• Blog By: Topon Sharma
• Mar 30 2022

This blog is designed to look at some of the facts involved in the Kashmir Conflict between India and Pakistan and search for the possibilities of discovering ways to resolve the issues. An issue spanning 73 years cannot be presented in a few paragraphs. The truth is both India and Pakistan are paying a heavy price for a conflict that shouldn’t have started at all and certainly should not have continued. The highest price is paid by ordinary soldiers of both sides; the sacrifices of which can never be justified. No one can imagine what their families go through after each death of these soldiers of every cadre, irrespective of what compensation is provided by the government of these two countries. And for this to happen for 73 long years cannot be comprehended on any circumstances. This is not a time not to call ‘a spade is a spade and a trough is a trough’. It is time to shoulder responsibilities. Further knowing the facts, not propaganda surrounding the conflict becomes paramount.

 Needing Public Interest

Why an obviously solvable issue has not been resolved indicates the existence of far complicated intentions. Taking interest by everyone as to what is happening in their own countries is the first step in trying to improve the state of a country. Well informed public opinions can persuade governments to sort out unnecessary conflicts by challenging wrong narratives circulated by politicians, militaries or religious entities. So, knowing exactly what the issues are is important, otherwise useless conflicts can take us to the abyss. The question is, do we want to live in this world as fundamentalists Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims or people of any other religions looking down at/on each other or do we want to respect people of all religions, recognising that we all have equal rights to live in this world?

Trying to understand the issues

The vast majority of people do not make any fuss about their religions today. They have much better things to do. The most fortunate truth is, despite dreadful propaganda of political parties; religious organisations or governments most decent people of all religions live with great cordiality. They work together; visit each other’s families; share food; help each other in their hour of needs; marry inter- religion on occasions and enjoy honourable lives. However, there are others who can live only when they can abuse people of other religions without any rhymes or reasons. The choice is up to us. The better the choice we make, the better would be our futures. Muslims as well as people from all other religions can be as good as each others. Those Muslims who want to put a false blame on India should look at themselves first and the state of the Middle East as to how and why Muslim nations have been fighting among themselves for centuries on without any mercy. So, where are the problems? It shouldn’t be very difficult to know! Therefore, why not we look into the facts surrounding the conflict? In order to do so facing the truth with courage and not denying deliberately facts without valid reasons should be our guiding principles.

For many facing the truth even in simple matters is not easy. The feeling that one could be wrong in some matters or can do wrong even in error, triggers the alarm bell that builds the defence mechanisms in us. This is why the world is such a complicated place and so many conflicts are taking place in the world now. To handle serious matters with dignity requires immense strength in our personalities. It is very easy to say that we understand the importance of being truthful in our dealings with others, but asked a serious question, we waffle and cannot give a straight answer. Therefore, it is not surprising why some people or some nations cannot live harmoniously with their neighbours as their motives are so very different from the rest of the communities. Genuine willingness; good knowledge; experience; patience and appropriate mindsets are required to resolve complicated matters. Simply shouting loudly or denying the truths vehemently does not lead to a satisfactory solution.

 Wasting decades after decades

For the last 73 years India and Pakistan have been embroiled in a conflict which many fear that if it is not resolved with wisdom, it could lead to catastrophic consequences. Such a length of time to sort out a political issue may look like a tiresomely long time. Surprisingly, it may not be when we look around! When Shias and Sunnis, from the same religion have been fighting with each other and killing each other for the last 1,400 years; what prospect India, a democratic secular nation had of sorting out the issues involving a Muslim nation in 73 years? This leads to the question, can it not be further 730 years or even more? No one can say, but we can look at the issues and try to find out what really are the problems involved in the Kashmir issues. To do so, we need to go back to the long history of India; history of British rule of India and the spread of Islam in India. Muslim invasion, rule and spread of Islam in India and the history of British rule of India.

Historically India

Historically, India was a homogenous sub-continent under Emperor Ashoka during 304 BCE to 232 BCE, renowned for its Indus Valley Civilisation. However, to remain in one body was not easy and gradually many kingdoms emerged out of India. It was the beginning of 7 th/7th century when Islam was established in the Middle East. Prophet Muhammad decided that ruling a country and spreading Islam should be done by the state. The states became known as Caliphates and the people in charge as Caliphs.

Muslim Invasion of India 

The existing trade routes then by boats in the Middle East were known to most traders and traders knew wherefrom they could get valuable commodities. India was known to have an abundance of valuable as well precious commodities. The easily reachable province of Sindh in the North Western India became the target of the Umayyad Caliphate. After a number of attempts to conquer Sindh, in 712 AD they managed to invade Sindh.

