Unresolved International Conflict - Assignment Example

Why is the Kashmir dispute the oldest unresolved international conflict in the world today? Introduction Enduring political crisis and social calamities in Kashmir region have acquired the serious attention of international community and the media in recent years and it became an unanswered political dilemma in Indian subcontinent. Kashmir dispute has reached its zenith when India forcefully occupied the states of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947, as per the instruction of the controversial document the Instrument of Accession. The United Nation and International community does not admit India’s claim in Kashmir and still believed as an international issue. Many factors including, social, cultural, religious and political have played a vital role in the process to exist Kashmir dispute as an unresolved problem. In the shadow of political crisis, there are some antisocial activities such as terrorism, fanaticism and jihad (holy war) in Kashmir region. Cases related with the violation of human rights have an integral role in the discussion, why Kashmir dispute became the oldest and unresolved international issue in the world? The people in Kashmir demands self governance and many people believe that both India and Pakistan should a positive decision in this self governance which may be a significant step in reducing the conflict. Anyhow, the conflict between the world’s newest atomic powers resulted severe security problems in Indian subcontinent. Historical background of the dispute Kashmir dispute has a rich historical background and it is not only a political issue between India and Pakistan but a last long crisis having various phases. Before the time of Indian independence, the state of Jammu Kashmir was a ruled by Hari Singh, a Hindu ruler and who tried to maintain his states as independent. Because of the presence of majority Muslim people some Pakistani leaders have argued that Kashmir region belonged to Pakistan. In 1947 Pakistan sent some tribal infiltrator to catch Kashmir and the Maharaja pleaded military aid for Indian army. Maharaja had ignored the opposition of the native people and he signed the agreement of the Instrument of Accession with Indian Government. Historical studies exposes that it is this event that resulted for the so called turmoil of the people who settled in Jammu and Kashmir. While turning over the pages of history, it is quite observable that for many years the people of this region were seeking for their cultural identity. The boundary problem between India and Pakistan paved the way for the unending crisis and it had affected not only the formation of the foreign policies of India and Pakistan but also various factor like demographic features, economic development, polarization of national politics, military strategy and defense expenditure. If the line of Control (LOC) is considered as the international boundary, people in Kashmir and Pakistan have showed their unwillingness to admit this. Robert Wirsing examines; “It has had a profound effect not only on the development of their foreign policies, in both bilateral and multilateral settings, but on their domestic political evolution as well” (Wirsing 9). Therefore, it is very clear that the arguments existing between India and Pakistan over Kashmir have deeper impacts on both the countries.v Causes of current upraising Political instability and the loss of faith in leadership among the Kashmiri people, especially among the youths are considered as the most significant factors included in the current upraising in Kashmir. The people have reacted against the submissive local body in Kashmir and demand support for their self determination and self identity. At present, majority of people in Kashmir lost their belief in politics. Various exploitations and intrigues by both governments since the year of 1947 forced the land to a world of political instability. The concept of the Special Status of Kashmir under the Article 370 of Indian Constitution is subjected to gradual deterioration. Comparing with other states, the geographical, religious, linguistic and ethnic backgrounds of Kashmir is different. The population of the Kashmir region includes the majority Sunni Muslims and minority Hindu Brahmins. In Jammu rejoin the majority of Muslims were fled to Pakistan during the time of Partition. After a series of small scale wars between India and Pakistan, India had internationalized the issue in 1940 by approaching the Security Counsel of United Nations to intermediate. The resolutions of the United Nations permitted the people of Kashmir to take the right to join either Indian Territory or Pakistan. The Smila Agreement in July 1972 was signed by the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pak President Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Paul H. Kreisberg, and Dennis Kux notice that; “In July 1972, India and Pakistan signed the Simla Accord” (Kreisberg& Kux 163), a very notable pact between the two nations. But after the successive implementation of the Simla Accord, both countries have shown the continuous efforts to ensure their control in disputed areas. Despite of legal crisis promoted by