Whose Kashmir is it anyway??

There is a very famous saying on Kashmir by Jahangir. “If there is a Paradise on Earth, it is here, it is here, it is here.” And it is evident that wars are fought for money, resources and the most beautiful things. Wasn’t that the reason for the Europeans to come here in India?

I will move onto the year 1947 from here when at the time of partition, the princely states were free to join India or Pakistan or remain independent. While most of the princely states acceded to India or Pakistan; states of Kashmir, Junagadh & Hyderabad were a cause of trouble since all of them wanted to remain independent. Although the states were free to choose, Mountbatten- the architect of partition took the position that only states that shared common border with Pakistan should accede to it, but it was just an advisory. Both Hyderabad and Junagadh had Muslims as their rulers, none of them sharing its borders with Pakistan.

The state of Hyderabad was included in Indian Union through an operation carried out by Indian army in September 1948. The state of Junagadh though chose to accede to Pakistan. The riots broke out in the state which comprised of 80% Hindu population. The Nawab of Junagadh escaped to Pakistan emptying the state treasury of cash and securities. On various requests made by the Dewan (who comes next to Nawab), the Pakistani Government did not intervene to control the riots which forced the Dewan to accede to India and take control of the situation, which India accepted.

At the same time, another similar game was being played in Kashmir. Kashmir had 77% Muslim population and most people believed it would accede to Pakistan owing to the fact that it shared its borders with Pakistan. However, the prince of Kashmir, Raja Hari Singh wanted Kashmir to remain an independent state. It is believed that after Raja Hari Singh decided against acceding to Pakistan, The Pakistani government “unofficially” sent in its tribals to take over Kashmir, as it did in Kargil war. The raja wanted an intervention from Indian government but India could not do anything, keeping its words on “agreement of non-intervention”. There was no direct proof of involvement of Government of Pakistan.


When the situation went out of hands, the Raja acceded to India and Kashmir was now officially a part of Indian Union. But till the time Indian troops made their way into Kashmir, the tribals from Pakistan had taken control of almost one-third Kashmir. The situation would have been worse had the tribals not stopped over for looting. The Raja’s accession to India allowed Pakistan to officially come into the scene and its troops taking control of the occupied area. The UN at that point of time asked for ceasefire and a plebiscite had to be taken in the absence of Indian & Pakistani troops, which never happened.

So, what now? India, Pakistan & the whole world knows there can’t be any solution to this issue. Even after our grandchildren would have died, both countries would keep fighting over this little paradise on earth. Kashmiris still want their own independent state, which too seems impossible. But Pakistan has made much progress than India by taking advantage of the emotions of Kahmiris, by naming their part of Kashmir as “Azad Kashmir” and controlling the state the same way Sonia Gandhi has been decision maker here in India. We still have not come to the conclusion, whose Kashmir is it anyway???