KASHMIR ISSUE:

INTRODUCTION:
The conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir which is considered as the major obstacle in promoting regional
integration as well as in bringing peace in South Asia is one of the most intractable and long-standing conflicts in the world.
The conflict originated in 1947 along with the emergence of India and Pakistan as two separate independent states based on the
‘Two-Nations’ theory. Scholarly literature has found out many factors that have contributed to cause and escalate the conflict
and also to make protracted in nature. Five armed conflicts have taken place over the Kashmir. The implications of this
protracted conflict are very far-reaching. Thousands of peoples have become uprooted; more than 60,000 people have died;
thousands of women have lost their beloved husbands; nuclear arms race has geared up; insecurity has increased; in spite of
huge destruction and war like situation the possibility of negotiation and compromise is still absence.

GEOGRAPHICAL IDENTITY OF KASHMIR:

The state of Jammu and Kashmir is located approximately between 33° North latitudes and 75° East longitudes with a total area
of 222,236.2 sq. km. constituting about 7% percent of the total land area of India. The state has a strong genetic relationship
with the Himalayas, which exercises an important influence on its geographical proximity.
The state can be divided into four major parts as under;
The North-Western Areas and Frontiers Region, which are under Pakistan occupation called Northern areas collectively
Ladakh including parts under Pakistani and Chinese Occupation
• Kashmir Division, including Muzzafarabad which is in Pakistan Occupied Areas
• Jumma Division, including areas of Mirpur, Kotti and Poonch in Pakistan Occupied Areas.
The most prominent physiographical feature of Kashmir has been described as a double-staircase, the one ascending and facing
Pakistan and the rest of India and the other descending into Tibet. To the south the first step starts from the low Punjab hills,
which run in a live with the Siwalik hills, its height exceedingly 1,000 feet and its breadth 10 miles. The next step is reached
after crossing the PirPanjal, running from Muzaffarbad to Kistwar. The third step is that of Great Himalayas nearly 150 miles
long.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
The earliest kingdoms in Kashmir, according to tradition, existed before B. C. 2,000, known throughout its recorded history as
Kashmir, in its original Sanskrit form, the name still lives as Kashmir, in Persian spelling Kashmir, which is its modern version.
The name itself, undoubtedly, is far more ancient. It is important to understand the background of the conflict that the
HinduMuslim communal conflict is the outcome of British imperialist policy “Divide and Rule.” In British India, there were
sharp conflicts between these two groups of people. As a result, the British India was divided into two parts along religious lines
and India and Pakistan came into being as two separate states based on the „Two-nation‟ theory in 1947. These two countries
experienced a communal holocaust with some 800,000 causalities. Therefore it is argued that the Kashmir problem is actually
dates back to the partition of British India. When the British authority left the sub-continent, the princely state of Jammu and
Kashmir were under the rule of Maharajah Hari Sing who was personally a Hindu by religion but the population of the state was
predominantly Muslims. There were certain ambiguities over the future status of the state when the British transferred power to
India and Pakistan. The Indian independence act of 1947, in theory, left the states legally independent when the „sovereignty of
his majesty over the Indian state’s lapses. But in practice, such independence was ruled out when the Secretary of the State for
India, Lord Listowel declared: “We don’t, of course, purpose to recognize any state as separate international entity. This meant
in reality the states would have to seek accession to either one of the two dominions in accordance with the broad principles of
the partition plan. Muslim majority states would accede to Pakistan and the rest to India.” In these circumstances, Maharajah
Hari Sing, the ruler of the Kashmir, at first delayed and later concluded an agreement which Pakistan accepted but India did not.
Between August and September 1947 the Muslim subjects of Maharajah rose in an open revolt.7 On 22 October 1947, the peace
in Jammu and Kashmir was shattered by an invasion from Pakistan territory. Faced with a great threat to the life and honor of
his people, the ruler as well as the leaders of the National Conference, the largest political party in the state appealed to India for
urgent help. Maharajah fled from Srinagar to India and agreed to accede to India on 26 October 1947. The preamble of the
constitution of Jammu and Kashmir states;
“We the people of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, having solemnly resolved, in pursuance of the
accession of this state to India which took place on the twenty-six day of October 1947, to further define the existing
relationship of state with the Union of India as an integral part of thereof...”
As soon as India accepted the accession and sent troops to Srinagar to quell the rebellion and to drive out of Srinagar the
invasion of the Pakistani tribesmen. India took control over two-thirds of Jammu and Kashmir, and Pakistan the remaining part.
Since then four armed conflict have taken place over this issue.

