The last time I visited Kashmir, in November, I was struck by an apparent contradiction: it was more peaceful than it had been in years, at least in the capital Srinagar, and yet the overwhelming mood was one of gloom. With the peace process between India and Pakistan going nowhere, there was a sense that thousands of people had died for nothing in the violence that had convulsed the region since a separatist revolt erupted in 1989. Although the soldiers had disappeared from the streets of Srinagar, and tourists were flocking back, it retained the some of the same tinderbox atmosphere that I had known at the height of the violence. One spark, people told me, could ignite it again.
When that spark came, in the form of a land dispute between Hindus and Muslims that triggered some of the biggest protests since 1989 (you can see my last posting on this here), the surprise was perhaps not so much that it happened but that so few analysts in Delhi (or Islamabad for that matter) saw it coming.
The sheer size and unexpectedness of the protests have prompted some Indian analysts to ask a question that has been anathema in Delhi for decades: Is it time to consider giving Kashmir independence, or at least to let Kashmiris vote on their future?
“If the experience of the last two decades has taught us anything, it is that the situation never really returns to normal. Even when we see the outward symptoms of peace, we miss the alienation and resentment within. No matter what we do, things never get better, for very long,” writes Vir Sanghvi in the Hindustan Times.
“I reckon we should hold a referendum in the Valley. Let the Kashmiris determine their own destiny. If they want to stay in India, they are welcome. But if they don’t, then we have no moral right to force them to remain. If they vote for integration with Pakistan, all this will mean is that Azad Kashmir will gain a little more territory. If they opt for independence, they will last for about 15 minutes without the billions that India has showered on them. But it will be their decision,” he writes.
“Whatever happens, how can India lose? If you believe in democracy, then giving Kashmiris the right to self-determination is the correct thing to do. And even if you don’t, surely we will be better off being rid of this constant, painful strain on our resources, our lives, and our honour as a nation? This is India’s century. We have the world to conquer -the other- and the means to do it. Kashmir is a 20th century problem. We cannot let it drag us down and bleed us as we assume our rightful place in the world. It’s time to think the unthinkable.”
The Times of India runs an editorial along similar lines. ”I was once hopeful of Kashmir’s integration, but after six decades of effort, Kashmiri alienation looks greater than ever. India seeks to integrate with Kashmir, not rule it colonially. Yet, the parallels between British rule in India and Indian rule in Kashmir have become too close for my comfort,” writes columnist Swaminathan Aiyar.
“We promised Kashmiris a plebiscite six decades ago. Let us hold one now, and give them three choices: independence, union with Pakistan, and union with India. Almost certainly the Valley will opt for independence. Jammu will opt to stay with India, and probably Ladakh too. Let Kashmiris decide the outcome, not the politicians and armies of India and Pakistan,” he concludes.
For two such reputable columnists to make a suggestion like this in national newspapers is extraordinary. India has long maintained that Kashmir is an integral part of the country. It has argued that giving up Kashmir would encourage secessionist movements elsewhere in the country and undermine its commitment to secularism by acknowledging that Kashmir, as a Muslim-majority region, could have special treatment. And it has traditionally blamed Pakistan for stirring up trouble in the region, convinced that if only Islamabad could be persuaded to end what it called “cross-border terrorism”, the benefits of Indian democracy and financial support would eventually win the people of Kashmir over.
Of course, a couple of op-eds calling for a plebiscite in Kashmir does not mean it is going to happen. The issue is phenomenally complicated, not least because the much-vaunted U.N. resolutions passed in 1948 calling for a referendum were meant to apply to the whole of the former kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir, now divided between India, Pakistan and China. The people were to be given the choice between acceding to India or Pakistan, but not of independence; while the resolution also required that Pakistan withdraw its troops first from its side of the region, followed by the bulk of the Indian forces, before a plebiscite were held.
And any vote, even within the Indian part of the former kingdom, could stir up bitter divisions between and within the three regions that make up the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir – Hindu-dominated Jammu, Muslim-dominated Kashmir and Buddhist- dominated Ladakh — that would dwarf the recent protests. Pakistan would also be faced with tough choices over how to handle the people on its side of the former kingdom, including Azad Kashmir and the strategic Northern Areas.
However, they do suggest a new thinking in India, which, determined to win its place as a global player on the political and economic stage, no longer wants to be dragged down by the Kashmir conflict. The question is whether this new thinking — coming at a time when Pakistan is struggling to reinvent itself as a civilian democracy — could contribute to a genuine effort towards a durable peace. Or will it simply make an intractable problem even more complicated?
