashmir be free? ● Located in one of the most unstable regions in the world in terms of terrorism. ● Independence doesn't guarantee stability. ● Really bad time economic wise to become independent ● Just because a region is of different religious affiliation in the rest of the country doesn't justify secession. ● Natural Calamities ● Predominantly Muslim nation could set up a Sharia Law society.
- 18. Why Pakistan wants Kashmir ● Indus River System ● To keep up the Anti India feeling ● Political gains ● Natural resources ● Sentiments over the lose of Bangladesh ● CPEC(China Pakistan Economic Corridor)
- 19. Why India doesn’t want to lose Kashmir ● Kashmir being a Muslim majority state. The Two Nation Theory and identities of two nations. ● Not every Kashmiri is against India. ● History of Violence and people's pressure. ● India is afraid of Balkanisation. ● Strategic Importance. ● Economic Dependence and entry gate for western interest ● The constitution of JnK and ARTICLE 370 ● The Azaadi seekers hold only 17% JnK of the land
- 21. Hypothesis(What can be possible solutions) 1. UN Plebiscite 2. Four Point system by Parvez Musharraf 3. Several Cases can be possible :- ● The status quo ● Kashmir joins Pakistan ● Kashmir joins India ● Independent Kashmir ● The Chenab formula ● 4. Pakistan and China will give POK and COK to India
- 22. References ● “Background to the Kashmir conflict: challenges and opportunities” by Kashmir Initiative Group. ● “Kashmir Conflict : A Study of What Led to the In surgency in Kashmir Valley & Proposed Future Solution” by Priyanka Bakya and Sumeet Bhatti. ● “The Kashmir Conflict: A Kashmiri Perspective” by Mehraj Hajni. ● BBC report. ● From websites like insightonconflict.com , wikipedia.com.