Change in Pakistan’s Kashmir policy
I believe that a major reset is necessary in Pakistan’s Kashmir policy.
FAIRFAX, VA, US:
This is with reference to your editorial “Line of fire” (September 4). I believe that a major reset is necessary in Pakistan’s Kashmir policy. As explained in my recent piece published in The Express Tribune, “A possible basis for settling the Kashmir dispute” (August 17), the interests of both India and Pakistan regarding Kashmir have become surprisingly similar as time has moved on and the situation on the ground has changed since 1947.
Both India and Pakistan want to keep control over their parts of Kashmir. Both have hopefully realised after three wars that they cannot get the other part. Two major opinion surveys conducted on both sides of the border in Kashmir over the period 2007-2010 have shown that less than 10 per cent ( real figure is closer to five per cent) of the Muslim population of Indian Kashmir would like to join Pakistan. Likewise, Pakistani Kashmiris do not want to join India. Therefore, it seems, the Kashmiris in Occupied Kashmir are not as keen to join Pakistan as the Azad Kashmiris are for them to do so.
Given these realities, Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmiris will lose control over Pakistani Kashmir and gain very little in return if an independent Kashmir were to be formed. It is, therefore, not in the interest of Pakistan or Pakistani Kashmiris to press for a plebiscite or an independent Kashmir. India has always been unwilling to consider an independent Kashmir as an option anyway.
Since even the Muslim Kashmiris in India do not want to join Pakistan, and the Pakistani Kashmiris do not want to join India, a division along the Line of Control, i.e., a formalisation of the status quo, is in the best interest of both the countries. Please note, I am not saying that this is the best deal that Pakistan can get but it should be the primary thrust of Pakistan’s Kashmir policy since the alternative is not in the interest of Pakistan.
Ali Hashim,
Published in The Express Tribune, September 5th, 2013.
This is with reference to your editorial “Line of fire” (September 4). I believe that a major reset is necessary in Pakistan’s Kashmir policy. As explained in my recent piece published in The Express Tribune, “A possible basis for settling the Kashmir dispute” (August 17), the interests of both India and Pakistan regarding Kashmir have become surprisingly similar as time has moved on and the situation on the ground has changed since 1947.
Both India and Pakistan want to keep control over their parts of Kashmir. Both have hopefully realised after three wars that they cannot get the other part. Two major opinion surveys conducted on both sides of the border in Kashmir over the period 2007-2010 have shown that less than 10 per cent ( real figure is closer to five per cent) of the Muslim population of Indian Kashmir would like to join Pakistan. Likewise, Pakistani Kashmiris do not want to join India. Therefore, it seems, the Kashmiris in Occupied Kashmir are not as keen to join Pakistan as the Azad Kashmiris are for them to do so.
Given these realities, Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmiris will lose control over Pakistani Kashmir and gain very little in return if an independent Kashmir were to be formed. It is, therefore, not in the interest of Pakistan or Pakistani Kashmiris to press for a plebiscite or an independent Kashmir. India has always been unwilling to consider an independent Kashmir as an option anyway.
Since even the Muslim Kashmiris in India do not want to join Pakistan, and the Pakistani Kashmiris do not want to join India, a division along the Line of Control, i.e., a formalisation of the status quo, is in the best interest of both the countries. Please note, I am not saying that this is the best deal that Pakistan can get but it should be the primary thrust of Pakistan’s Kashmir policy since the alternative is not in the interest of Pakistan.
Ali Hashim,
Published in The Express Tribune, September 5th, 2013.