History H2 Indo-Pak-Causes

8/10/2019 History H2 Indo-Pak-Causes

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Theme III: Conflict and

Cooperation

Topic 3: Indo-Pakistani War

over Kashmir


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CONTENT

PART 1: CAUSES

PART 2: IMPACT


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1. Legacy of British rule

2. Ethnic and Religious

Differences

3. Ideological

Differences

4. Strategic / Economic

Importance of Kashmir

5. Kashmirs Accession

to India

6. Indias position on

the dispute

7. Pakistans position

on the Kashmir dispute

8. Kashmiri position onthe Kashmir dispute

9. Role of Cold War

politics


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2.1 LEGACY OF BRITISH RULE

2.1.1 Partition

2.1.2 British failure to oversee satisfactory completion

Lack of satisfactory method

for integration of Princely

States in independent India

and Pakistan


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Things to consider:

Laid foundations for dispute of Kashmir to

begin with

But the ill-conceived method of

decolonisation (ie partition) was made

problematic because of inherent

differences between the Muslims and the

Hindus.


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2.2 ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES BETWEEN

AND WITHIN INDIA AND PAKISTAN

PROBLEMS WITH ETHNICITY AND RELIGION

India Pakistan

Hindu majority of over 80%

Hindu interests have been neglected to

safeguard minority interests?

Relations between Hindu and Muslim

populations in India became strained as

Muslims were regarded by Hindus as being

sympathetic to Pakistan.

Hostility produced by communal massacresand upheavals accompanying Partition

exacerbated ethnic and religious differences.

Muslim majority of more than 95%

Not a very coherent and cohesive Islamic

state

As part of nation-building efforts, Jinnah

(Pakistans founder) promoted a national

Pakistani identity based upon loyalty to

state, Urdu (the language) and Islam.


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Things to consider:

Even within each country, the leaders faced

problems regarding national identity

Hence, needed to address them accordingly

But these ethnic/religious differences made no

sense without an understanding of theideological visionsof each nation-state


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2.3 IDEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN INDIA AND

PAKISTAN

2.3.1

Indias One-Nation Theory vs Pakistans Two-

Nations Theory

2.3.2

Indias secularism (secular nationalism) vs

Pakistans theocracy (religious nationalism)


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2.3.1 Indias One-Nation Theory vs Pakistans Two-

Nations Theory

Concerned with the problem whetherKashmir has a right to exist at all.

Conflict thus stems from the refusal of theadvocates of the one-nationtheory to recognisethe full implications of Pakistan

and thus the right or legitimacy of Pakistanto demand for Kashmir, since Pakistan doesnot have the right to exist.


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IndiasOne-Nation

Theory

Pakistans Two-Nations

Theory

Did not agree with Partition;

Pakistan is an affront and anabsurdity.

It did not prevent Pakistan from

coming into being but it did

guarantee that the relations

between Pakistan and India wouldbe subject to constant stress and

strain.

Founder of Pakistan, Ali Jinnah:

Hindus and Muslims are twoseparate nationswhich cannot

ever live together in harmony.

Pakistan was formed on the basis

of the two-nation theory

Can never concede sovereignty of

the state to India

To do so would negate the validity

of the two-nation theory, and

hence the creation of Pakistanitself.


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2.3.2 Indias secularism (secular nationalism) vs

Pakistans theocracy (religious nationalism)

Indias secularism Pakistans Theocracy

Kashmir as the basis for nation

building.

o The voluntary decision of the

Muslim-majority Kashmir to joinIndiabolstered the secular

argument of the Indian government

o Given that Indian secularism has

been under attack from right-

wing Hindu nationalistorganisations

o Secession of Jammu and Kashmir:

dangerous precedencefor other

peripheral states

Pakistan tended to see Kashmiri

accession as integral to its

Islamic identity


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Things to consider

Why was the vision of a nation important?

Draw back to their independence struggles

Would you give an idea up, after such a

tumultuous journey?

And how would this impact other factors?

Consider, for example, the domestic problems

(ie nation-building)


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2.4 STRATEGIC AND ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF

KASHMIR

For India For Pakistan

Vital buffer

Strategic importance grewafter 1947 because of the

creation of hostile

Pakistan.

Timber-rich with

headwaters of three major

rivers.

Economic importance for

Pakistan was greater than

for India.

Major rivers flow through

Kashmir before reaching

Pakistan

Timber resources as well

as willow and resin


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Things to Consider

Was Kashmirs natural resources that

important compared to more

political/ideological considerations?

Kashmirs waterways:

precious to Pakistan insofar as it was in hostile

relations with India


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2.5 KASHMIRS ACCESSION TO INDIA

Disagreement over the validityof the Instrument ofAccession to the Indian Unionwhich the Maharaja ofKashmir signed in October 1947.

India: based case for possession of Kashmir on thevalidity of this transaction

Pakistan has consistently denied its legality.

Differences of opinion: from differing perspectives ofthe events leading up to the accession.


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2.5 KASHMIRS ACCESSION TO INDIA

Indian perspective Pakistani perspective

Pakistani tribes aided and

supported by Pakistani soldiers

entered Kashmir to force theMaharaja out of poweras he had

avoided a vote during partition.

According to India, the Maharaja

had voluntarily asked for Indian

military help and eventually cedeKashmir to India.

Essentially one of popular revolt

against the oppressive regimeof

the Maharaja.

Indian troopshad marched into

Kashmir to force the Maharaja to

accede.

The Maharaja acceded underduress.


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Things to consider

If the Instrument of Accession is invalid

according to Pakistan, what is?

When you read your BBC Timeline:

Consider the consequences of the war in 1947-48!

Pakistan requested a plebiscite to determine the wishesof the people.