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it seems indian peole has rotten mindset as seems from their comments.they are not able to take realties of kashmit.every soul in kashmir wants freedom from indian occupation.the india is genocide nation.Kashmir is counting on UN. Please don’t let the people of Kashmir down…
- Posted by freedom fighterTHE KASHMIR PROBLEM
Today, a large number of kashmiris are making the same demand as Mohd. Ali Jinnah at the time of partition.
There are two varieties of muslims in the world. One, are those liberal muslims that believe that they can live happily with non-muslims. Large majority of Indian muslims fall in this category as their fore-fathers consciously chose to stay back in India after partition, and live with hindus.
However, majority of Pakistani muslims are off-springs of those who believe that muslims and non-muslims cannot live together in the same country.
The basic idea of Jinnah was that a separate Muslim state will be better for them and there would be everlasting peace between the two friendly neighbours, India and Pakistan.
Jinnah has been PROVEN WRONG
After 60 years, we see that the religious intolerance of Pakistani muslims has made life miserable for them as well as the world, by making Pakistan the breeding ground for terrorists. And, partition has not helped in bettering the relations of India and Pakistan. These two nations are biggest enemies of each other.
Kashmiri Separatists want to repeat the same BLUNDER. A separate state based on religious divide.
All muslims need to debate what form of Islam they wish to practice?? That which is practiced by large majority of Indian muslims or the Pakistani kind that leads to enmity, hatred and destruction.
The basic premise of separatists that they cannot live with non-muslim hindus and must have a separate country is WRONG. This thinking is the same as that of Osama bin Laden that muslims cannot live with non-muslims in the same world. Hence, his call for Jihad to convert or kill all non-muslims in the world.
The land of Kashmir cannot be separated. Kashmir valley was full of water long ago as a lake. Thousands of years back, Rishi Kashyap drained the lake after which valley became habitable. Initially, only sages and hermits stayed there engaged in penance. Later, after advent of Islam, the ordinary people who had converted to Islam grew into majority, and sages later called Hindu pundits became minority. THESE WERE THEN DRIVEN OUT OF KASHMIR STARTING FROM 1980S (TODAY THE WORLD CALLS IT ETHNIC CLEANSING) WITH NO PROTESTS FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
MOST MUSLIM SEPARATISTS BELIEVE TIME STARTED AFTER BIRTH OF ISLAM. AND HENCE, THEY CAN CLAIM ANY THING AS THEIRS WHEREEVER THEY ARE BASED ON RELIGION.
MUSLIM INVADERS HAVE EITHER DRIVEN OUT, CONVERTED OR KILLED IDOL WORSHIPPERS FROM IRAN TO INDIA AND BEYOND.
The converted muslims in the Indian sub-continent must at least have some respect for their ancestors that were long back forced into Islam. At least, for their honour, they should not make life so miserable in their ancestors land who were common to all hindus and muslims alike in this part of the world.
these are my personal views.
PRADYUMNA PANDEY
- Posted by pradyumna pandeyfrom BHARAT (NAME OF MY COUNTRY by our forefathers that extended from present day Iran to large parts of Indonesia in the ancient past)
INDIA as named by British
Hindustan as named by muslim invaders.
It is time to recognize that Kashmir is an occupied nation and will remain so until the Indian army decides to leave. The only way India can keep Kashmir is by “force”. Kashmiris have made it clear time and again that they are not Indians. India has to decide do they perpetuate this occupation or do they want to join the peace-loving democracies of the world. India certainly has the ability to kill lot of Kashmiris, but the question remains … is it worth it? How wise is it for India to keep 6 Million people of Kashmir occupied within its borders? It is time for India to let go of Kashmir. Kashmir has abundant natural resources to survive as an independent nation. It export huge amounts of power to India with little benefit for itself. Kashmir can trade with both India and Pakistan…. It is time, my friends!
- Posted by JimmyBy Switzerland solution I mean making LOC the international boundary and allowing trade through the LOC.
- Posted by NarayanThe first step in the right direction would be for the
Hindu religious chauvanist to stop inciting religious hatred. The next step in the right direction
would be for the valley to accept the return of the Kashmiri pandits.
The Switzerland solution is the best thing for Kashmir,
by this I mean Kashmir being able to trade with the rest of India and across the LOC also. Pakistan is Punjab dominated, many regions want to break away. Do Kashmiris from the valley really want join the Maelstrom that is Pakistan?
The young people in South Asia really want job opportunities. We should reject politics of religious sectarianism and ethnic hatred. A peaceful enviroment is needed for an expanding economy. There are many global problems to be solved like the energy crisis and global warming. People from India/Pakistan are smart and can contribute to solve many comtemporary issues.
