Roots of the Problem

The Roots of the Problem in Jammu and Kashmir

Before 1947, Jammu and Kashmir was a princely state. Its ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh, wanted an independent status for his state — he did not wish to merge with either India or Pakistan. Pakistani leaders, however, believed that Kashmir belonged to Pakistan because the majority of its population was Muslim. But the people of the state did not see themselves that way. They thought of themselves as Kashmiris first. This sense of regional identity is known as Kashmiriyat.

The popular movement in the state was led by Sheikh Abdullah and his party, the National Conference. This movement wanted to get rid of the Maharaja but was firmly against joining Pakistan. The National Conference was a secular organisation with a long association with the Indian National Congress. Sheikh Abdullah was a personal friend of several leading nationalist leaders, including Jawaharlal Nehru.

In October 1947, Pakistan sent tribal infiltrators to capture Kashmir. This forced Maharaja Hari Singh to ask for Indian military help. India provided military support and drove back the infiltrators from the Kashmir valley — but only after the Maharaja signed an Instrument of Accession with the Government of India. However, Pakistan continued to control a sizeable part of the state, so the issue was taken to the United Nations Organisation.

The UN, in its resolution dated 21 April 1948, recommended a three-step process to resolve the issue:

• First, Pakistan had to withdraw all its nationals and tribesmen who had entered Kashmir.
• Second, India needed to progressively reduce its forces to only the minimum required for maintaining law and order.
• Third, a plebiscite was to be conducted in a free and impartial manner.

No progress was achieved under this resolution.

In the meanwhile, in March 1948, Sheikh Abdullah took over as the Prime Minister of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. (At that time, the head of the government in the state was called Prime Minister.) India agreed to grant the state provisional autonomy under Article 370 of the Constitution. …