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The next 3 points reflect the

positions of the parties involved.

Should not be studied in isolation tothe development of the conflict (ie

protracted conflict and attempts at

negotiations) which will be coveredin the 2ndhalf of the lecture notes.


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2.6 INDIAS POSITION ON THE KASHMIR DISPUTE

Indias unwillingness to hold elections in Kashmir

1947: India brought up Kashmir issue to UN.

Pakistan denied involvement and suggested that aplebiscitein Kashmir should take place under UNsupervision.

A UN Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP)appointed to carry out the UN mandate in Kashmir.

India accepted plebiscite but insisted that this plebiscitetake place following the total withdrawal of the tribalinvaders and other Pakistani sponsored forces fromKashmir.


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2.6 INDIAS POSITION ON THE KASHMIR DISPUTE

Indias resistance to third party involvement or

mediation

India rejected repeated UN pressure forplebiscite because of Pakistani refusalto

vacate its part of Kashmir.

legal possessionof the state of Jammu and

Kashmir because of the Instrument of Accession


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From Indian Embassy

The provision for accession made in the Government of India Act of1935, as adapted under the Independence Act of 1947, says: "AnIndian State shall be deemed to have acceded to the Dominion if theGovernor General has signified the acceptance of an Instrument of

Accession executed by the Ruler thereof".

The law did not provide that the Instrument of Accession could beconditional. Once Accession was accepted the particularPrincely State became an integral part of one or the other of thetwo Dominions, India or Pakistan.

The law had no provision for consulting the people of the PrincelyStates. The rulers decision was final. Norwas there any provisionin the law that the accession had to be ratified by ascertaining thewishes of the people of the acceding State. There was also noprovision of law taking into account the religious complexion of thepopulation of any of the Princely States.


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2.7 PAKISTANS POSITION ON THE KASHMIR DISPUTE

Kashmir as unfinished business of partition

Always considered that Kashmir would at least form part of the newIslamic state.

When the name Pakistan was first coined, the letter Kwasintended to stand for Kashmir.

Prior accession, Kashmir had agreement with Pakistan Pakistan authorised to operate Kashmirs posts and telegraphs

Obligated to supply food and other necessities.

Absence of any formal agreement between India and the Maharajaof Kashmir


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2.7 PAKISTANS POSITION ON THE KASHMIR DISPUTE

Pakistans Call for Plebiscite and Adherence to UNRecommendations

Pakistan requested that the Security Council set up a Commissionwhich would arrange for a ceasefire in Kashmir followed by thewithdrawal of all outside troops, whether coming from India orPakistan.

Holding of a plebisciteto determine the wishes of the Kashmiripeople.

Could only take place fairly after Indian troops withdrawcompletelyand come under some kind of effective United Nationssupervision.


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Things to consider

Issue of plebiscite after the 1947-1948 war (uponKashmirs accession)

India: Did not want to hold plebiscite because Pakistani troops

still in Kashmir + Instrument of Accession

Pakistan: Wanted plebiscite only after Indian troops withdrew

UN could not force plebiscite; was only invited by India to

recommend (India was more concerned with UN aiding aceasefire)

Thinking pt: Who was being an unwilling party?


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2.8 KASHMIRI POSITION ON THE KASHMIR DISPUTE

Split in Kashmiri Politics Between theProgressives (Favour in g Secular ism)and theConservatives (Favouring an Islamic State)

Al l you really need to k now :

On the eve of the crisis of partition, there were 3main strands of opinion:

The Maharaja (with the support of Hindus)who wanted to retain autocratic regime.

National Conference (predominantly Muslimbut with significant Hindu and Sikh support)looked towards a liberal, secular andindependent Kashmir.

Muslim Conference who believed the besthope of Kashmiri Muslims lay in Pakistan orin close association with Pakistan.

No domesticconsensus

amongst leadersregarding

accession uponindependence of

India andPakistan.


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2.9 ROLE OF COLD WAR POLITICS IN DELAYING A

PLEBISCITE IN KASHMIR

The penetration of Cold War politics into the Subcontinent had a roleto play in the Indias refusal to a plebiscitein Kashmir later.

Pakistan: periphery of SU and ME, thus the US offered a securityalliance to Pakistan.

Rather than pull outtroops from Kashmir, Pakistan would actuallybolster its armed forcesin Kashmir.

Soviet Union began supporting Indias stand in the UNand couldveto any resolution passed against India.

Pakistan who was receiving US supportalso did not have to pullout of Kashmir.

Cold War politics and superpower interests rendered the initialUNCIP resolution irrelevant and unworkable.


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2.9 ROLE OF COLD WAR POLITICS IN DELAYING A

PLEBISCITE IN KASHMIR

A plebiscite could not take place because its prior conditions couldnot, and would not, be met.

In 1956, Nehru withdrew the offer of a plebiscite on three groundsthat:

For a plebiscite to take place under UN supervision, Pakistanhad to first withdraw from Kashmir

Kashmirs Constituent Assembly had approved the merger withIndia and accepted Indias Constitution

The insertion of the Subcontinent into Cold War securityalliances had changed the objective situation drastically, for it

reflected Pakistans desire to seek military solutions, somethingintolerable and a sign of bad faith.


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Things to consider

Superpower rivalry dictating local conflict?

Or local conflict using superpower rivalry?


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Things to consider

Tashkent Declaration (1966):

Indias ally brokering the peace

Also, Tashkent Declaration as 1sttime India

and Pakistan sat together for negotiations

over Kashmir.


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Conclusion

Consider the following:

Who/Which party/what was most responsible

for the conflict?

For laying the foundation?

For exacerbating?

History H2 Indo-Pak-Causes

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