Submitted by:

Espiritu, Julius O
Ocsing, Shiela Mae R
Estrella, Jezrelle C.

Submitted to:
Prof. Jonathan A.
Javier

I. Topic Issue:

Pakistan Conflict: claim over Kashmir

II. Statement of the Problem :

 1. It is the Pakistan’s right to claim to Kashmir.

2. India has no solid basis in its claim over Kashmir

III. Introduction

It has been a big controversy, a war or conflict of two countries in the south Asia,
the India-Pakistan conflict. Both India and Pakistan claim the princely state of. Kashmir
this issue seems interesting to study, in order to decide on where Kashmir should be
annexed, to India or to Pakistan, there were initial bitterness between the two countries.
But let us discuss first, what is Kashmir and where it is located? Why did India and
Pakistan claim for Kashmir?

Kashmir was strategically located between India and Pakistan and it was led by a
Hindu Maharajah. The country was originally a stronghold of Hinduism. Buddhism was
introduced about 254 BC. Muslim made up the majority of the population most of the
people engaged in agriculture and the principal crops are rice, corn, wheat, and oilseeds.
Silk weaving and carpet weaving are its major industries. Sikhs and Hindus made up the
other major ethnicities though they were a minority compared to the Muslim population.
Kashmir required to choose between India and Pakistan, the Maharajah was unable to
decide to which state they want to join.

Diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan soured for many other reasons,
and eventually resulted in three further wars in Kashmir the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965,
the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 and the Kargil War in 1999. India has control of 60% of
the area of the former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir; Pakistan controls 30% of
the region, known as Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. China has since occupied 10%
of the state in 1962.

The first war between India and Pakistan began in October 1947 and ended 1948.
The origin of the first war between India and Pakistan can be traced to the final status of
Kashmir following the establishment of an independent India and Pakistan on August 15,
1947. The division of India into two (the other is now Pakistan) caused tremendous
dislocation of population. Some 3.5 million Hindus and Sikhs move from Pakistan into
India, and about 5 million Muslims migrated from India to Pakistan the demographic
shift caused an initial bitterness also between the two countries that was further
intensified by each countries accession of the portion of the princely states.

Tension between Pakistan and the government of Kashmir grew as the Maharajah
indecision frustrated Pakistan and pro-Pakistan faction within Kashmir. Hostilities began
in early October 1947 when a tribal rebellion broke out in Poonch in southwest Kashmir.
By October 20th the Pakistani army entered the conflict in support of the tribal forces in a
multi pronged effort designed to capture Uri, Jhangan, Rajvara, and Naushera in the
opening days of the campaign. Pakistan timetable was to capture the capital in Kashmir,
Srinagar, within a week.

On October 22, 1947, a Lashkar of tribal’s, some five thousands strong, led an
incursion into the valley of Kashmir. Tribal and Pakistani forces experienced significant
successes in the opening days of the conflict as they were able to take Dommel on the
first day and overpowered a Kashmiri government battalion at muzaffarabad by October
23. On October 26, 1947, after four days, they were in the vicinity of Srinagar. The
Dogra army seemed have been beaten. The maharajah had already fled his capital,
Srinagar, to seek the comparative safety of Jammu.

Tribal and Pakistan forces meet fierce resistance at Uri, where Kashmir
government forces despite the desertion of many of its Muslim troops, were able to delay
the Pakistani forces for two days until it was destroyed.

The war between them took prolongation of time on the Indian army’s
intervention in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the qua id-e-as am reacted swiftly and
ordered General Gracy (acting Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Army) on 27/28 October
1947 to dispatch troops to the scene the British General however failed to carry out the
orders of the governor General It might be said that in the circumstances he blatantly
defied the squad some people thought it was a case of high treason at that time all the
four provincial governors, 0the agent to the governor general in Baluchistan and the three
services Chiefs of Pakistan were b British.

India’s 161st infantry brigade was deployed and thwarted the advance of the tribal
forces in early November 1947, the 161 st using armored cars, counterattacked, surprising
the Pakistani forces and successfully broke through the their defenses. The 161 st was
flown into the airfield at Srinagar and to return power to Srinagar. The momentum of the
Indian counterattack forced the Pakistan forces into a full retreat allowing elements of the
161st to retake Baramula and Uri.

