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1: History: |
Thousands
of years long history of Kashmir is divided into eras of local and
foreign rules. Its borders have also been expanding and shrinking
occasionally. Before Muslims appeared on its political arena in
the 14th century A.D, 21 dynasties of Hindus, Buddhists, Janis and
Zoroastrians had ruled Kashmir out of whom 18 were local during
whose rule Kashmir was an independent State. Muslims ruled it for
480 years (1339 to 1819 AD) out of which 246 years (more then half)
were of complete independence which also include its golden era
of Budshah Rule (142o to 1470) when Kashmir reached the zenith of
its glory and prosperity. On the whole Kashmir has been a free and
independent country for bulk of its history |
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2: Commitments: |
Both
India and Pakistan who occupy parts of Kashmir territory stand committed
to independence of Kashmir. There are dozens of examples each to
that effect. Let me refer to only one each. |
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India: |
Addressing
the UN Security Council on January 15, 1948, Gopala Swami Ayangar,
the head of Indian delegation declared on behalf of India, “…..
whether she (Kashmir) should withdraw from her accession to India
and either accede to Pakistan or remain independent with a right
to claim admission as a member of the United Nations- all this we
have recognized to be a matter for unfettered decision by the people
of Kashmir, after normal life is restored to them.” There could
not be a stronger commitment from India to concede independence
to Kashmir than one she made from the rostrum of the highest international
forum. |
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Pakistan: |
The
founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had declared
through his policy statements made on June 16, July 11, and July
30, 1947 that all princely states of the Subcontinent including
Kashmir could opt for independence besides acceding to India or
Pakistan. |
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3: Population
and Area: |
The
population of Kashmir is about 16 million, more than the individual
populations of as many as 133 of 191 UN member nations. Its Area is
over 2,17, 000 sq. Km, more than the areas of about 102 independent
nations |
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4: Economic Prospects: |
The
economic potentials of Kashmir i.e. Power Generation, Tourism, Forests,
Cottage industries, Fruits, Minerals, Sericulture, and heavy skilled
and unskilled manpower working abroad etc, are such that within
a decade or so after independence and with proper planning, Kashmir
can surely become the most prosperous country of the entire region |
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5: Defence of
Kashmir: |
Kashmir
is surrounded by mighty neighbors i.e. China, India and Pakistan
with none of whom can Kashmir afford a conflict. As such, there
are two alternative ways to ensure its security. the first and the
preferable one is to enter into a treaty of peaceful co-existence
with all its neighbors. If that does not work, we will enter into
defence pacts with any of them. As such defence will not be a big
problem for independent Kashmir |
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6: Education |
Even
today the aggregate literacy rate of Kashmir is higher than those
of India and Pakistan. Tens of thousands of our engineers, doctors,
scientists, and scholars can contribute to rapid development of
our independent motherland |
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7: Freedom Struggle: |
According
to opinion polls conducted by Indian newspapers, a big majority of
people in Kashmir Valley and large number of people in Jammu and Ladakh
areas are for re-unification and independence. During the freedom
struggle started in 1988 by pro-independence JKLF, tens of thousands
of freedom fighters have sacrificed their lives out of which a big
number were pro independence. A number of pro independent organizations,
JKLF being the most prominent and active among them, are working in
all the three parts of the state |
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8: Infrastructure: |
At
present Kashmir is divided into three administrative zones i.e.
Indian controlled part and Pakistani controlled Azad Kashmir and
Gilgit Baltistan. The Chinese administrated Aksai Chin is almost
uninhabited. All the three have legislative assemblies, high courts,
well-organized educational institutions, hospitals and quite efficient
bureaucracy. So, independent Kashmir will not have to start every
thing anew. All that will have to be done will be to restructure
the existing institutions into the structure of a federal republic |
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All the aforementioned facts fully entitle Kashmir to complete independence
even per norms of the UN and international law, and this entitlement
is besides the fact that independence to Kashmir, having friendly
relations with all its neighbours especially India and Pakistan,
is the only way to bring durable peace to the area and also ensure
a prosperous future for its huge populace numbering over one fifth
of the entire humanity |
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In
the light of these undeniable facts, India and Pakistan owe it to
their future generations and the international community to world
peace and to the principles and values that it stands for, to take
steps conducive to conceding independence to Kashmir thereby ensuring
peace, progress and harmony for entire South Asia |