View Full Version : India/Pakistan tensions
Briedis
15 Jan 2002, 15:03
After all the debates on solutions to the Israel/Palestine problems I thought some debate on how to solve the India/Pakistan problem might be interesting.
Both sides have massed tens of thousands of soldiers at the border in Kashmir and unless a resolve is found quickly this situation could flare into a very dangerous war for everyone.
The latest flare-up has been caused by the recent killings in the Inidan parliament back in December by terrorists, which led to the Indians accusing the Pakistanis of the attack, without any proof I might add. (sounds a bit like the US style of diplomacy hey...)
Since the split of India into the separate states Pakistan (East and West) and India the region of Kashmir has always been a contentious issue. It remains an Indian state due to the fact that a Hindu prince who ruled the state in 1947 joined India. Pakistan's problem is that over two-thirds of the population are muslims.
Many times have the people been promised a vote to decide the conflict, but it has never arrived.
Surely, the people of Kashmir should decide their own fate and vote for which country they will be a part of. In my opinion, it is time that India and Pakistan allowed this plebesite to take place and accept the decision of the people.
Good argument but in general territorial claimsunfortunately have nothing to do with the inhabitants wishes. Northern Ireland, Taiwan and maybe Western Australia are some proofs.
Irony would be a military dictatorship supporting a proposal for democracy to determine the future of Kashmir.
Briedis
17 Jan 2002, 07:22
I think Pakistan would definately support a vote because I would say that the Kashmiris would vote to go to Pakistan.
Why would India want to spend so much of their precious resources hanging on to a state that quite possibly does not want to be part of India anyway? Is there a lot of natural resources there?
Originally posted by Briedis
I think Pakistan would definately support a vote because I would say that the Kashmiris would vote to go to Pakistan.
Given that even most muslims in India have a better standard of living than they do in Pakistan I wouldn't be so sure about that.
Why would India want to spend so much of their precious resources hanging on to a state that quite possibly does not want to be part of India anyway? Is there a lot of natural resources there?
From memory it's value is it's location rather than resources.
Briedis
24 Jan 2002, 08:49
After discussing it on CNN with a few people, the general consensus there is that it is too late for a vote on it as in 1947 the region WAS a predigiously hindu area, but over time, the hindus have relocated to safer areas of the country. For some unknown reason the muslims did not relocate and now hold the majority.
This means that India will now never agree to a vote as it is very likely they would be defeated.
Most Kashmiris apparently do not wish to be with either India or Pakistan, but wish to have their own independent state. Considering the problems caused by the split of India, this has a high chance of resulting in further conflict....but perhaps, just perhaps, this could be the compromise that leads to stability in the region.
I have been to India a few times and the people a very strong minded about kashmir belonging to them. I can't see any way any Indian government could allow a vote or accept an independant state. There would be incredibile riots throughout India. Also don't forget that although Hindu is predominant there are many other religions in India including Moslem and Christian, so many Kashmiri Moslems would prefer India over Pakistan.
Briedis
24 Jan 2002, 10:06
I agree that it seems to late to accept a vote by the Kashmiri's, but India may not have any option but to allow an independent Kashmir as part of a compromise.
But I agree with you about the peoples feelings over there. I've been there too and they are very strong when it comes to this battle, but I could never work out if it was that fact that they were fighting Pakistan or the love they had for Kashmir that provided this united front. I think it is the former.
And now that there is 50 years of history of war, hatred and tension between the two it seems ingrained in the Indian social mindset.
An independant Kashmir seems like the only answer at this stage, but the question is what foreseeable problems would that then cause...
Bloodstained Angel
24 Jan 2002, 12:32
Kashmir holds a special place for Indians because that is where the head waters of the Ganges River are located.
As such, you could say its a 'sacred site' for Hindus.
Once you introduce this religious / spiritual dimension into the problem, you can understand why the Indians have never really seriously entertained the idea of Kashmir joining Pakistan or becoming independant in its won right.
cheers