A region of south central Asia, mainly mountainous but including the
broad and fertile valleys of the river Indus and its majority tributaries. The territory
is divided into two parts by the Himalayas.
In the southeast there are three regions: the Vale of Kashmir or upper Jehlum valley, the
districts of poonch and Mangla in the middle Jehlum valley and the Jummu-Kathua
plain or the Chenab and Ravi valleys. Beyond the Himalayas, to the north and Northeast are
Gilgit, Baltistan and Ladakh, the last two are mainly occupied by the Karakoram ranges.
Kashmir is de facto divided between Pakistan and India on the basis of the cease-fire line
of January 1949. The area illegally occupied by India is 139,000 square kilometers. The
Northwestern section, as far as the Afghan frontier, is in Pakistan and it is known as
Azad Kashmir (Free Kashmir), with an area of 84,000 square kilometers. It includes Gilgit,
Baltistan and about one-third of Kashmir province and half of Poonch.
Kashmir occupies one of the world's highest regions, including the mountains of the
Karakoram and northern sector of the Himalayas chains, with peaks rising to over 8,000
meter such as K-2 (8,611 meter) and Nanga Parbat (8,126 meter). The river Indus enters the
region from the southeast and flows through a long valley parallel to the Himalayan
chains, entering Pakistan through a deep gorge. The other rivers of Kashmir are
tributaries of the Indus but not all of them join it inside Kashmir. They include the
Shyok and the Gilgit on its right bank, the Jehlum and the Chenab on its left bank.
There are many lakes. The largest towns are Srinagar in the Vale of Kashmir and Jammu at
the southern foot of the Himalayas, respectively the summer and winter capital of the
state of Jammu and Kashmir. There are three all-weather roads from Srinagar: to
Muzzafarabad (the capital of Azad Kashmir) and Rawalpindi; the railhead for Sialkot in
Pakistan; and by the Banihal Pass (2,832 meter high) and tunnel to Jammu. Also in 1978,
the Karakoram Highway was opened from Pakistan to Sinkiang.
THE FINAL PHASE
The struggle of the people of Kashmir for their rights has entered the final phase. They
have waited for forty long years pinning their hope on India's "good"
conscience. They got only promises but no fulfillment. They counted on Pakistan's ability
to pressurize India
into doing justice to them. It did not happen. They put their trust in the United Nations.
It only passed resolutions for holding a fair and impartial plebiscite.They found that
with each passing year, India became more obdurate, more defiant and became bold enough to
declare that Kashmir was an integral part of it. They find the tide of Hindu
fundamentalism is India rising to a vicious crescendo. It has come to hold the levers of
power in India at the center and in the states. It has already pushed the government into
substantially eroding Kashmir's special status in the Indian union, guaranteed by Article
370 of the Constitution. It is now pitching for the abrogation of the Article itself.
Communal riots, killing of Muslims and economic discrimination have become endemic. The
people of Kashmir have decided to wage their own war of freedom. Hatred begets hatred;
Occupation begets resistance. It is only a natural phenomenon.
CHRONOLOGY OF THE KASHMIR ISSUE
March 23, 1940
Pakistan Resolution is passed at Iqbal Park, Lahore, demanding the establishment of an
independent state in areas in which the Muslims are in majority. Alphabet "K" in
the word "Pakistan" represents Kashmir, as it is a Muslim majority area.
June 3, 1947
British government announces plan accepting the demand of Muslims for establishment of
Independent State of Pakistan in areas where the Muslims are in majority. All the
political parties including the Muslim League (representing Muslims) and the Congress
(representing Hindus) accept the plan.
August 14, 1947
State of Pakistan comes into being
October 27, 1947
Indian troops land in Sringar, capital of Kashmir state. India claims that on the same day
the Hindu ruler of Kashmir signs formal documents of accession to India but never shown
the documents.
October 27, 1947
The first Governor-General of India, the British Viceroy, lord Mountbatten, in a letter
accompanying the instrument of accession says, "It is my Government's wish that as
soon as law and order have been restored in Kashmir, the question of accession should be
settled by a reference to the people of Kashmir."
November 1, 1947
The Governor General of Pakistan, Mr. Mohammad Ali Jinnah tells lord Mountbatten that
Kashmir's accession to India "was not a bona fide one since it rests on fraud and
violence."
January 5, 1948
The UN Commission for India and Pakistan passes a resolution, noting thatboth India and
Pakistan had accepted the following principle: "The question of accession of the
state of Jammu and Kashmir to India or Pakistan will be decided through the democratic
method of free and impartial plebiscite. "
April 21, 1948
United Nation Security Council passes a resolution "that the future of the State of
Jammu and Kashmir shall be determine in accordance with the will of the people."
January 5, 1949
The UN Commissioner for Pakistan and India passes a resolution, nothing that both Pakistan
and India had accepted the following principals: " The question of accession of the
state of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan or India will be decided through the democratic
method of free and impartial plebiscite."
January 24, 1957
The Security Council, reaffirming its previous resolution to the effect, "that the
final disposition of the state of Jammu and Kashmir will be made in accordance with the
will of the people expressed through the democratic method of a free and impartial
plebiscite
conducted under the auspices of United Nations," further declared that any action
taken by the Constituent Assembly formed in Kashmir " would not constitute
disposition of the state in accordance with the above principles."
