What exactly is the stand of Pakistan and India respectively as far as Kashmir goes? I am sure that as time passes the issue will get more and more convoluted since the origins of the dispute will pass out of memory. Both Nations are wasting precious time resources and lives on maintaining a status quo that does no good to the people of Kashmir. I am sure that like myself most persons do not know the detail of the stand originally taken by India and Pakistan. Popular lore (word of mouth) as I recall states that at the time of Independence for Pakistan and India from British rule the province of J&K had a largely Muslim population and a Hindu ruler Maharaja Hari Singh. The ruler had the option to integrate his province with India or Pakistan or stay independent. Apparently he most favoured the third option that is independence. Reprentatives from the future Union of India were trying to impress upon Hari Singh the benefits of integration with India but he was wavering and had not yet made a decision. Sensing that the Maharaja's decision might go against Pakistan and to force the issue the Pakistan Army instigated some groups of tribals to invade the province. The tribals with dreams of easy loot agreed. As soon as the tribals with Pakistan Army support invaded J&K and started looting and pillaging the Maharaja whose security forces were overwhelmed sent an urgent message to the Government of India for help. The Indian Government asked the Maharaja to sign an Instrument of
RE:Pak firm on its 'historic stand' on Kashmir
by Nirpinder Singh on Apr 06, 2008 04:22 PM Permalink
The Indian Government asked the Maharaja to sign an Instrument of Accession of J&K to India. This the Maharaja did and India air lifted platoons of its Army to Srinagar. The Indian Army was effective in halting the advance of the Pakistan Army/Tribal invaders. As soon as the Indian Army started pushing the invaders back Nehru was struck by a desire for international diplomacy and decided to take the dispute to the United Nations. Apparently the Army Officers of the Indian Army tried to convince Nehru to wait since they were confident of pushing the invaders back from all of the territory of J&K that had been occupied. However Nehru did not relent. As soon as the dispute reached the UN the Security Council decided that both sides (India and Pakistan) should observe a ceasefire and hold the positions that they occupied on the day of the ceasefire. Both sides agreed. The ceasefire position became what we today call the LOC or Line of Actual Control. Now what is the basis for the UN Resolution (of 1948 I believe) regarding J&K that is so oft quoted by Pakistan and what all has transpired in all of these years of "discussions" perhaps someone else will be so kind as to enlighten us
