What's so great about Kashmir?

[Varun]

Let's start with a blank slate.

Why is India so desperate to hold onto it? Why does Pakistan want to bite it with as much fervour?

In an ideal world, it would be a Goa-type state with a limited population and no natural resources, albeit with lots of touristic potential. Yes, it does share a border with Pakistan and China but it's not like India doesn't have other frontier states bordering these two countries.

So what's the deal here beyond the political rhetoric and ego clashes?

 

[MSaad1237]

For Pakistan its the people, its a Muslim majority state with people having strong affiliation with Pakistan ..

 

[Mian]

Future wars are going to be over water and India can easily stop Pakistan's water through Kashmir and they are already doing it.

 

[Pakpak]

If Kashmir was full of Hindus then Pakistan wouldn't care. Its full of Muslims, a large number who appear to want to join Pakistan or be independent means its a big bone of contention for Pakistan. But bigger because India holds it. Had it been say China then Pakistan wouldn't care, like we don't when China is oppressing its Muslims.

India can't give it up because it'd be seen as a major defeat.

Add into that that we have major rivers going through Kashmir, so strategically its very important as well.

 

[Varun]

If Kashmir was full of Hindus then Pakistan wouldn't care. Its full of Muslims, a large number who appear to want to join Pakistan or be independent means its a big bone of contention for Pakistan. But bigger because India holds it. Had it been say China then Pakistan wouldn't care, like we don't when China is oppressing its Muslims.

For Pakistan its the people, its a Muslim majority state with people having strong affiliation with Pakistan ..

Heh, so what? Nepal is a Hindu majority state and bordering China (strategic and all that) and you don't see me sooking all day that we don't invade and conquer Nepal do you?

It has to be something else in addition to this.

 

[TM Riddle]

Its strategic location.
If we set aside politics , its pristine beauty.

 

[akki]

lol varun asking what's so great about kashmir ?? j & k holds as much religious place for hindus as mecca for muslims.You know lord shiva amarnath then vaishno mata plus india already lost kailash mansrovar to china. you think hindus should loose all this as well ??
And second most imp thing about kashmir for india is that if india give it away it will be against idea of india. Just only because of muslim population they want to seperate then there is hell if diversity in india in everything and other states or religious groups may also get encouraged to demand like kashmiris.

 

[Pakpak]

Heh, so what? Nepal is a Hindu majority state and bordering China (strategic and all that) and you don't see me sooking all day that we don't invade and conquer Nepal do you?

It has to be something else in addition to this.

It is something in ''addition to this'', I said it above. That 'thing' is the fact its India holding it. If it was anyone else noone would bat an eye. We hardly bat an eye when Chinese are thrashing their Muslims left right and center. Only reason we care about Kashmir is because a) lot of pro-Pak sentiment b) its India, our arch-rivals, holding it c) we have fought 3 wars over it.

 

[cricketjoshila]

If Kashmir was full of Hindus then Pakistan wouldn't care. Its full of Muslims, a large number who appear to want to join Pakistan or be independent means its a big bone of contention for Pakistan. But bigger because India holds it. Had it been say China then Pakistan wouldn't care, like we don't when China is oppressing its Muslims.

India can't give it up because it'd be seen as a major defeat.

Add into that that we have major rivers going through Kashmir, so strategically its very important as well.

So basically its about ego.

 

[Syed1]

Ana ka masla

 

[Syed1]

No scratch that...


Ana ka masla is for India



Pakistan is just sympathetic to the plight of the people of Occupied Kashmir who we consider as Pakistanis. If tomorrow India stops killing innocent Kashmiris Pakistan may start taking a back-seat on the Kashmir issue.

 

[akki]

Ana ka masla

ana ki hunda hi? or u mean aan??

 

[Slog]

Heh, so what? Nepal is a Hindu majority state and bordering China (strategic and all that) and you don't see me sooking all day that we don't invade and conquer Nepal do you?

It has to be something else in addition to this.