- Posted by Narayanit seems reason and good sense is ultimately dawning on the indian intelligentsia. what the recent economic blockade of the only muslim majority area by the hindus in india has done is to make people like me also who were quite confortable with india to realise what dangerously communal direction india is heading to….
- Posted by ahmadHello Naqeeb,
- Posted by indianThe thing what u said is right. but it is not possible due to religious difference. i would love this to happen. but i can bet my life it can never happen and if it happens it goin to be catastrophe. people fighting with each other for the religion. i live in europe and i have pakistani friends. they r really good friends of mine. they say that they have so many problems about balochistan nwpf etc. they say that if kashmir is not an issue then pakistan would be divided into different countries. i would never want this to happen as pakistan was once a part of india and i respect the land, people and the culture. but i would request everyone to live in peace.
Reading through the comments, I’d say there is not much to be gained in arguing about the history of Kashmir, nor indeed in blaming the Pashtuns, Indians or Pakistanis for the current impasse, as there will always be at least a thousand different opinions. One could just as easily blame the British for selling Kashmir to Gulab Singh in the first place, or the earlier oppressive rule of the Sikhs and the Afghans for that matter.
I’m happy to argue about the history of Kashmir with anyone as I have a particular interest in it, but for the purposes of this blog the question is really about the future rather than the past. (I know there is a school of thought that says that India and Pakistan will never make peace until they have agreed on their history, but that seems like a rather tall order!)
Is there a change in thinking in India about Kashmir (perhaps among the younger generation?). I see one person has posted a comment saying that “a debate on this “taboo” subject is long overdue and now is as good (or as bad ) a time as any.” And is it matched by a change in thinking — perhaps also among the younger generation — in Pakistan?
And if so, where lies the solution?
Having been in Ladakh, Kashmir, Jammu, and the Northern Areas of Pakistan, I’d caution that the issue looks different depending on where you are in the former kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir. So whatever happens is not going to be simple.
More questions, I know, but felt I should pitch in to the debate to ask people to look forward rather than back. And please try to keep the commments constructive — no abuse, no swearing and no denigrating an entire people based on their religion, race or ethnic or national identity.
- Posted by Myra MacDonaldWe Indians consider Kashmir as integral part fo India.There is no question of it’s secession.No one should even dare to think so!
- Posted by Bulle ShahThese op-eds (Singhvi, Aiyer etc) should be charged with treason and prosecuted.
Few people (communities) don’t want to co-exist with any other.You give up something, they will ask for more.It has no limit…
They do not want to be a part of India after sixty years of accession with India but they are looking forward to be a part of ‘Greater India’(whatever that means).Good luck to you, your first wish shall be granted but when ? After the maps are redrawn,
- Posted by rathiDemographic data is recompiled; population census and land measurements are done,
how and how many districts or provinces go which side, relocation of some and dislocation of others, either peacefully or violently, quite possible the whole process would take two to three decades because there are going to be endless disputes and both the parties are going to knock at the door of united nations and you know litigation is time consuming and by the time Kashmir gets “aazadi” your children’s children might say, ‘Grandpa’ for whom did you do this?
A Plebiscite is a fair process. Fairness has to be ensured by the UN in conduting a Plebiscite.All Indians must await the outcome, and abide by it.
- Posted by SanjeevPeople may have different opinions but the fact remains that Kashmir is an inalienable part of India and if the people of Kashmir are willing to go to Pakistan, they are free to do so. Like how Pakistan has accepted Afghani’s after raping that country they would surely welcome Kashmiri’s. The Kashmiri’s should first visit some of these camps in Peshawar and other areas to see how the Afghani’s are being treated like animals and then assess what their future would be like in Afghanistan. The Kashmiri’s are being taken for a ride by a few separatist leaders who are behaving naive and unaware of realities. Kashmir has been woven into the Indian tradition for thousands of years will do so for the next thousands of years
- Posted by KashmirrKashmir’s should have right to determine what there future looks like. If they will be given the right then the opportunity to have “greater India” will become more feasible where people live being Pakistani, Afgani, Indian, Bangladeshi, Nepali, Bhutani, and Sri Lankan but enjoy the benefit of greater India, just like “European Union”. Ethnically we belong to this region, values are almost same, culturally they are same then why not we should work together to be part of greater India or any other unity name, where all these individualities are preserved, and people prosper on the economic well being of the region. Moreover in divided Sub continent the fight of keeping Kashmir has nothing to do with “Two nation theory”, it is more to have control over natural resources specially “Water”. Primarily all nations in the region are agro-base economies; if one has control over water they have advantage. Nonetheless Shrines of Indian lords or of Muslim saints are respected by the regional people because it does give them opportunity to thrive from the visitors, so there is no question if Kashmir goes to India, Pakistan, or independent then what will happen to the Lord Shiva’s Shrine? I think we should respect the right of self determination of Kashmiri’s; this will pave the path for Greater India/SAARC. This translates into less spending on the arms and military and more on the infrastructure development. All this will ensure that people of the region are prosperous and our next generations are going to have good schools, better healthcare facilities and have brighter future. Long Live Pakistan and its Neighbors.