both nations, the issue of Kashmir became an issue of identity and self image. Researchers have often mentioned the fact that this problem of self image always dragged out all kinds of efforts to make peace in Kashmir region. India announces that the preservation of Kashmir is an essential matter for the countries secularism and its national identity. At the same time Pakistan consider Kashmir is essential for the perfection of their Muslim identity. Even though The United Nations and the International community have arranged a ceasefire between the forces of India and Pakistan in Kashmir region, they could not fix an effective solution on Kashmir dispute.v Frequent military operations and battles in Kashmir region are also considerable factors and these armed conflicts often break the silence. Growing peace problems and calamities have negatively affected the economic growth of the nation.v In 1965 Pakistan dispatched gorillas in areas of India Held Kashmir and the war last long 17 days and ended with serious adversities on both sides. India claimed that “Kashmir has been in the throes of a violent separatist campaign for nearly two decades during which authorities say 43,000 people have been killed” (Ahmad). In 1971 the people in both nations have witnessed a military conflict and the end of this 13 days war the Eastern Armed Force of Pakistan signed the treaty of Instrument of Surrender. Then the Eastern Pakistan separated as an independent state of Bangladesh. Failures of 1965 and 1971 have haunted some of the Pakistani rulers and terrorist groups and their unending efforts to take revenge give inspiration to keep the fire last long. Pakistan’s conscious silence in case of cross- boarder terrorism and the existence of various terrorist groups often invited the international criticism and it also inspires India to stand firm against Pakistan. Violation of human rights in Kashmir region has caught international attention in recent years. Unauthorized military operations from both sides have increased problems among the public and more people especially youths tend to join various resistance movement. Military operations in Kashmir always formed social calamities and the violent mob often acted in dangerous way. Terrorist movements and Kashmir dispute After 9/11 disaster, the international pressure on Pakistan in Kashmir issue has increased. Pakistan’s approach against terrorism, fundamentalism, and extremism are questioned. News reports have noticed that terrorist activities have created pressure on the armed struggle in the disputed area and try to catch international negotiations on the Kashmir dilemma. The underlying problem one can find that Pakistan has always handled Kashmir issue as a freedom struggle and the country strongly supported the right of self- governance for the Kashmiri people over the past six or seven decades. One of the major causes is that exist the Kashmir issue alive is that there is a big discrepancy of perception between India and Pakistan when tries to define terrorism. India argued that Pakistan promote the cross boarder terrorism in India held Kashmir. The Kargil is underlines Pakistan‘s involvement in promoting cross boarder terrorism. Things are reached its worst level when Pakistan kept mum in India’s argument about terrorism. India blamed Lasgkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohamad for executing attacks with ISI help. Recently the ISI Involvement in Mumbai terrorist attack is proved and India succeeded in its efforts to turn the international community against Pakistan. Conclusion When it concludes, it is evident that the issue of Kashmir dispute forced the reader to admit the influence of various factors such as political, religious, ethnic and administrative factors and these factors have kept Kashmir issue alive. Political instability and defective leadership forced the youth to join revolution. The real dispute is started in the past when the Maharaja signed the treaty of the Instrument of Accession in 1947.The demand for self –governance of the people in Kashmir region creates political and communal calamities in Jammu and Kashmir. Terrorist involvement in Kashmir area also keeps the fire in flaming. Failure of Government involvement in Kashmir region and policies make the people as rebels in Kashmir valleys. Terrorist activities of Lasgkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohamad in Kashmir region break all kinds of efforts to make peace. On seeking a permanent resolution for Kashmir dispute one can comprehend the fact that the leadership on both India and Pakistan should perform considerable political will and commitment to keep going meaningful dialogues on Kashmir issue. Works Cited: Ahmad, Mukhtar. 25 dead in 5 days of battles in Kashmir. CNN World. 2010. Web. 5 December 2010. http://articles.cnn.com/2009-03-24/world/kashmir.fighting_1_himalayan-region-indian-administered-kashmir-indian-army?_s=PM:WORLD Kreisberg, H. Paul., Kux, Dennis. India and Pakistan: the first fifty years. Illustrated edition. Cambridge University Press, 1999. Print. Wirsing, Robert. India, Pakistan, and the Kashmir dispute: on regional conflict and its resolution. Illustrated edition. Palgrave Macmillan, 1998. Print. Read More