Nepal wasnt part of British India which was divided into Muslim Pakistan and India

 

[161]

Geographical location -

1. Control Kashmir control the water flowing through the Indus

2. China-Pak cooperation and trade is possible through Azad Kashmir

 

[chacha kashmiri]

If Lake District is a unesco heritage site

Kashmir would be too


You cant compare the beauty in Delhi to Gem thats Kashmir

 

[cricketjoshila]

Nepal wasnt part of British India which was divided into Muslim Pakistan and India

Kashmir too wasnt part of British India it was ruled by a King.

 

[KingKhanWC]

It is a strategic location and very beautiful of course.

Personally for me it's not the land but the suffering of the people. Most people who support Kashmiri's dont side with them so the land is shifted to Pakistan etc but they just want Indians stop their crimes against innocent people and give them their right to decide their own destiny.

 

[moghul]

Heh, so what? Nepal is a Hindu majority state and bordering China (strategic and all that) and you don't see me sooking all day that we don't invade and conquer Nepal do you?

It has to be something else in addition to this.

Nepal is independent, had it been grabbed by force by China and Nepalese people were fighting for freedom from China and wanted to join India, then what was your response ?

 

[Pakistanian]

Many Pakistanis have kashmiri roots, especially people in important positions. That's probably one of the only reasons I have an interest in Kashmir cause of a personal connection.

 

[akki]

Many Pakistanis have kashmiri roots, especially people in important positions. That's probably one of the only reasons I have an interest in Kashmir cause of a personal connection.

Many pakistanis have indian roots as well. I mean from other states of india like punjab, U.P, delhi.....

 

[English August]

It is a strategic location and very beautiful of course.

Personally for me it's not the land but the suffering of the people.

Excellent, very well said. If land is not important and people are, Pakistan should make an open offer to everyone who's unhappy in Indian part of Kashmir to move to Pakistan. Make it a limited time offer -- something like 3-5 years. After that borders can be sealed.

Problem solved.

Pakistanis keep saying they have big hearts. Prove it.

 

[Pakistanian]

Many pakistanis have indian roots as well. I mean from other states of india like punjab, U.P, delhi.....

Yeah but those people don't share the same religion which was a major reason for partition and neither are those places being oppressed (except maybe Punjab) unlike Kashmir which has been occupied by a genocidal regime for the last 70 years. There are a lot of Pakistani Punjabis that do feel a kinship with East Punjabis and support their independence movement.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Excellent, very well said. If land is not important and people are, Pakistan should make an open offer to everyone who's unhappy in Indian part of Kashmir to move to Pakistan. Make it a limited time offer -- something like 3-5 years. After that borders can be sealed.

Problem solved.

Pakistanis keep saying they have big hearts. Prove it.

I wrote my personal opinion not but the Kashmiri's love their land and the land of their ancestors. They want to stay there and as an Indian one would have thought you'd want what you see as fellow Indians to remain too. But your posts says a lot.

 

[Romali_rotti]

Excellent, very well said. If land is not important and people are, Pakistan should make an open offer to everyone who's unhappy in Indian part of Kashmir to move to Pakistan. Make it a limited time offer -- something like 3-5 years. After that borders can be sealed.

Problem solved.

Pakistanis keep saying they have big hearts. Prove it.

Excellent solution, I am all down for this ...The ones that want to stay with India can stay, obviously the muslim Kashmiris staying with India wouldn't have any issue with the Kashmiri Pandits, hence Pandits can be given back their rightful land which they were thrown out by those muslim Kashmiris... Indian Army also withdraws, India keeps their Kashmir and everyone is happy...

 

[Hornbill]

Let's start with a blank slate.

Why is India so desperate to hold onto it? Why does Pakistan want to bite it with as much fervour?

In an ideal world, it would be a Goa-type state with a limited population and no natural resources,albeit with lots of touristic potential. Yes, it does share a border with Pakistan and China but it's not like India doesn't have other frontier states bordering these two countries.

So what's the deal here beyond the political rhetoric and ego clashes?

NHPC earned over 200 billion rupees from JK power projects in last 16 years, I think they are half a dozen power projects under construction, some of them wil be commissioned within 2 or 3 years.