When the invaders also became the enforcers of religion, one could imagine how frightened the Indian people were when Arabs invaded India. Gradually the religion of Islam was spread to most parts of India. As history has recorded Arabs and later the Mughals had exploited India mercilessly by looting; rampaging through places; raping girls and women; burning precious books; killing senselessly anyone disagreeable; forcing conversion and imposing an unfair tax called Jizya. This became the hallmark of Muslim rule for near enough 1,000 years and this is how India became Islamised. So when the East India Company (British Agents) arrived in India in 1601, they did not find a homogenous India. They found a broken and squandered place with divided people. Gradually, the British got rid of Mughal rulers and started organising the infrastructures. India started to show its own true colours. Muslims* (some Muslims) didn’t like that as they lost control of India and remained indignant that Hindus gained some power in their own country. Their main aim had remained how to increase Muslim population in India and make India a Muslim nation. Centuries later Indians - Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and later the Sikhs became aware of Muslim intentions and their trying to take advantage from the British. The British ruled India for about 200/400 years and they had to please the Hindus as well as Muslims, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs and groups of other people. 

British rule and partition of India

During the British rule of India, besides many other wars in their colonies worldwide, two major wars took place. One was the First World War which started from 1914 and the Second World War from 1939. These two wars caused huge damages to many countries; took the lives of many millions of people including the lives of military personnel; cost colossal amount of money and resources. India joined the Second World War on the understanding with the British that after the war was over India will gain independence. Towards the end of the Second World War the movement to free India started. At the beginning Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs, Christians and people of all other religions fought for India’s independence as one group. As the movement gained momentum Muslims declared that they wanted a separate nation, meaning partitioning India at any cost and gave some spurious reasons like, ‘with the Hindus, Muslims cannot prosper’. It is ironical that without the Hindus, Pakistan has not done well at all. It appeared that the actual reason for wanting to separate was not disclosed. Partitioning India wasn’t a decision India liked, but it was compelled to accept it. In reality the intention of majority of the Muslims were to Islamise India and failing that possibility they were prepared to have a smaller country, so long it was an Islamic country. Finally, the partition of India took place. On the 14 th/14th August 1947 Pakistan had its independence and India had its independence on the 15 th/15th August 1947. Following that, massive killings and atrocities took place - the tragedies of which are hard to depict. However, the main purpose of the Muslims was fulfilled, i.e., to have a Muslim country in the subcontinent of India. 

Invasion of Kashmir by Pakistan

It was certainly not very easy to slice India apart as Muslims and Hindus were mingled all over India. Therefore it required extraordinary wisdom to respect what to expect and what not to. Sadly, respect was not available in plenty. Nevertheless India’s partition took place. Having gained independence with allocated territories from India, Pakistan felt confident that they could also snatch Kashmir, a Princely State from the Maharaja of Kashmir. So, on 22nd October 1947, Pakistan Military with the support of tribal militias invaded Kashmir. Pleaded by the Maharajah of Kashmir, Hari Singh and hurriedly acceded to India legally; India recovered the two thirds of Kashmir and Pakistan occupied the one third. The case was taken to the Security Council of the United Nations. The UN recommended a plebiscite on a step by step method. This was agreed by both countries. First Pakistan was to remove its military personnel and tribal militias from its occupied position. Once this was done, India was to progressively reduce its forces to the minimum level required for keeping law and order and the third step, India needed to form a coalition cabinet and then appoint a Plebiscite Administrator nominated by the United Nation. However, Pakistan didn’t fulfill the first part of its obligations, so India couldn’t do its share of actions. Many attempts were made for Pakistan to do its part to enable India do its part for plebiscite to take place. Years continued to pass, but Pakistan did not fulfil its responsibility.

From the way Pakistan conducted led to the belief that Pakistan was not absolutely sure if it would win the plebiscite and therefore it felt that it was better to hold onto the one third of Kashmir. There was also a misconception in Pakistan’s part to assume that all Kashmiri Muslims would vote for Pakistan. Indeed, it was not the case and that too possibly discouraged Pakistan to go through the plebiscite. However, Pakistan did not have the courage to face the truth. Therefore, to avoid the plebiscite they kept on inventing baseless excuses year after year which kept on adding up the years. The only way Pakistan could win a plebiscite was by driving many Hindus and other non-Muslims away from Kashmir by means of any kinds of violence. However, for a plebiscite to be fair it needed to be done within a reasonable time-frame. Countless conflicts and seven decades later, the entire demography of Kashmir had changed and therefore it became impossible to have a valid plebiscite now or at any future date. So, the time for having a plebiscite in Kashmir been gone for years, which has been known to Pakistan well. What Pakistan talks about plebiscite on and off is simply a noise to detract inadequately informed Pakistani people at home from their more pressing needs. So, the dispute on Kashmir per se goes on, until Pakistani public can see the blunders of their Governments and demand them to forget Kashmir; run Pakistan well and give its people what they desperately need. 

