Kashmir - Has The Sun Set ?

It is the world’s most militarized zone. India and Pakistan fought two out of three full-fledged wars over it. That is the other side of Kashmir, which is otherwise a slice of heaven, for tourists.

Few days ago, India revoked Kashmir's special status and stirred a fresh chaos on a stale, old subject.

What is this 'special status' ? How will Narendra Modi redraw Kashmir's map ? Here are a string of FAQs that I have attempted to answer :

1. What’s the background story of Kashmir ?

In August 1947, India gained independence from the British. At the same time, the Great Partition took place, as the Radcliffe Line split the land into two nations - a Hindu majority India and a Muslim majority Pakistan.

But, Maharaja Hari Singh, the ruler of Jammu and Kashmir stood on the fence. So, first he signed a standstill agreement with Pakistan and later he signed the Instrument of Accession with India.

And ever since, both India and Pakistan ruffled feathers on who should rule the roost in Kashmir.

2. How modern day Kashmir looks like ?

Kashmir is divided by the Line of Control into Indian-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

Indian-occupied Kashmir consists of the Kashmir Valley (Srinagar), Jammu and Ladakh. Collectively, it is called Jammu-Kashmir with the Srinagar as the summer capital and Jammu as the winter capital.

Pakistan-occupied Kashmir comprises of two areas called Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. In addition, China controls a territory called Aksai Chin to the east.

3. Who’s the majority and minority in Indian-occupied Kashmir ?

Kashmir Valley is composed of 94% Muslim, Jammu is about 63% Hindu and 33% Muslim while Ladakh has 46% Muslim and about 40% Buddhist.

But, this current demography was shaped by a bloody episode. The exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits in 1990. The Kashmiri Pandits were Hindu minorities living in the Kashmir Valley. On 19th January 1990, they were given three options - either to convert to Islam, leave the land, or die (Ralive, Tsaliv ya Galive).

In the following months, the remaining Kashmiri Pandits were tortured and killed. Eventually, almost 400,000 Kashmiri Pandits were driven out of Kashmir Valley and became refugees. Until today, most of them are still live as displaced refugees. Instead, the Jammu-Kashmir state government brought in 5,700 Rohingyas in Jammu and 7,664 in Ladakh.

4. What is Article 370 and Kashmir’s ‘special status’ ?

The ‘special status’ was a compromise for Kashmir to integrate with India. Article 370 and Article 35A were the products of the special status.

Article 370 conferred the state of Jammu and Kashmir autonomy in all areas except defense, communication and foreign policy.

Article 35A gave only “permanent residents” of Kashmir the right to own property. The same article empowers the Jammu-Kashmir state government to define “permanent residents” of the state.

Here’s a quick ‘before and after’ by India Today :

5. What’s next after revoking the ‘special status’ ?

Home Minister Amit Shah proposed to bifurcate the current state of Jammu and Kashmir into two new Union Territories (UT).

Jammu and Kashmir will be placed together as the first UT. Ladakh will become the second UT. Jammu and Kashmir will have a legislature but Ladakh will be directly administered by the Central Government of India.

Ladakh will be India’s first Buddhist dominated Union Territory.

6. Why take this move now ?

Internally, one prime reason. Firstly, Narendra Modi pledged to revoke Article 370 and Article 35A in his 2019 Lok Sabha election manifesto. In fact, it was a consistent pledge of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Now that BJP commands a powerful number in Lok Sabha, time is ripe for Modi to deliver.

Internationally, two reasons. First, President Donald Trump’s interest to mediate the Kashmir issue and Pakistan’s welcoming gesture on that. Modi has always made one thing clear - foreign interference is a big “No-No”. This is Modi’s signal to Trump to stay out.

Second, Pakistan is brokering a peace deal in Afghanistan, for which Trump has complimented Imran Khan. For India, this would spell a growing Taliban influence in Pakistan - something that must be kept at bay for India. So, Article 370 is a perfect chance for India to flex her muscles.

7. Why is China also pissed off ?

China’s bone of contention is Ladakh, a region where China has always claimed theirs. This is not their first territorial dispute, however.

Until today, China adamantly claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of South Tibet. Currently, Arunachal Pradesh is one of the 28 states in India. In March 2019, China reportedly destroyed 30,000 world maps printed in the country for export for not mentioning Arunachal Pradesh and Taiwan as part of Chinese territories.

However, the people of Ladakh are on cloud nine. They certainly want to be integrated with India rather than China. The heat between India and China also seem to have subsided. Yesterday, the Chinese Embassy reported that China has granted visas to Indian pilgrims undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in Tibet.

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This storm, however, will not be an easy one to sail through. Nevertheless, this master stroke is yet another testament that Narendra Modi and Amit Shah are indeed the modern day Chandragupta Maurya and Chanakya.