- Posted by NaqeebOne should be very realistic in accepting the disputed nature of the Kashmir.All those who have watched today’s peacefull protests in kashmir will realise the aspirations of the people of kashmir, where millions of people assembled in the heart of the city to register thir protest. The protesters included all the intelectual classes of the kashmir like doctors, lawyers etc.The kashmir was never under the british rule and has a seperate history so where guareenteed the right to self determination by the then prime minister of india by taking the issue to UN.Furthermore I ask the so called Indian to go back to the history of the world and say that no body could stop the massive public uprisings even if the oppressors were very powerfull than what india is even today, so don’t live in fools land and stop thinking that even an inch wll not be given to kashmiri’s.We have a right to self determinatin and we will get it. InshaAllah
- Posted by kashmiriso much said about Kashmir from both sides, I think basic question remains what do the Kashmiris want? They have basic human right to decide their future. Lets them give this basic right once and for all to sort this. People claiming if they want to join Pakistan they should move to Pakistan etc, should keep in mind Kashmiries are indigenous people and they have every right on their own homeland and its future!
- Posted by ShakilMyra,
Nobody would agree if you say lets give the right to choose to kashmiris over land. its not their land alone.It is integral part of India.But i do agree if you say the choice to where to live should be given to Kashmiris. Let them choose.. if they want to continue to live in with Hindus or move over to Pakistan or china. if they are ready to let these terrorists in..
- Posted by OmI have yet to hear or see anybody leaving his home and hearth, affluence, livelihood
- Posted by shefand big houses and orchards and choose a life of misery in dingy, disease infested refugee camps, small hutments ,jhuggi jhompadis ,just because some Governor called Jag-Mohan had hatched a conspiracy against Kashmir Muslims. It is hard to believe that even if some wise person would have told the people of Hiroshima to leave because the city would be nuked, they would have heeded and left or for that matter people living in cities located on earthquake faults know very well that one of these days there is going to be death and destruction but still live there. It is not in human nature, or for that matter basic animal instincts do not allow to leave the comfort zone unless brute force and or intimidation is used to make it happen.
Three hundred thousand people or may be more left the Kashmir valley for nowhere, not knowing where they will get shelter or food or clothing, a sizeable percentage of the people who fled were elderly and ailing who just wanted to spend the last days of life in the confines and comfort of their home with their families, to see the end and be cremated or buried in the land which used to be their ‘Home’.
However cleverly the argument of conspiracy theory and criminal designs of the governor are put, such an explanation simply does not hold any ground unless the large majority of the people who left were insane. devoid of any common sense and did not care about the deprivation of education, decent living, flourishing business and profession, large estates and things which had been accumulated through the hard work of their fathers and forefathers.
It is very pathetic that such hypothetical instances are being created for people who were uprooted from their land and home as if they were a pack of mice that would follow the fiddle of Pied piper Jagmohan and jump in the water to drown.
I think Vir Sanghvi is very biased in claiming that Kashmir will perish in 15 minutes as a sovereign nation. If Bangladesh could be given its freedom and it has survived as a sovereign nation, I don’t see why Kashmir cannot unless ofcourse India goes back on its word and attacks Kashmir to reannex it.
- Posted by Sana MushtaqKashmir will be part of India, if required, we will take back pakistan. Kashmir cannot be just given away because there are more muslims there. Who marginalised and drove away all the Kashmiri pandits? Where were the so called secularists when kashmiri pandits were barbarically killed and driven away. Even if we give away Kashmir, pakistan cannot afford to sit quite. What will happen to the huge investment they have made in building the terror networks, they have to be used somewhere. If we give up Kashmir, they would want more.
- Posted by DileepMr. Kabura…pashtuns are a barbaric tribe…and they re known as one in many parts of the world..just because you belong to some tribe doesn’t make it less barbaric..PERIOD..learn to accept facts that be a “whining” baby..one thing which you said correctly is the impotence of the sissy indian government..the govt. of india has nuclear power.. kashmir is an integral part of india and will always remain so. Those who don’t want to stay in the country can get out! the motherland is not a piece of cake to be divided over fighting children..ok??
- Posted by Girish