A BONE OF CONTENTION:
Kashmir is a bone of contention between Pakistan and India. The Kashmir issue is the biggest hindrance in the normalization of
relations between Pakistan and India. The two countries have fought two full-fledged wars over this issue. In view of its
geopolitical significance, India desired to acquire Kashmir when the partition of the sub-continent became inevitable
circumstances when the Kashmiri Muslims revolted against the evil designs of India.
“Liberty will not descend to a people;
It is a blessing that must be earned
Before it can be enjoyed.”

THE RIGHT OF SELF DETERMINATION:

Pakistan is of the view that only the people of Kashmir have a right to determine the future of Kashmir. The UN resolutions of
August 13, 1948, and January 5, 1949, which were accepted both by India and Pakistan provided for the holding a plebiscite
under the UN auspices to settle the Kashmir issue.
Kashmiris are willing to affiliate in Pakistan and fighting for freedom since the forced occupation of INDIA, that’s why INDIA
is still refraining from the promise of plebiscite.

1965 WAR AND KASHMIR:

The Indo-Pakistani Fight of 1965 was a war that took place between April 1965 and 23 September 1965 between Islamic
Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of India. This conflict became known as the Second Kashmir War. Both countries
fought over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir. The first Kashmir War took place in 1947. The war began after
Pakistan's Operation Gibraltar. In this operation, Pakistan wanted to bring forces into Indian-held Jammu and Kashmir to
conquer the area of Kashmir ruled by India. [1] The five-week war caused thousands of deaths on both sides. It ended when
United Nations (UN) asked for ceasefire.
The war was fought on the western front after Pakistan launched "Operation Gibraltar" - a covert offensive in which up to
30,000 fighters were pushed across the ceasefire line into Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. India retaliated by crossing
the international border at Lahore.[2] At midnight on 6 September, India crossed the international border between India and
Pakistan and attacked Lahore and Kasur. The Pakistan Army and Air Force prepared for war in a hurry and started attacks on
India. The attacks also started in the areas of Jammu and Kashmir. The war was fought on the border until 22 September when
UN asked for ceasefire.[3] Pakistan army had to face very heavy causalities.
The war affected a lot of people and the thousands of Pakistani families had to leave their house and belongings and move to
safer areas because of India's capture of Lahore.[4]

Losses:

Indian claims[123] Pakistani Claims [124][125] Independent Claims[48][126]

• Army: 169 commissioned officers (1 brigadier, 9 3,000 Indian soldiers, 3,800

Casualties lieutenantcolonels, 30 majors, 39 captains, 11 lieutenants, 79 –
second lieutenants), 80 junior commissioned officers (JCO), Pakistani soldiers
1,820 other ranks[127][128][129][130][131][132][133][123]

• Air force: 19 officers, 21 other ranks[123]

Combat
flying 4,073+ combat sorties 2,279 combat sorties
effort
59 IAF (official), 43 PAF.[11] In addition, Indian sources claim that
Aircraft
there were 13 IAF aircraft lost in accidents, and 3 Indian civilian 19 PAF, 104 IAF [134] 20 PAF, 60–75 IAF[135][136]
lost
aircraft shot down.[12]

Aerial
17 + 3 (post war) 30 –
victories

128 Indian tanks, 152 Pakistani tanks captured, 150 Pakistani 165 Pakistan
Tanks
tanks destroyed. Officially 471 Pakistani tanks destroyed and 38 tanks[dubious – discuss][citation
destroyed
captured[137] needed]

India held 1,840 km2 (710 sq mi) of

Land area 4,190 km2 (1,617 sq mi) of Pakistani territory and Pakistan
3,900 km2 (1,500 sq mi) of Pakistani territory
won Indian territory[138] held 540 km2 (210 sq mi) of Indian
territory

Neutral assessments
REASON OF 1965:-
The conflict began following Pakistan's Operation Gibraltar, which was designed to infiltrate forces into Jammu and Kashmir to
precipitate an insurgency against Indian rule. India retaliated by launching a full-scale military attack on West Pakistan.

Who won the war?

It has been a real confusion on who won the war. Both nations believe it has been won by them but no one is sure who really
won the war.

