KASHMIR: THREE PARAGRAPHS

A map of Kashmir, the disputed territory

   Kashmir is often termed as the incomplete agenda of the Partition. India and Pakistan fought their first battle against each other for the occupation of Kashmir. As a result, the beautiful valley was divided into two separate regions. Now, we have an Indian-administrated Kashmir, a Pakistani-administrated one and a Chinese-controlled one. Gilgit-Baltistan also comes into the list of disputed territories. The Balti residents of Gilgit-Baltistan don't want the semi-autonomy we have bestowed upon them. They want to become a complete part of Pakistan but our establishment refrains from accepting their patriotic demands only because it will weaken our claim on the entire region of Jammu & Kashmir. Three out of four Indo-Pak battles were caused by the conflict we have in Kashmir. LoC (Line of Control) was established mainly because of Kashmir. India accuses Pakistan-backed Muslim terrorists of organizing a genocide of the Kashmiri Hindus. Pakistan accuses Indian army of massacring innocent Kashmiri Muslims. What's the history behind this conflict and what's the solution? Let's find out in just two more paragraphs.

Maharajah Hari Singh, the last Dogra ruler of Kashmir

    Before the Partition (August 15, 1947 CE), there were 500+ princely states in Hindustan. It was decided that each princely state would be given three options i.e. either to get annexed to India or Pakistan or to remain sovereign. It was also agreed upon that the monarch would be the final authority regarding his state's decision. Thus, most Hindu rulers decided in the favor of India. On the other hand, most Muslim kings decided to go with Pakistan. Kashmir was ruled by a Hindu monarch but most Kashmiris adhered to Islam. When their ruler decided to go with India, Kashmiris revolted against him. Pakistan supported their cause and, with the combined effort of Kashmir and Pakistan, one-third of it was liberated. It was, of course, completely legal for India to occupy Kashmir. But then India did something to weaken its claim over Jammu & Kashmir. Junagadh was a Hindu-majority state ruled by a Muslim monarch (with Z. A. Bhutto's father Shahnawaz as the dewan). Although Junagadh was geographically isolated from the rest of Pakistan, the ruler decided to become a part of the Islamic country. But Indian troops entered Junagadh on the pretext that the subjects favored being Indian citizens. So, the Indian occupation of Junagadh raises a some serious questions we'll ask in the third and the final paragraph. Please keep the Pakistani occupation of Azad Kashmir and Indian occupation of Junagadh in mind. Also, remember that both states occupied the two regions on the basis that the populace was against the monarch's decision. India also trampled upon the sovereignty of Hyderabad the monarch of which wished to become the head of a neutral country. But Indians forcibly annexed Hyderabad on the basis that the subjects, again, were Hindus.

Burhan Wani is considered a terrorist in India and a freedom fighter in Pakistan

    Now, coming back to Kashmir-Junagadh hypocrisy. If India and Pakistan occupied territories on the pretext that the subjects were being given to the wrong country as per the religion practiced by the majority, why did they even agree to the British-made rule that the monarch would decide the fate of his state? If Junagadh belongs to India, why does Kashmir not belong to Pakistan? If Pakistan was satisfied with the decision made by the monarch of Junagadh, why did Pakistan show double-standards on the decision made by the Hindu ruler of Kashmir? Why didn't respect the British-made law regarding the fate of the princely states in Kashmir but violated it in Junagadh and Hyderabad? The answers were quite simple. Both countries were ruled by bureaucrats who were sons of bitches! Jinnah and Gandhi died early so there was nobody to stop India and Pakistan from acting like two barbarian states. The solution of Kashmir conflict is quite simple. India and Pakistan should call their troops back from Jammu & Kashmir. Jammu & Kashmir must become a free country. Let Kashmiris decide their future. India and Pakistan have played with their lives for nearly half a century. If Kashmiris really love Pakistan, a free Kashmir will be more pro-Pakistani than a Pakistani-administrated Kashmir.