 

[hussain123]

Well kashmir is the most beautiful place on earth.beyond politics it is sheer arrogance of india holding forcibly holding onto a population that doesnt identify with it at all.also india right from 1947 by humilating kashmiris,throwing its leaders to doghouse(that includes sheikh abdullah the reason that kashmir in the first place become the part of india),treating it like its jagir of sorts pushed a generation to break the monopoly of violence.i honestly believe india would do a world of good to itself by just getting the hell out of kashmir.billions of dollars that it spends on repressing an unarmed population could as well be utilized to feed and provide utilities to its poor population.there are more than 10000 farmer suicide deaths every year in india.i hope one day india realizes its wrong priorities.

 

[English August]

I wrote my personal opinion not but the Kashmiri's love their land and the land of their ancestors. They want to stay there and as an Indian one would have thought you'd want what you see as fellow Indians to remain too. But your posts says a lot.

Everyone love their ancestral land. That doesn't mean they get to keep it. The Punjabi Hindus who owned all these mansions and kothis in Lahore were driven away from their personal property in 1947. I don't see you shedding any tears for them.

Life is all about making choices. Kashmiris have the freedom to decide: they can keep their land and continue to "suffer" under Indian security forces, or they can move to the land of honey and milk which is Pakistan and make a good life for themselves. In my proposal above, no one will be forced to do anything. People can decide for themselves. People who love India will stay behind, others can go wherever they want to go to.

 

[Varun]

Nepal is independent, had it been grabbed by force by China and Nepalese people were fighting for freedom from China and wanted to join India, then what was your response ?

I wouldn't care less.

 

[sjahmed23]

It's about water. India's Gangies river flows from Kashmir and so does Pakistan's indus river.

 

[AlizeeFan]

It's about water. India's Gangies river flows from Kashmir and so does Pakistan's indus river.

Since when?

 

[KingKhanWC]

Everyone love their ancestral land. That doesn't mean they get to keep it. The Punjabi Hindus who owned all these mansions and kothis in Lahore were driven away from their personal property in 1947. I don't see you shedding any tears for them.

Life is all about making choices. Kashmiris have the freedom to decide: they can keep their land and continue to "suffer" under Indian security forces, or they can move to the land of honey and milk which is Pakistan and make a good life for themselves. In my proposal above, no one will be forced to do anything. People can decide for themselves. People who love India will stay behind, others can go wherever they want to go to.

Comparing partition with oppression is the way to go.


The choice they have made is to continue the struggle against brutality. No Kashmiri Muslims love India, they will love India when their forces leave them alone. Let's hope the resistance increases and they receive more support from Pakistan for the freedom struggle while your soldiers continue not to be fed properly.

 

[ShadabFakhar]

In and of itself it's a place of great beauty and a likely tourist attraction had there been no conflict. Apart from that it's all about geostrategy.

 

[PakLFC]

It is like a trophy feeding the ego of Kashmiri people. As I have often said no one should have a problem with independent Kashmir provide the people permanently leave India and Pakistan. Independence means being self dependent. There are many equally if not more beautiful parts on planet earth as well. Both Pak and India should stop massaging the ego of these Kashmiris, the region is holding the entire subcontinent back.

 

[czar]

It is like a trophy feeding the ego of Kashmiri people. As I have often said no one should have a problem with independent Kashmir provide the people permanently leave India and Pakistan. Independence means being self dependent. There are many equally if not more beautiful parts on planet earth as well. Both Pak and India should stop massaging the ego of these Kashmiris, the region is holding the entire subcontinent back.

Seriously agree, the Kashmiris now think about themselves as God's Chosen people for whose happiness and well-being, Wars have to be fought and they are some sort of first priority.

Faltu main Sar par Chadha rakha hai.

 

[English August]

It is like a trophy feeding the ego of Kashmiri people. As I have often said no one should have a problem with independent Kashmir provide the people permanently leave India and Pakistan. Independence means being self dependent. There are many equally if not more beautiful parts on planet earth as well. Both Pak and India should stop massaging the ego of these Kashmiris, the region is holding the entire subcontinent back.

What are you talking about? It may be holding Pak back, it's certainly not holding India back. India knows how to manage these idiotic stone pelters and their handlers from across the border.

 

[Yossarian]

What are you talking about? It may be holding Pak back, it's certainly not holding India back. India knows how to manage these idiotic stone pelters and their handlers from across the border.

