Internal Security Jammu Kashmir Militancy 1
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INTERNAL SECURITY JAMMU KASHMIR MILITANCY 1. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 2. INSTRUMENT OF ACCESSION AND REFERENDUM 3. LINE OD CONTROL –ISSUES 4. KASHMIR MILITANCY-PROXY WAR BY ISI 5. BEGINNING OF INSURGENCY 6. PRESENT STATUS OF ARTICLE 370 7. GOI DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMMES 8. KEY ISSUES WAS KASHMIR AN INDEPENDENT NATION? Kashmir, and adjacent areas like Gilgit, Jammu, and Ladakh – were part of the different empires at different times. Over the years, this area was under the control of Hindu rulers, Muslim emperors, Sikhs, Afghans, and Britishers. During the period before AD 1000, Kashmir was an important center of Buddhism and Hinduism. Many dynasties like Gonanditya, Karkota, Lohara ruled Kashmir and surrounding areas of North-western India. The Hindu dynasty rule which extended until 1339 was replaced by the Muslim rule by Shah Mir who became the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir, inaugurating the Shah Mir dynasty. A few centuries later, the last independent ruler Yusuf Shah Chak was deposed by the Mughul emperor Akbar the Great. Akbar conquered Kashmir in 1587, making it part of the Mughal Empire. Subsequently, the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb expanded the empire further. Thus, it can be seen that under the Mughal rule, which extended nearly all of the Indian subcontinent, Kashmir was an integral part of India – however, not an independent nation. Kashmir Region – After Mughals 1. Aurangzeb’s successors were weak rulers. Later Mughals failed to retain Kashmir. After Mughal rule, it passed to Afghan, Sikh, and Dogra rule. 2. In 1752, Kashmir was seized by the Afghan ruler Ahmed Shah Abdali. The Afghan Durrani Empire ruled Kasmir from the 1750s until 1819 when Sikhs, under Ranjit Singh, annexed Kashmir and ended the Muslim rule. 3. By the early 19th century, Sikhs under Maharaja Renjith Singh took control of Kashmir. He had earlier annexed Jammu. The Sikhs ruled Kashmir until they were defeated by the British (First Anglo-Sikh War) in 1846. 4. After that Kashmir became a princely state of the British Empire – under the Dogra Dynasty. JAMMU AND KASHMIR – AS A PRINCELY STATE OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE 1. Maharaja Gulab Singh of Dogra Dynasty signed the ‘Treaty of Amritsar’ with the British East India Company in 1846. Under this treaty, he paid Rs. 75 lakhs to the East India Company in 1846 in exchange for Kashmir and some other areas. Jammu and Kashmir as a single entity was unified and founded (1846). 2. Zorawar Singh, a General in the Dogra Anny later led many campaigns in the northern areas like Ladakh, Baltistan, Gilgit, Hunza and Yagistan, consolidating smaller principalities. He expanded the dominions of Maharaja Gulab Singh. 3. However, Jammu and Kashmir, from 1846 until 1947, remained a princely state ruled by Jamwal Rajput Dogra Dynasty. Like all other princely states in India then, Kashmir too enjoyed only a partial autonomy, as the real control was with the British. The ruler’s stand (at the time of 1. Hari Singh tried to negotiate with India Partition) and Pakistan to have an independent 1. During the time of partition of status for his state. He offered a proposal of Standstill Agreement to British India (1947), Jammu and both the Dominion, pending a final Kashmir (J&K) was a Princely decision on State’s accession. On State. Britishers had given all August 12, 1947, the Prime Minister of princely states choice – either to Jammu and Kashmir sent identical join India or to join Pakistan or communications to the Government of India and Pakistan. even to remain independent. 2. Pakistan accepted the offer and sent a 2. The ruler of Kashmir during that communication to J&K Prime Minister time (1947) was Maharaja Hari on August 15, 1947. It read, “The Singh, the great-grandson of Government of Pakistan agrees to have Maharaja Gulab Singh. He was a Standstill Agreement with Jammu and Kashmir for the continuation of existing Hindu who ruled over a majority- arrangements …” Muslim princely state. 3. India advised the Maharaja to send his 3. He did not want to merge with authorized representative to Delhi for India or Pakistan. further discussion on the offer WHAT WERE KASHMIRI PEOPLE’S ASPIRATION IN 1947? Kashmiri people took part extensively in the Indian Nationalist Movement. They not only wanted to get rid of the British rule but also never wanted to be under the rule of the Dogra dynasty once the nationalist movement achieves its mission. The Kashmiris had preferred democracy to monarchy. Jammu and Kashmir was always a secular state – with a history of Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh rule. Even though the majority population was Muslims, it then had a significant Hindu population as well India in 1947 had suggested conducting a plebiscite to know the aspirations of Kashmiri people. With tall leaders of Jammu and Kashmir like Sheik