India won the war:

India believes it won the war as it successfully occupied 1800 km2 of Pakistani territory while Pakistan occupied 250 km2 of
Indian territory. The Indian army killed 3,800 Pakistanis and Pakistan army killed 3,000 Indian soldiers

Pakistan won the war:

Most Pakistanis believe that Pakistan was victorious . In Pakistan, it is celebrated as a public holiday known as Defense Day on
6 September

THE UNEXPLAINABALE MISERIES OF KASHMIRIS:

The people of Kashmir have been suffering from inexpressible miseries since 1948. The unending curfew, rape cases, torture
cells and crushing of their resources are only the slight expression of their miseries. A new hell can be witnessed in this old
heaven. India is projecting the struggle in Kashmir as “Muslim Fundamentalism”. India cannot throw the dust into the eyes of
the World Community by labeling the Kashmir Liberation Movement as “Religious fanaticism”. In fact, the Kashmiri people
along with their Islamic aspirations are fighting for the protection of their political, religious, cultural and economic rights. It is
the expression of the entire community. The Indian authorities have failed to understand the core issue and are trying to deal
with it as that of law and order. They link it to terrorism sponsored by Pakistan.
Kashmir was once said to be a heaven on the earth. But at present, the situation is totally different and the circumstances are
worst. In Occupied Kashmir, raping of the Muslim girls and women by the armed forces of Hindustan has become common.
The Muslim men and women, and boys and girls are being persecuted to death into the torture cells by the Indian army soldiers.

The innocent Kashmiri Muslims are being killed mercilessly on a large scale. In fact, the Valley of Occupied Kashmir has
become a slaughter-house of the Kashmiri Muslims. At present, occupied Kashmir is presenting a terrible spectacle.

ROLE OF UNO:
The Kashmir issue drew the consideration of the UN in 1948 when India firstly raised the issue in the UN. The UN has adopted
many initiatives with an eye to resolve this prolonged conflict in various times. The Security Council calls upon both countries
to take immediately all measures within their power calculated to improve the situation. The United Nations Commission for
India and Pakistan, in 1948, gave some proposals to both countries. a. Cease-fire order b. Truce agreement c. The government
of India and Pakistan reaffirm their wish that the future status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir shall be determined in
accordance with the will of the people of the state. The Commission made another resolution on 5 January, 1949. The
Commission urged both countries to accept the principle of “the question of the accession of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to
India or Pakistan would be decided through democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite.” In September 4, 1965 the
Security Council adopted another Resolution. The Resolution calls upon both the countries; 1. To take forthwith all steps for an
immediate cease-fire 2. To respect the cease-fire line 3. To cooperate fully with the United Nations military observer group in
the task of supervising the observance of cease-fire 4. To report to the Council within three days on the implementation of this
Resolution. Another Resolution was adopted too by the Security Council at its 1238th meeting on 6 September, 1965 which
calls upon the partiesI. To cease hostilities in the entire area of conflict immediately II. To exert every possible effort to give
effect to this Resolution III. To keep this issue under urgent and continuous review so that the Council may determine what
further steps may be necessary to secure peace and security in the area. But many think that the UN is absolutely failure to put
the Kashmir problem to an end. It is also equally true that the role of the UN can not be ignored to prevent the parties from the
nuclear war. It is also creating pressure as well as encouraging the parties to reach an effective and fruitful negotiation.
The time has come when UNO should play an active role as it has played an Iraq-Kuwait case. The resolutions on Kashmir are
yet to be fully implemented. The UNO has lost its repute as peacekeeping and peacemaking body. The unending struggle of the
freedom fighters has proved that the will of people cannot be suppressed. It is the moral obligation of the International
Community to rescue the innocent Kashmiris from the brutalities, cruelties and atrocities of the occupation army of India. The
Muslim Ummah should also come out of its slumber and prove it to the world that Islam is a force which cannot be suppressed.

CONCLUSION:
The history of international relations in the region has been marked more by conflict than co-operation. The region is
experiencing the Kashmir conflict, one of the protracted conflicts in the world which is known as time-bomb for the South Asia.
It is high time for realization of the importance of resolution of this conflict. It is widely recognized that the peace and
prosperity of South Asia is mostly depending on the future of this conflict. To conclude, the international community must
pressurize Hindustan to accept the justified demand of the Kashmiris. It must impose economic restrictions on Hindustan. It
must also use force under U.N.O.