A thread that started off with a well meaning intention (and created by an Indian poster on a Pakistani forum at that. Kudos to [MENTION=132715]Varun[/MENTION] for that) of having a grown up discussion degenerates, yet again, into the usual meaningless and puerile chest thumping. Well done.

 

[PakLFC]

What are you talking about? It may be holding Pak back, it's certainly not holding India back. India knows how to manage these idiotic stone pelters and their handlers from across the border.

India is wasting millions in occupying the valley. If anything it is holding India back much more then Pakistan. You soldiers are losing their life in rather large numbers as well.

 

[Snak3eye5]

We have discussed this topic to death or talked about it a gazillion times. But here goes logic comments with some basic common sense thrown in aside from the strategic or political agenda discussed above without taking any sides.

1)If India were to give Kashmir to Pakistan then what's to stop some other state in India demanding itself be handed over to Pakistan or even declare itself independent.

2) if India hands over Kashmir. Should India discuss then handing certain disputed territories that China and Nepal claims to be theirs also soon to follow.

3) If India gives Kashmir then is there guarantee that Pakistan won't demand another Indian state be handed also. There is no guarantee except belief and good faith that everything should be hunky dory.

4) if there is also one percentage in Kashmir that wants to be be Indian and stay in India should Indians ignore that ? I know same can be argued the other way.


5) Propaganda. The idea of an united India has been sold hard and long. Even if 90% of Kashmiris sign a petition requesting a referendum, the rest of India will not believe it was of their own free will (which I will agree with, after having interacted with Kashmiris, but like I already said, I probably met only one kind of Kashmiris).

Economy wise India wishes it could somehow dump Kashmir and focus on its economic growth since the number one problem India has today is its poverty levels and huge population in achieving its road to a good economy. It would be easier for India to say had it been a population of 200 million they would be much better.

I hate to say it but the hard bitter pill to swallow is that Pakistan is really a lot more unstable than India is. Even on the international scene, it seems to be pretty well recognised that India is better off. Not much fundamentalism, no drone strikes against India no Al Qaida. Whatever. Conceding Kashmir to Pakistan (or giving it independence, which may effectively make it a dummy state for Pakistan), will mean bringing the instability to India's door steps. India just wants to be left alone while they are meeting and making deals with Us president, Israelis prime minister, Information technology boom, its film industry and do what is right for its country. India really has a lot to loose by handing over Kashmir than gaining anything and a lot of it is just the fear of the negative after math or the fear of the unknown .

Again assuming if India hands over Kashmir would India want such an unstable neighbour to peaceful Himachal and open yet another state for Pakistani insurgency to creep through? India would much rather that Kashmir take the butt of the insurgency and keep the rest of India reasonably safer.

6)I missed answering why Indians don't care about the lives being lost everyday due to the conflict. Well because it will continue being lost even if Indians let Kashmir become a part of Pakistan. Just look at the number of lives being lost in Baluchistan. Or even in urban Paksitan. There is no reason to believe Kashmir's fate will be any better. Nor any reason to believe a Pakistani Kashmir will not be a launchpad for insurgencies in to Punjab, Himachal, Haryana, Uttarakhand and other near by states. With or without the Indian army protecting Kashmir, bloodshed will continue in the Indian state bordering Pakistan. It's not that India doesnt want the violence to end. India are neither naive enough nor ignorant enough to believe that allowing Kashmir district to become a part of Pakistan will solve anything. Allways remember Bangladesh history.

My opinion and not many would agree is that until Pakistan has another successful election where Pakistanis new prime minister can join hands with India without any military coup, let the dust settle then start new talks about what does Kashmir people want and go from there as naive as that sounds.

 

[English August]

We have discussed this topic to death or talked about it a gazillion times. But here goes logic comments with some basic common sense thrown in aside from the strategic or political agenda discussed above without taking any sides.

1)If India were to give Kashmir to Pakistan then what's to stop some other state in India demanding itself be handed over to Pakistan or even declare itself independent.

2) if India hands over Kashmir. Should India discuss then handing certain disputed territories that China and Nepal claims to be theirs also soon to follow.

3) If India gives Kashmir then is there guarantee that Pakistan won't demand another Indian state be handed also. There is no guarantee except belief and good faith that everything should be hunky dory.