Miscalculation of Pakistan

The question is why did Pakistan get involved in invading Kashmir, when they had only acquired the territories from India and called itself Pakistan two months earlier? Wouldn’t have been their first priority to look after their newly acquired country? Even worse that this was despite Pakistan and Kashmir having a standstill agreement not to invade Kashmir after independence of India! More important is why did the Maharaja of Kashmir feel necessary to have a standstill agreement with Pakistan? The only logical reason could be that the Maharaja feared the possibilities of invasion by Pakistan after India was freed. It may be possible that Pakistan assumed that Kashmir was a Muslim majority state! This too couldn’t be a reason to invade Kashmir. In truth, Pakistan had no reason to invade Kashmir. It appeared that Pakistan forgot its foremost responsibilities to look after their newly acquired country. Instead, it ventured to invade Kashmir. 

The issue of Muslim majority

The issue of Muslim majority has been a very controversial issue in India since the Arabs and Mughal invasion of India for their forceful and disingenuous conversion of Hindus and people of other religions in India. The same has been the case with Kashmir. For the last several decades fundamentalist Islamic terrorist groups have been killing Non-Muslims as well as driving many away to other parts of India. As a result thousands of Non-Muslim people have left Kashmir and sheltered in India. The process of wilful demographic changes has been a Muslim strategy for centuries. However, Non-Muslims globally have been aware of the strategies Muslims adapt to increase Muslim majority areas of various specifications. So, India today is totally aware of how facts on Kashmir have been manipulated by Muslims to convert areas into Muslim areas and therefore to ensure that the tragedies of the past do not repeat themselves. As Muslims want to convert other people in their own countries, would Muslims like if they are converted to other religions in their own country? The time has come to face facts and not to believe in one way transactions. Pakistan should have the courage to look at itself as to how it has conducted itself with India since 1947 

What did Pakistan do after independence?

 After independence Pakistan’s main task became how to occupy Kashmir and make Pakistan an Islamic country. Instead of building a modern country with modern curriculum based education systems, it started building religious schools called Madrasas. Therefore, Pakistan did not get the priorities right, at a time when peoples’ perceptions of religion was mellowing. Further, it started causing continuous firings in the Indo/Pak borders to encroach on Indian territories. Instead of successfully working with what they obtained after negotiating in the presence of the British, they tried to snatch Kashmir, which was totally unacceptable. So, the Pakistani people never could enjoy the benefit (if there was any) of partitioning India. Taking into account how Pakistan started running the country can provide some ideas about how serious were they or not of developing Pakistan. Pakistan had 8 Prime Ministers within the first 10 years and a decade of Military rule. The first Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated in 1951, which was 4 years after independence. From 1957 the post of the Prime Minister of Pakistan was abolished until 1971 and President’s rule prevailed. So, over the period of 73 years many political leaders and prominent people had been assassinated in Pakistan. Why is Pakistan so prone to killing their leaders? This shows that many of the people involved with the Government of Pakistan and Military administration did not and do not consider what is right or wrong; legal or illegal or for the genuine welfare of Pakistan. 

Obsessed with occupying Kashmir became the sole objective of Pakistan for which four or more wars were initiated by Pakistan, but none was won. So, to establish a good relationship with its neighbour India did not occur to Pakistan. This has been so counterproductive. No doubt one can blame the politicians or the militaries of Pakistan, but how many Pakistani people consider that it was wrong to invade Kashmir in October 1947 or at any time? How many people marched through the streets of Pakistan and demanded Pakistan to look after the country well and give up the Kashmir issue? If the general public do not have high morals, how can we expect the politicians, militaries or clerics to have high morals? Many people imagine that, had not Pakistan invade Kashmir in October 1947, today Pakistan would have been a very successful nation, so would have been India and Kashmir as it has cost so much in money, materials and time for the wrong purposes. 

What did India do after independence?