February 5, 1964
India reneges from her pledge. The Indian representative tells the Security Council, 'I
wish to make it clear on behalf of my government that in no circumstances can we agree to
the holding of a plebiscite in Kashmir." Defense Minister, Kirshnan Menon gives the
reason:
"Kashmir would vote to join Pakistan and no Indian Government responsible for
agreeing to plebiscite would survive.
March, 1965
The Indian Parliament passes a bill declaring Kashmir a province of India.
August, 1965
India accuses Pakistan of sending infiltrators to Kashmir and Indian forces cross the
cease-fire line in Kashmir.
September 6, 1965
India attacks Pakistan across the international border and tries to capture Pakistan's
second largest city Lahore, but fails.
September 23, 1965
Security Council arranges a cease-fire.
January 10, 1966
The Soviet Union arranges talks between Pakistan and India; the Tashkent Agreement is
signed, through the mediating efforts of the Soviet Prime Minister Alexi Kosygin. The
Agreement reaffirming that the dispute should be settled by peaceful means. The armies are
to be withdrawn to their original positions.
January 30, 1971
The Indian Intelligence arranges a plane hijacking of an Indian plane to Pakistan from
Kashmir, and on that pretext bans over-flight of Pakistani planes to disrupt communication
between the two wings of Pakistan.
November, 1971
Indian Army attacks East Pakistan.
December 16, 1971
Pakistan surrenders East Pakistan to India. India declares East Pakistan as
"Bangladesh."
July 2, 1972
The Simla Agreement between Pakistan and India is signed. Both agree to make efforts for
the establishment or durable peace by seeking a solution to existing problems, including
"a final settlement of Jammu and Kashmir."
1987
The current uprising of the people of Kashmir starts as protest against inefficiency,
corruption, religious discrimination and Hindu communalism.
January 19, 1990
The Indian government brings Kashmir, wracked by wide spread Muslim freedom unrest, under
its direct control. The State legislature suspended, government is removed and Ex director
general of Indian Secret Service, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) Mr. Jagmohan is
appointed governor.
January 20, 1990
Large scale demonstration. Thirty people killed by Indian Security forces. Curfew imposed
in most cities.
February 25, 1990
Government employees join demonstrations.
February 27, 1990
India refuses to allow any United Nations official to visit Kashmir.
March 2, 1990
Forty killed in firing when more than one million Kashmiris march through the streets of
Srinagar. Police ordered shoot on sight.
March 28, 1990
Refugees start pouring into Pakistan from Occupied Kashmir.
April 10, 1990
Prime Minister Singh of India threatens war, and says, "we are not going to stop till
we have achieved our objectives.
April 13, 1990
Prime Minister V.P. Singh warns, "India will teach them a lesson."
April 14, 1990
Authorities send military reinforcements to Kashmir.
IS KASHMIR AN INTEGERAL PART OF INDIA?
Mr. Alifuddin Turrabi, the editor of Kashmir Al-Muslimah (March 1999 issue), a weekly
magazine in Arabic, published from Muzzaffarabad, Kashmir: Legally and constitutionally,
no country with the name of "INDIA" exists as according to the Constitution
(adopted on January 26, 1951), the official and constitutional name is "BAHRAT"
which was actually a " Utopian " Hindu religious state in early history of this
religion exactly same as " Israel" a Jewish state that came into existence after
the disintegration of Solomon Kingdom. The other Sister State was Yahudia. The so- called
" Indian" citizens carry passports which clearly describe the country's name as
"Bharat" in Hindi language. The same situation is with its currency, postage
stamps, postage seals, and official gazettes.
In the Western and Middle Eastern media the term "India" or "Hind" had
always been referred to geographical location and never to a single nation. India is not
and never a politically united nation, but rather a geographical area like Iberian
Peninsula where Spain and Portugal are separate countries for countries. Another example
is that of Arabian Peninsula where Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, Kuwait Oman, Qatar and two Yemens
are separate independent countries. Historically, also, India was never a united country.
Even at the time
of Ashoke and during Mughals period, this subcontinent was divided in at least Six
independent countries. Of course north India is not only "India."
Even at the time of British colonial rule India had many independent States such as
Hyderabad, Kashmir, Bhawalpur etc. This is worthy to note that only Hyderabad was much
bigger than the combined area of France and Germany. All these countries had their
separate currency, railway and postal system.
Lingually, also, so called united India is one of the most un-united area. Even now
southern languages are completely different from those of northern languages. The southern
inhabitants are still not ready to accept "Hindi" colonialism. Hindu colonists
were very clever and they deceived the whole world by claiming "Secular Indian
Republic". If it
is really secular India why it's official name is " Bharat ". Simply because it
is Hindu State of Bharat, where the only right of non-Hindu is to be killed.
Now question arises why Non-Hindu people should live in this Hindu Bharat. This is very
logical that they should have their own independent countries. And how a Muslim Kashmir
can be an integral part of Hindu Bharat? |