4) if there is also one percentage in Kashmir that wants to be be Indian and stay in India should Indians ignore that ? I know same can be argued the other way.


5) Propaganda. The idea of an united India has been sold hard and long. Even if 90% of Kashmiris sign a petition requesting a referendum, the rest of India will not believe it was of their own free will (which I will agree with, after having interacted with Kashmiris, but like I already said, I probably met only one kind of Kashmiris).

Economy wise India wishes it could somehow dump Kashmir and focus on its economic growth since the number one problem India has today is its poverty levels and huge population in achieving its road to a good economy. It would be easier for India to say had it been a population of 200 million they would be much better.

I hate to say it but the hard bitter pill to swallow is that Pakistan is really a lot more unstable than India is. Even on the international scene, it seems to be pretty well recognised that India is better off. Not much fundamentalism, no drone strikes against India no Al Qaida. Whatever. Conceding Kashmir to Pakistan (or giving it independence, which may effectively make it a dummy state for Pakistan), will mean bringing the instability to India's door steps. India just wants to be left alone while they are meeting and making deals with Us president, Israelis prime minister, Information technology boom, its film industry and do what is right for its country. India really has a lot to loose by handing over Kashmir than gaining anything and a lot of it is just the fear of the negative after math or the fear of the unknown .

Again assuming if India hands over Kashmir would India want such an unstable neighbour to peaceful Himachal and open yet another state for Pakistani insurgency to creep through? India would much rather that Kashmir take the butt of the insurgency and keep the rest of India reasonably safer.

6)I missed answering why Indians don't care about the lives being lost everyday due to the conflict. Well because it will continue being lost even if Indians let Kashmir become a part of Pakistan. Just look at the number of lives being lost in Baluchistan. Or even in urban Paksitan. There is no reason to believe Kashmir's fate will be any better. Nor any reason to believe a Pakistani Kashmir will not be a launchpad for insurgencies in to Punjab, Himachal, Haryana, Uttarakhand and other near by states. With or without the Indian army protecting Kashmir, bloodshed will continue in the Indian state bordering Pakistan. It's not that India doesnt want the violence to end. India are neither naive enough nor ignorant enough to believe that allowing Kashmir district to become a part of Pakistan will solve anything. Allways remember Bangladesh history.

My opinion and not many would agree is that until Pakistan has another successful election where Pakistanis new prime minister can join hands with India without any military coup, let the dust settle then start new talks about what does Kashmir people want and go from there as naive as that sounds.

Very nice post. And a direct answer to those who are saying Kashmir is holding India back. What India is doing in Kashmir is absolutely base minimum. Even if Kashmir problem is somehow solved (which it never will be), India won't be able to cut down on troops in J&K or reduce loss of life. Today China challenges India every day at every front. Would it ever let Kashmir settle down?

India is basically stuck with neighbors whose whole agenda in life is to destroy India.

 

[ShadabFakhar]

[MENTION=81427]Snak3eye5[/MENTION]

Good post, but disagree with point 6). If Kashmir issue was resolved, there'd be no Baluchistan issue or otherwise. The argument from both countries is that each is fuelling separatist movements, and this can go even further back to Bangladesh(East Pakistan)

 

[English August]

India is wasting millions in occupying the valley. If anything it is holding India back much more then Pakistan. You soldiers are losing their life in rather large numbers as well.

Indian spend in running Kashmir operation is a small fraction of its overall spend on defense. India's spend on defense as % of GDP is more like middle-of-the-road and not really that high compared to other major powers. This whole idea that spending on defense takes investment away from poverty alleviation programs or is somehow holding India back is total bunkum. People who don't understand economics talk like this.

 

[shaz619]

There is nothing great about Kashmir so long India control a portion of it.

 

[PakLFC]

Indian spend in running Kashmir operation is a small fraction of its overall spend on defense. India's spend on defense as % of GDP is more like middle-of-the-road and not really that high compared to other major powers. This whole idea that spending on defense takes investment away from poverty alleviation programs or is somehow holding India back is total bunkum. People who don't understand economics talk like this.

