Kashmir Issue

The story of Kashmir is complex, deeply rooted in history, and marked by ongoing conflict. To present it from a perspective sympathetic to the Kashmiri people and Pakistanis, I’ll try to focus on key events and sentiments that align with that viewpoint.

Historical Background

The region of Kashmir has a rich history, with its own unique culture, traditions, and identity. Before the partition of British India in 1947, Kashmir was a princely state under the rule of Maharaja Hari Singh, a Hindu ruler governing a Muslim-majority population. When British India was divided into the independent nations of India and Pakistan, princely states were given the choice to join either India or Pakistan, based on factors such as geographical proximity and the wishes of their people.

The Accession Controversy

Maharaja Hari Singh initially sought to remain independent but faced an uprising from his Muslim subjects, who wanted to join Pakistan. In response to the growing unrest, the Maharaja sought military assistance from India, signing the Instrument of Accession to India in October 1947. This move is viewed by many Pakistanis and Kashmiris as illegitimate, arguing that the Maharaja had no right to decide the fate of the majority Muslim population without their consent.

The First Indo-Pak War and UN Involvement

The signing of the Instrument of Accession led to the first war between India and Pakistan in 1947–1948. During the conflict, Pakistani tribesmen and soldiers entered Kashmir, claiming to support the Kashmiri people’s desire to join Pakistan. The war ended with a ceasefire brokered by the United Nations, which resulted in the establishment of the Line of Control (LoC), dividing Kashmir into areas administered by Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan) and India (Jammu and Kashmir).

The United Nations passed resolutions calling for a plebiscite to allow the Kashmiri people to determine their future — whether to join India, Pakistan, or remain independent. However, this plebiscite has never been held, leading to ongoing disputes and resentment among Kashmiris.(Take the second play-up that Britain, which itself was the boxer of the matter, dishonestly divided many of the states that belonged to Pakistan into India, namely Jo Na Garh and Nizam Hyderabad. Gurdaspur and half of Punjab gave way to Gujarat to take over Kashmir and when there was a war on Kashmir and half of Kashmir went to the side of Pakistan. This issue to UN Security Council, And this matter has not progressed further with the resolutions or we continue to have rights violations, that commission keeps saying that there are violations of rights and cruelty is happening here, so there was some statement from India because the United States and Big powers are standing and supporting India in terms of economy, defense, and cooperation, but what kind of action is Pakistan going to take? Are they going back and there is no one now when we are talking they are talking then how many Kashmiris have died in search of lockdown and imprisonment for 100 days then do something then the People are in illegal imprisonment, this cruelty is happening there. It means clearly that the UN is not the main task of the world, to maintain peace and order, to maintain peace and order, and not to maintain it, and every country under its charter. It is equal according to the law and according to the relationship it is equal, but it looks like the big boards like the United States, Great Britain, and Europe need them because many of them are ours who in one way or another are in need of India or India. With this, they are told that they cannot do anything because of this

The Struggle for Self-Determination

For many Kashmiris, the desire for self-determination has been a central issue. Over the decades, this has led to widespread protests, civil disobedience, and sometimes armed resistance against Indian rule. Pakistan has supported the Kashmiri cause, both diplomatically and, according to some reports, militarily. Many Pakistanis view Kashmir as an unfinished part of the partition, believing that the Muslim-majority region rightfully belongs with Pakistan.

Human Rights Concerns

The conflict has resulted in significant human rights violations, particularly in Indian-administered Kashmir. Many Kashmiris and Pakistanis argue that the Indian government has suppressed the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination through military occupation, enforced disappearances, and restrictions on freedom of speech and movement. The revocation of Article 370 by the Indian government in 2019, which granted special autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir, further inflamed tensions. This move was widely condemned in Pakistan and among Kashmiris, who saw it as an attempt to alter the demographic and cultural identity of the region.(The Human Rights Commission is playing a two-sided game here. Well, the Human Rights Commission, which is a part of the UN, has the task of raising voices wherever human beings roam and taking steps for the violations. But wherever it is Kashmir or Palestine or wherever the Muslims are, because Muslims are being tried here or they are being oppressed, it does not happen. They leave for exam and you take another example, if someone steals something from Pakistan or another country and flees to their country, they give him shelter in some way or the other. If Pakistan tear it apart and try to punish him for what he is, then it is said that this brother is what he is. Human rights violations happening here, etc.

Pakistan’s Role and Stance

Pakistan has consistently advocated for Kashmir’s right to self-determination, calling for the implementation of UN resolutions and a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Pakistan views its support for the Kashmiri people as a moral obligation, rooted in the belief that the people of Kashmir should have the right to decide their future.Simply Pakistan is to solve the issues through dialogue and what is in India is not what is in the UN is not Astaghifra bhai, i.e. referendum should be held, so what happened to other states like Bahawalpur, Quetta and so on. At the time of independence, it was their will that they want to go to Pakistan or India, like Kashmiris should also give their opinion that wherever they know, at the time of independence, most of the Pakistanis were Muslims and they wanted Pakistan wherever they wanted, but oppression. And superiority is poor and Pakistan’s simple stance is to hold a referendum there and if they vote in favor of Pakistan, then this area should be included in Pakistan.

The Kashmiri Perspective

From the Kashmiri perspective, the struggle is primarily about the right to determine their own destiny. Many Kashmiris seek either independence from both India and Pakistan or unification with Pakistan, driven by cultural, religious, and historical ties. The ongoing conflict has taken a heavy toll on the Kashmiri population, leading to a deep sense of injustice and a longing for peace and self-determination. In a way, Kashmiris also want the same thing, that they get freedom, this oppression on them ends and they get rights to join the state they want to live wherever they want and live in peace and order. They want them to be considered as human beings, they also want these restrictions to be removed, they want simple freedom. India repeatedly accuses Pakistan of trying to proximately occupy Grami, and trying to occupy what is not there, and what is not, how does it make it dirty, and ask the Kashmiris to go. They can't stay here during the lockdown, when they go out, there is curfew and curfew and brutality. They go to illegal prisons, they give away their loved ones, so this is happening there

Conclusion

The story of Kashmir, as seen from the perspective of Kashmiris and Pakistanis, is one of unfulfilled promises, ongoing conflict, and a struggle for identity and self-determination. It is a story of a people caught between two nuclear-armed nations, yearning for a resolution that reflects their aspirations and respects their rights. The hope for many remains that one day, the people of Kashmir will be able to freely decide their future in a peaceful and just manner.