Kashmir problem and the solution.

The successful nations of the world are those nation, who learn lesson from their past history, and than keep their path straight towards progress and development. They are known as developed countries of the world. Today we are celebrating Kashmir Solidarity day without thinking for a single movement about Kashmir and we are happy only for having another extra holiday. This is not a sign of any sensible nation.

The Kashmir dispute has derailed Pak-India relation for five decades and no end appears to be sight. Nawbzada Liaqat Ali Khan once said in 1948 that we will not give up our struggle for Kashmir even if it takes ten to fifteen years. It has now taken us 58 years, and the dispute has not been settled. It would be well to examine its causes and mistakes we havemade and also to think about the realistic approach to solve it.

It is in record that Vallabhbhai Patel, the powerful minister in Jawaharlal Nehru’s govt had offered to Nawabzada Liaqat Ali Khan in 1947, that Pakistan should keep Kashmir and let India to have Hyderabad this offer was refused. Nawabzada Liaqat Ali Khan and presumably the Quiad-e-Azam felt that we could have both: Kashmir because it had a Muslim Majority and Hyderabad because it had a Muslim ruler. It is also known that Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, the Chief Minister of Kashmir asked to see the Quaid-e-Azam in 1947 but was not given an interview. It is also known that the Maharaja of Kashmir was indecisive about acceding to India or to Pakistan. With out making any effort to make contact with him, Khan Abdul Qayyum Khan, The Chief Minister of NWFP was allowed to unleash a tribal invasion of the state.

With the approval of Pakistan govt regular Pakistan Officers and men were allowed to join the govt sponsored tribal attack on the valley. After reaching the valley these tribesmen started plundering and looting and then left Kashmir and came back leaving small number of Pakistan army, Indian army seen the such situation attacked back and saved Sirinagar.

After this fruitless battle unending non-result oriented political discussions begun to solve the problem, but still after 58 years of discussion the problem is there remains unsolved.

General Ziaul Haq annexed the northern Areas of the state to Pakistan and declared that these no longer formed a part of Jammu and Kashmir. By separating a 100% Muslim area from Jammu and Kashmir, we in fact acknowledged that there was no possibility of a United Nation controlled plebiscite in the state. Fifty-eight years after partition the position is that at least 80,000 people have lost their lives in Indian occupied Kashmir no meaningful progress has been made in nsolving this dispute.

Pakistani official position remains that the Security Council’s resolution regarding holding a plebiscite should be implemented and although India claim Azad Jammu and Kashmir as a part of Indian Territory. Pakistan with almost struggle now succeeded to compel Indian govt to sit a table to talk about Kashmir in the name of composite dialogue, but there is not a single step forward taken to the solution of Kashmir. The various possibilities that have been talked about do not offer any real solution to the problem. The first suggestion that the ceasefire line be converted into an international border is no solution, and no govt in Pakistan could possibly consider such a suggestion.

The other alternative that the Chanab river be converted into an international border and the territory on its river bank excluding Leh and the adjoing non Muslim areas as well as all the territory on its left bank should be a part of India. This suggestion was given by very learned people of both sides, but the infiltration of so called Mujahideen will remain the same and less porn-borders will not be able to solve the problem.

The third and in my view the only solution to the problems to recognize the state of Jammu and Kashmir as an independent country, the boarders of the state are continuous with China, India and Pakistan. Chinab boarder is virtually impassable and China now has no claim on any part of Jammu and Kashmir. China, India and Pakistan could jointly guarantee the inviolability of the boarders of the new state and Jammu and Kashmir would then not be required to have any armed forces of its own. Its internal security problem could be served by Police forces.

This would save the back breaking expenditure of maintaining its own defense forces, giving it an opportunity to use its considerable resources for the welfare the people and for promotion of tourism for which it has unrivalled potential. In such away the people to people contact would increase, also we can support the Indian Muslims who had scarified their every thing for the independent Pakistan. India could argue that if Kashmir in granted freedom it will open up a ‘Pandora box’ for India and the demand of other people who are seeking separation from India will be strengthened. There is however no parallel between Jammu and Kashmir and other territories such as Nagaland or Mizoram.

Such kind of proposals and also rapidly changing situations is a test for the leaders on of both sides, the sub-continent is a home of more than a billion population as already lacking the minimum survival needs, but their meager resources are also being utilized by buying missile, air craft and other ammunition from USA and other Western countries by the action the richer are becoming more richer. Where as their own people are being put into the abyss of poverty and starvation. So it is a alarming situation for the people of both sides to think and try to compel their leader to solve this oldest problem in UNO’S charter for the benefit of common man of the hole area.