Nonetheless India is spending heavily when so much of your country are living in abject poverty. In fact India is ranked amongst the worlds poorest countries. It is Pak that makes you spend so heavily in IoK yet still the freedom fighters can attack you whenever they want. You are really helpless to do anything about it other then repeat the same mantra. I understand and see poverty and hunger clearly, you are a third world country so remember that

 

[English August]

Nonetheless India is spending heavily when so much of your country are living in abject poverty. In fact India is ranked amongst the worlds poorest countries. It is Pak that makes you spend so heavily in IoK yet still the freedom fighters can attack you whenever they want. You are really helpless to do anything about it other then repeat the same mantra. I understand and see poverty and hunger clearly, you are a third world country so remember that

Could you say that in English one more time?

I guess you missed this statement from my earlier post - "People who don't understand economics talk like this".

 

[hussain123]

We have discussed this topic to death or talked about it a gazillion times. But here goes logic comments with some basic common sense thrown in aside from the strategic or political agenda discussed above without taking any sides.

1)If India were to give Kashmir to Pakistan then what's to stop some other state in India demanding itself be handed over to Pakistan or even declare itself independent.

2) if India hands over Kashmir. Should India discuss then handing certain disputed territories that China and Nepal claims to be theirs also soon to follow.

3) If India gives Kashmir then is there guarantee that Pakistan won't demand another Indian state be handed also. There is no guarantee except belief and good faith that everything should be hunky dory.

4) if there is also one percentage in Kashmir that wants to be be Indian and stay in India should Indians ignore that ? I know same can be argued the other way.


5) Propaganda. The idea of an united India has been sold hard and long. Even if 90% of Kashmiris sign a petition requesting a referendum, the rest of India will not believe it was of their own free will (which I will agree with, after having interacted with Kashmiris, but like I already said, I probably met only one kind of Kashmiris).

Economy wise India wishes it could somehow dump Kashmir and focus on its economic growth since the number one problem India has today is its poverty levels and huge population in achieving its road to a good economy. It would be easier for India to say had it been a population of 200 million they would be much better.

I hate to say it but the hard bitter pill to swallow is that Pakistan is really a lot more unstable than India is. Even on the international scene, it seems to be pretty well recognised that India is better off. Not much fundamentalism, no drone strikes against India no Al Qaida. Whatever. Conceding Kashmir to Pakistan (or giving it independence, which may effectively make it a dummy state for Pakistan), will mean bringing the instability to India's door steps. India just wants to be left alone while they are meeting and making deals with Us president, Israelis prime minister, Information technology boom, its film industry and do what is right for its country. India really has a lot to loose by handing over Kashmir than gaining anything and a lot of it is just the fear of the negative after math or the fear of the unknown .

Again assuming if India hands over Kashmir would India want such an unstable neighbour to peaceful Himachal and open yet another state for Pakistani insurgency to creep through? India would much rather that Kashmir take the butt of the insurgency and keep the rest of India reasonably safer.

6)I missed answering why Indians don't care about the lives being lost everyday due to the conflict. Well because it will continue being lost even if Indians let Kashmir become a part of Pakistan. Just look at the number of lives being lost in Baluchistan. Or even in urban Paksitan. There is no reason to believe Kashmir's fate will be any better. Nor any reason to believe a Pakistani Kashmir will not be a launchpad for insurgencies in to Punjab, Himachal, Haryana, Uttarakhand and other near by states. With or without the Indian army protecting Kashmir, bloodshed will continue in the Indian state bordering Pakistan. It's not that India doesnt want the violence to end. India are neither naive enough nor ignorant enough to believe that allowing Kashmir district to become a part of Pakistan will solve anything. Allways remember Bangladesh history.

My opinion and not many would agree is that until Pakistan has another successful election where Pakistanis new prime minister can join hands with India without any military coup, let the dust settle then start new talks about what does Kashmir people want and go from there as naive as that sounds.

Good post.though i disagree with more than half of it,that is how posts should be like,not the usual venom that gets poured in kashmir centric threads.

 

[PakLFC]

Could you say that in English one more time?

I guess you missed this statement from my earlier post - "People who don't understand economics talk like this".

I understand economics good and well. To bad you don't understand the facts on the ground. How much poverty in India again? How about toilets or lack of them?