Despite early successes, the Indian army suffered a setback in December 1947
because of logistical problems furthermore many of the Indian soldiers were ill prepared
for fighting In the mountainous region of Kashmir and Jammu, few were experienced at
high altitude combat nor were they prepared for the cold. These setback were significant
as the Pakistani-backed forces were able to capitalize on these problems and to push back
Indian forces from the border area

In the spring of 1948, The Indian side mounted another offensive to retake some
of the ground that it had lost. Pakistani regulars were introduced into the conflict later in
the year, targeting the city of Jammu. The hostility from the spring through December
1948 was widespread as Pakistani forces conducted operations in both the north and the
south.

The intensity of the conflict and the inability to foresee a quick end to the conflict
without involving considerable resources on the part of India to expel the Pakistani forces
led India leaders to approach the United Nations who ultimately introduced observers in
June 1948. A UN brokered cease-fire went into effect on January 1, 1949.
 In all, 1.500 soldiers died on each side during, the war and Pakistan was able to
acquire roughly two-fifths of Kashmir which it established as Azad Kashmir, meaning
free Kashmir, stands the reason why we study this issue is to prove that Pakistan still
have the right to claim over Kashmir because India has no solid basis in its claim over
Kashmir. The group's stand will clearly show that Pakistan should claim it. The flow of
the discussion are based on the facts that we hav4e been gathered and studied. The group
have just elaborated and put some emphasis to be clear enough our stand.

IV. Discussion:

1. It is the Pakistan’s right to claim the Kashmir

Pakistan has to claim Kashmir as one of its princely State. It is because there are
solid reasons that show the right of Pakistan to claim the territory. Demographically,
Kashmir’s population is about 10, 143,700 Million, around 65-67 percent of the
population are Muslim and the remaining minor group constitute to the Hindu and Sikhs
population.

Considerably Kashmir can be asserted as a Muslim nation that must be acceded to

a Muslim country like Pakistan and not in a Hindu country like India. Kashmir’s
population in its last census (2007) is approximately 10, 143,700. Sixty-seven percent of
it or 6.8 million were Muslim people. Thirty percent or 3 million are Hindu and two
percent or 200,000 are Sikh.

And through this, the group can say that Kashmir, A state that is dominated by
Muslim people, can be consider as a Muslim community, A community with a state
religion of Islam, and a state with a primary language of Muslim language. And basically,
Kashmir established Islamic culture, a culture which is different to the culture that
dominates in its other claimants, which is India.

Division Population  %  %  % Sikh  %

 Muslim Hindu Buddhist/Other

Kashmir
5,476,970 97.16% 1.84% 0.88% 0.11%
(53.9%)

Jammu
4,430,191 30.69% 65.23% 3.57% 0.51%
(43.7%)

Ladakh (2.3%) 236,539 47.40% 6.22% – 45.87%

Jammu &
10,143,700 66.97% 29.63% 2.03% 1.36%
Kashmir

Geographically, Kashmir is a state which is nearer in Pakistan rather than India. It

is located in north east part of Pakistan and northwest of India, but it is few kilometer
nearer in Punjab province of Pakistan

Also, major rivers that flow in whole Kashmir, like Indus, Suttes, Ravi, Chenab
and Jhelum River flow into Pakistan; hence, these rivers are considered as “Lifeblood of
Pakistan Agricultural Economy”. And the group can say that Kashmir would not become
Kashmir without Pakistan.

The Jhelum River is the only major Himalayan River which flows through the
Kashmir valley. The Indus, Tawi, Ravi and Chenab are the major rivers flowing through
the state. Jammu and Kashmir is home to several Himalayan glaciers. With an average
altitude of 5,753 meters (18,875 ft) above sea-level, the Siachen Glacier is 70 km (43 mi)
long making it the longest Himalayan glacier.
 And letter is, in the word Pakistan stands for Kashmir, it is because Kashmir is a
big asset in the economy of Pakistan. Thus, Kashmir is an economy that basically part of
Pakistan’s economy.
 Politically, India, didn't acknowledge Kashmir as a Muslim state because they
believe that it must be a Hindu state for the reason that the maharajah of Kashmir is a
Hindu and some of its population were Hindus.