Abdullah on its side, cherishing the common values – secularism, democracy, and pan-India nationalism – India was confident to win the Plebiscite if it was held in 1947. India’s stand with Junagadh, another princely state, was also to conduct a plebiscite. In 1947, upon the independence and partition of India, the last Muslim ruler of the Junagadh state, Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III, decided to merge Junagadh into the newly formed Pakistan. The majority of the population were Hindus. The conflict led to many revolts and also a plebiscite, resulting in the integration of Junagadh into India However, the Pakistan attack on Kashmir in October 1947 changed all dynamics. The exact aspirations of Kashmiri People at that time is still unknown – as a plebiscite or referendum was never held THE PAKISTAN INVASION OF KASHMIR IN 1947 ➢ Pakistan, though entered into Standstill Agreement with Jammu and Kashmir, had an eye on it. It broke the Standstill Agreement by sponsoring a tribal militant attack in Kashmir on October 1947 ➢ Pashtun raiders from Pakistan invaded Kashmir in October 1947 and took control over a large area. Hari Singh appealed to the Governor General of free-India, Lord Mountbatten for assistance ➢ India assured help on condition Hari Singh should sign the Instrument of Accession. Maharaja Hari Singh signed the instrument of accession with India (1947). It was also agreed that once the situation normalised, the views of the people of J&K will be ascertained about their future JAMMU AND KASHMIR SIGN THE INSTRUMENT OF ACCESSION WITH INDIA ➢ The Maharaja Hari Singh signed Instrument of Accession to India on 26 October 1947 in Srinagar. ➢ As soon as the accession documents were signed, the Indian Armed Force took over the stage to repulse Pakistan- supported tribal assault. ➢ Indian and Pakistani forces thus fought their first war over Kashmir in 1947-48 India successfully droves out most of the Pak-supported tribal militants from Kashmir occupation. However, one part of the State came under Pakistani control. India claims that this area is under illegal occupation. Pakistan describes this area as ‘Azad Kashmir’. India however, does not recognize this term. India uses the term Pak occupied Kashmir (PoK) for the area of Kashmir under the control of Pakistan. India brings the United Nations (UN) into the picture ➢ India referred the dispute to the United Nations Security Council on 1 January 1948. Following the set-up of the United The UN Resolution was non-binding ➢ Nations Commission for India and on India and Pakistan. However, this Pakistan (UNCIP), the UN Security is what the UN resolution mentioned Council passed Resolution 47 on 21 April 1948. Why no Plebiscite or Referendum was held in Kashmir yet? UN Resolution on Jammu and Kashmir • The state of Jammu and Kashmir is defined as it The UN resolutions clearly said: existed on or before the invasion of Pakistan on 22nd October 1947. This includes the present • Pakistan is the aggressor in the state. territory of Pak occupied Kashmir (POK), Gilgit, • Pakistan has to vacate all occupied territory in Baltistan, Jammu, Laddhak and Kashmir valley. state and handover the vacated territory to India. • Pakistan asked for time to vacate its occupation but • India has to remove all its forces leaving aside it never complied. enough to maintain law and order. • • As nearly one-third of the state of Jammu and India to conduct a plebiscite in the state. Kashmir is still under the occupation of Pakistan, it is a noncompliance of conditions leading to the plebiscite. Sheikh Abdullah’s movement – Formal incorporation of Kashmir into the Indian Union Kashmir’s first political party, the Muslim Conference, was formed in 1925, with Sheikh Abdullah as president. Later, in 1938, it was renamed as National Conference. The National Conference was a secular organisation and had a long association with the Congress. Sheikh Abdullah was a personal friend of some of the leading nationalist leaders including Nehru National Conference started a popular movement to get rid of the Maharaja. Sheikh Abdullah was the leader After the Maharaja Hari Singh signed an ‘Instrument of Accession’ with the Government of India, Sheikh Abdullah took over as the Prime Minister of the State of J&K (the head of the government in the State was then called Prime Minister) in March 1948. Sheikh Abdullah was against Jammu and Kashmir joining Pakistan. However, he took a pro- referendum stance and delayed the formal accession to India. The pro-Indian authorities dismissed the state government and arrested Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah. The new Jammu and Kashmir government ratified the accession to India. In 1957, Kashmir was formally incorporated into the Indian Union. KASHMIR ISSUE – EXTERNAL DISPUTES ➢ Externally, ever since 1947, Kashmir remained a major issue of conflict between India and Pakistan (and between India and China to a minor extent). ➢ Pakistan has always claimed that Kashmir valley should be part of Pakistan.