 

[Suleiman]

Kinda off topic but, was talking to a Mirpuri aunty and she said that there are a lot of Jews in Kashmir. Is this actually true? Did some research and apparently according to a Persian scholar Kashmiris from centuries ago did allow Jews to settle following victories by the Abbassids in the Middle East. But years later most of them converted to Islam.

Have never heard of this before, and it's really bizarre since that is some insane distance to cover for that time period when there are closer territories for refuge.

 

[uberkoen]

In a nut shell, Kashmir is geostrategically located and serves as main source of water and power generation for both Pakistan and India.

The glacial waters that flow through Kashmir provide water and electricity to a billion people in India. Pakistan also relies heavily on glacial waters flowing from the region to prop up its agricultural sector.
With a growing population and increased need for electricity, India has looked to the region to develop more hydro facilities. Pakistan fears that India may divert water necessary for irrigation, and use water as a weapon against Pakistan.

 

[uberkoen]

Kinda off topic but, was talking to a Mirpuri aunty and she said that there are a lot of Jews in Kashmir. Is this actually true? Did some research and apparently according to a Persian scholar Kashmiris from centuries ago did allow Jews to settle following victories by the Abbassids in the Middle East. But years later most of them converted to Islam.

Have never heard of this before, and it's really bizarre since that is some insane distance to cover for that time period when there are closer territories for refuge.

It's just a theory. There's also a place in IOK where they say Jesus is buried. I forget what its called but its in Srinagar. Basically, this is based on the theory by Mirza Ghulam Ahmed that Jesus had survived the crucifixion and traveled to Kashmir to find and preach to the lost tribes of Israel.

Overall, the theory of Jews residing in Kashmir comes from the names of places in Kashmir and Hebrew words and phrases

 

[Romali_rotti]

Kinda off topic but, was talking to a Mirpuri aunty and she said that there are a lot of Jews in Kashmir. Is this actually true? Did some research and apparently according to a Persian scholar Kashmiris from centuries ago did allow Jews to settle following victories by the Abbassids in the Middle East. But years later most of them converted to Islam.

Have never heard of this before, and it's really bizarre since that is some insane distance to cover for that time period when there are closer territories for refuge.

Havent you heard of the story where Jesus went to Kashmir searching for the lost tribe of Israel ?

 

[Pete Rose]

So basically its about ego.

Honestly, I need to read a up a bit more on this. Some of it just goes back to the history of the provinces were to be allocated between the two countries at time of Independence. Clearly there was enough conflict there for it to become an issue on which UN resolutions were passed.

Having said that, the people that push for Kashmir independence or secession to Pakisan need to answer for three questions:
1 - given our track record in Bangladesh where basically racism prevented us from seeing East Paksitanis as our equals, do we deserve to be asking for Kashmir and its muslims: or do we only care when they are are fair skinned and light-eyed
2 - There were a few people in East Pakistan who stayed loyal to Pakistan till then end: they are Biharis. They moved to Pakistan in 1971 and they lived (And continue to live) in squalor. West Pakistan left behind quite a few biharis in east pakistan; even refused to accept them. If we cant do right by people who were loyal to us till the end, why do we deserve to campaign for Kashmir.
3 - Lastly, even if Kashmir is a just cause subject to UN resolutions, we are not helping them in any constructive way. As a Pakistani citizen, foreign criticism of the government's handling for Balochistan annoys me, no matter how valid. I would expect the average Indian citizen to react the same way when Kashmir is discussed.

 

[Pete Rose]

In a nut shell, Kashmir is geostrategically located and serves as main source of water and power generation for both Pakistan and India.

The glacial waters that flow through Kashmir provide water and electricity to a billion people in India. Pakistan also relies heavily on glacial waters flowing from the region to prop up its agricultural sector.
With a growing population and increased need for electricity, India has looked to the region to develop more hydro facilities. Pakistan fears that India may divert water necessary for irrigation, and use water as a weapon against Pakistan.

Yes, but the countries have fought countless wars, without things getting so bad that the water is shut off for good. I think this water thing is propaganda from our social studies books in schools.
if we really care about water, why would we antagonize the neighbors

 

[Suleiman]

Havent you heard of the story where Jesus went to Kashmir searching for the lost tribe of Israel ?

Don’t know about that, but Jews or not, as citizens of Pakistan, all Kashmiris must be protected.