The above statements show numerous reason and strong claim of Pakistan, overt
the Muslim state of Kashmir.

2. India has no solid basis in its claim over Kashmir.

India has no solid basis and enough reason to claim princely state of Kashmir as
part of their territory, rather than numerous reasons Pakistan has, as stated herein.

First, as what the group said, only 30% of the population are Hindu, as compared
to 67% which is Muslim. The Hindu population of Kashmir is only half of that of
Muslim. The group can say that if a plebiscite is held in Kashmir, that will pacify the
dispute between India and Pakistan, Kashmir would probably choose to annex to Pakistan
rather than to India. The reason is that Pakistan and Kashmir has the same religion,
language and culture.

Hindu religion/culture cannot dominate the population of Kashmir even though the
ruler of Kashmir is a Hindu. If the ruler of the Kashmir forces his constituent to be
converted to Hindu faith, it will probably lead to a bloody civil war between Hindu and
Muslim in Kashmir. Even though Sikhs, Buddhist and Hindu joint forces, they can’t
make it to dominate Kashmir. As what the group had previously stated, Kashmir is
kilometers far from India. It is far from Punjab state of India, the north western part of
India, and the nearest portion of India to Kashmir.

And Indus is the own major river that flows from India to Kashmir. It doesn't
much contribute to the economy of Kashmir. Kashmir’s economy also didn't help much
in the economy of India.
 The group also notes the accession of Kashmir to India is unfair result of the
dispute between India and Pakistan. First, the Maharajah of Kashmir declare its accession
to India as a payment of its debt in the Indian government for ensuring his stay in his
throne even though the majority of the people of Kashmir didn’t want him.

And when a plebiscite is held in Kashmir the Indian army pointed their gun to
citizens of Kashmir and bribes them in order to vote in favor for the accession of Kashmir
to India. It is unfair because the sole reason of its accession to India is fraud and cheating.
If a plebiscite is conducted again, less bribery and other election fraud, probably,
Kashmir would choose to accede in Pakistan.

The group concludes that India hasn’t strong reason and solid basis on its claim
over Kashmir as what have been showed and stated on the arguments and premises
presented herein.

Conclusion:

As the group study and took some facts, we therefore conclude that Pakistan has
the right to claim Kashmir as one of its princely state. The country of Pakistan has solid
basis that it can be used to claim the territory, from the demographical aspect of Kashmir.
The Muslim is the majority of the population, same as those in the Pakistan, Because
most of the people in Kashmir are Muslim they spread the religion of Islam, their
community can be consider as Muslim community, their culture which is of Islamic
culture and beliefs. It is different to the culture and beliefs that India has. We also knew
that the letter K, in the word Pakistan stands for Kashmir, directly because Kashmir is a
big asset in the economy of the Pakistan. Thus, Kashmir is an economy that part of
Pakistan economy. If we look into Pakistan geographical location it is near to Kashmir
rather than India. All the statements show numerous reason and strong claim of Pakistan
over the Muslim state of Kashmir.
 The group concludes that India has really no solid basis and enough reason to
claim princely state of Kashmir as part of their territory, rather than numerous reasons
Pakistan has, in terms of their religion, language and culture. India is basically different
to the Pakistan and Kashmir, and Kashmir would probably choose to annex to Pakistan
rather than India. If we cited the geographical location of India, Kashmir is kilometers far
from India. It is far from Punjab state of India, the north western part of India, unlike to
Pakistan that stated above; India doesn’t much contribute to the economy of Kashmir.
Kashmir's economy also didn’t help much in the economy of India. From all the data that
the group has gathered, The group conclude affirmatively that Pakistan has the solid right
to claim Kashmir as one of its state.

REFERENCES

Gregorio F. Zaide: History of Asian Nations; The Modern Book Company, 1965: Manila

Dr. Sonia M. Zaide: History of Asian Nations, All-Nations Publishing Co. Inc., 1996:
Cubao, Quezon City