 In contrast, what did India do when it got independence from the British? India, with some minimal help from a couple of foreign countries (unlike Pakistan who got help from the Muslim counties as well from U.S and other western nations) started creating schools, colleges, hospitals, dams to irrigate water to grow food to feed the hungry. The first Prime Minister of India was in office for 17 years, who was assisted by a large number of fellow ministers with good morals and brilliant minds. The very idea that India was compelled to be partitioned on the grounds of religion without considering the long history and civilisation of India was the most painful time for India. India tried to salvage whatever was left of India in the most difficult of circumstances. Despite continuous troubles from West Pakistan and East Pakistan from the Indo-Pak borders towards India; imposing several wars on India but not succeeding, India maintained its grace. The vast majority of the nations of the world know that India is right on the Kashmir issue and India has acted properly. Therefore they are not interested in siding with Pakistan. Gradually, India built up its resources and today India is a nation admired worldwide for its hard work and successes. The same could have been done by Pakistan, had Pakistan had the intention of working honestly, instead of constantly trying to harm India. Self realisation is the only asset that could help Pakistan and not trying to occupy Kashmir. 

Why the Kashmir issue has gone on for such a long time?

 Why the Kashmir issue has gone on for such a long time bewilders many. People seem to have various opinions about it. Many feel that Kashmir is not an issue or not the issue. Carving out so much of territories from India itself should have been the reason for Pakistan to be happy and satisfied. However, it was not. Why did West Pakistan and East Pakistan (as they were called before 1971) start firing towards India from the borders of Pakistan sides from the beginning of independence which continued for decades! The only reason one could see is that Pakistan did not want India to have peace and progress thus to keep India busy with Pakistan’s misdemeanours. Some say that by keeping the issue alive it will tire Government of India and India would give up. Others say that by keeping the issue going Indian Muslims would be encouraged to cause continuous conflicts within India. Another one is that with the help of some other countries, Pakistan will invade Kashmir and occupy it. Judging from all these scenarios no one can imagine what motives Pakistan has, but it is true that there is no end to it. 

Learning from the experiences

 Irrespective of any speculations true or false, what could India and Pakistan learn from each other that could be the assets, they must try to harness? To go into details, may not be practical here. However, in simple terms one can say that India has done much better, despite Pakistan’s attempts to engage India on several wars and constant engagement in Indo-Pak border conflicts. India’s progress has not simply been industrially, technologically or financially- it has also made tremendous advancement in the medical sciences, space exploration and welfare of its people. A simple question like, how many Nobel Prize winners Pakistan had during this period and how many India has, will itself make a big statement? Not only India has done well, it has also helped a good many countries in their hour of needs. What India has done in the last 73 years has been measurable and could have been a lot better hadn’t India needed to spend a sizeable amount of its money in defending the country. Hadn’t Pakistan embarked upon Kashmir invasion and waging several wars, both countries would have done better and improved the standard of living for its people. However, if Pakistan feels that their ways are better than India’s ways - they are entitled to have their opinions. Hadn’t Pakistan embarked upon Kashmir invasion and waging several wars, both countries would have done better and improved the standard of living for its people. However, if Pakistan feels that their ways are better than India’s ways - they are entitled to have their opinions. 

What can Pakistan do now?

In many ways, Pakistan truly has no problems. The problems appear to be self triggered and more of a Mindset oriented. Wanting Kashmir is not a desperate need. It is a fixation. As it wasn’t part of the agreement Pakistan had in partitioning India, Pakistan shouldn’t have invaded Kashmir and thereby invited its own problems. Pakistan needs to do a deep soul-searching. It should consider where it went wrong and where it has done right. Has Pakistan ever asked themselves questions like why did Pakistan invade Kashmir despite Pakistan and Kashmir having a standstill agreement not to invade Kashmir after the independence of India and such other related questions? By invading Kashmir under a standstill agreement Pakistan showed that it couldn’t be trusted. Has Pakistan ever asked itself what would have been the future of Pakistan, had it not made the ghastly blunder of invading Kashmir in October 1947? Could Pakistan not have been a successful country like India or even better? These questions need to be asked! Within the answers to these questions should appear the ideas of solutions to the issues. 

Considering the sacrifices India made!

 1. The first thing Pakistan should try to consider is how big a sacrifice India made by forsaking two huge territories of it on which a remarkable civilization was built over many thousands of years. Would any Muslim country make such a sacrifice as India did? The story of King Solomon befits here well. It was about the ownership of a baby two women were arguing about to be theirs. King Solomon offered to cut the baby in half and give it to them thereby proving that the one that didn’t want the baby cut in half would be the true mother. Partitioning India was the same. It showed how little Muslims (later became Pakistanis) respected other peoples’ lands, cultures, religions or history. This is where the mindset of Pakistani politicians, militaries, religious leaders and Pakistani people need to make serious changes. Had India not made the changes of mindset in negotiations, possibly there would have been no Pakistan today. Valuing others’ needs are as important as valuing one’s own needs. In any negotiations there must always be some give and take. Pakistan mustn’t have the mindset of taking only. What is important is to look at is the gains both countries could have once the conflicts and animosities gradually start disappearing. The short sightedness of Pakistani politicians has been the ‘Achilles heel for Pakistan’. 

How lucky Pakistan is?

2. Pakistan should consider how lucky it was to be able to successfully negotiate partition and gain the territories, which they now call Pakistan, an Islamic Republic. They should try to think how positively they could utilise the territory they have; establish good relationship with India as a good neighbour, if they wishes. 

Waste of opportunities for Pakistan

 3. Had Pakistan worked hard with a good plan, they would have been a very successful country like any other country in the world. Only problem Pakistan had is the mindset of certain leaders who couldn’t appreciate what it got from India; put wrong priorities and couldn’t guide the country well. They should review their judgement.

Assets that Pakistan has

 4. Pakistan has good, friendly and hard working people. Naturally they are from Indian roots. One can call them Half-Hindus or Half-Muslims or Mixed Muslims or Converted Muslims - but they are essentially the same or similar people. The only tragedy is many forget what they truly are; their history and act in a manner that is not always sensible. However, many enlightened Pakistanis remind that Indians and Pakistanis come from the same culture and it was foolish to divide India. They wonder about the possibilities of putting these two countries together. One cannot downplay innocent healthy dreams as in a profoundly changing world and no one could predict the long term future of anything.

Learning to acknowledge past errors

 5. Then Pakistan should consider that Kashmir wasn’t the part of the deal they had in the presence of the British, so they shouldn’t continue harping for Kashmir. Adopting the right mindset, it shouldn’t be difficult to do so as it is true. 

Finding a solution

Solutions to any situations can come only through logical and truthful answers and not by any other means. This small mental switch is all that Pakistan needs to break free from the unnecessary conflicts India and Pakistan have been involved in for the last 73 years. 

Following not the old path

However, if Pakistan feels that with the help of any foreign nations they will invade Kashmir and win; it would be up to Pakistan Government to decide. Anyone looking into the Middle East conflicts with a serious mind can only fear for the consequences of a war. Any genuine well wishers of India and Pakistan will only advocate for a peaceful means. Peace will suit better the people of Pakistan and India as there are no conflicts between the people of these two countries. It is only some misguided politicians, militaries and religious leaders in Pakistan might wrongfully believe in a war. Most Pakistani people of any position would possibly want the end of the Kashmir issue and look forward to a newer Pakistan and newer India. Having done a mental adjustment within Pakistani mindset, Pakistan should try to develop its own positive identity to bring pride to its people. And it can do a lot more.  

Learning to think differently 

Whatever is done one must remember that the key to changing the future is to learn to ‘think differently’. Staying in the same thought process wouldn’t serve the interest of Pakistan and India. India made the biggest sacrifice that very few nations have made in political spheres. It is time for Pakistan to make a wise decision to settle this issue and start working to develop Pakistan and bring peace and prosperity to the people of Pakistan. It can be done so easily and the only thing needed is the desire of Pakistan Government and its people to do so.

Sparing some moments for nearby nations in difficulties:

Looking around at other Islamic nations, we need to look at the unimaginable situations of the Middle East that have prevailed for around three decades and many go back a lot longer. The countries like Libya, Iraq, Syria and Yemen have encountered most brutal tragedies. The sufferance’s of innocent Muslim people have been unforgivable. One can certainly blame the Western world for some of the tragedies in the Middle East but cannot suggest that the Islamic nations are not responsible at all for many of the things that have gone so seriously wrong within themselves. Since1948 there have been more than one hundred conflicts in the Middle East. The Shia and Sunni conflicts also cause a large number of killings every year. Learning to take notice of the changing world as well of the changing times; the advancement made technologically, industrially, economically and even socially in the world should encourage Islam to make the required changes to acknowledge the spheres of other religions that are a lot older, more accommodating and more successful than Islam. Some changes of mindsets for all nations, not excluding Muslim nations are required. Pakistan too needs to change in some essential matters to benefit the people of Pakistan. It will help Pakistani people to transform Pakistan in all manners adding pride to the nation. The future can be remarkably bright.

If this article can shed some lights in finding a solution that both India and Pakistan could work on together to bring genuine peace, prosperity and friendship to both countries, the time spent on it would be worthwhile. With the possible errors and omissions of whatever the kinds, the efforts to change things for better should be everyone’s task. If you feel happy to make a considerate comment that could help to shed further light on the issues, please do feel free to make it. It would be helpful to the cause and would be very much appreciated.