Page 1 of 6
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 01
January 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 626
Kashmir Issue: An Unsolved Riddle In Indo-Pak Relations
Kusum
M.A. (Political Science) & CTET
H. No. 66, Sector – 28, Faridabad – 121008
E-mail: kusum.06@gmail.com
Abstract: The fact is that the Kashmir issue has been a bone of contention in Indo-Pak
relations. Actually it has been pending with the Security Council of the UN and there
appears no chance for the settlement of this issue in the recent years. However,
terrorism in Kashmir has made critical relations between India and Pakistan. It is said
that terrorism in Kashmir is a Pak sponsored riddle. India since 1947 is maintaining the
fact that it is an integral part of Indian Territory but on the other side Pakistan says that
the future of Kashmir is yet to be settled in accordance with the process of plebiscite.
This problem has given birth to unsolved riddle. Therefore, Pakistan has always filtered
terrorist groups in Kashmir and the Kashmir Issue has led to two wars between India and
Pakistan in 1965 and 1971. Kargil war in 1999 was based on the separatist theory of
Kashmir. Since Pokhran-II, Indo-Pak relations on the Kashmir issue have become very
complex. Recently in 2014, the NDA Govt. made some positive steps to solve the
problem and to break the ice of relations between the two countries. In spite of this the
problem is unsolved riddle. The present research paper makes a review of the Kashmir
issue in Indo-Pak relations.
Keywords: Kashmir Issue, Terrorism, Kargil War, Accession, Plebiscite, CBMs.
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ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 01
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Introduction: Actually Jammu & Kashmir is one state of Indian Union with an area of
86,023 sq. miles and it includes besides the valley of Kashmir, the area of Jammu and
Ladakh the hill district and the tribal areas. After the formation of Pak occupied area,
this state is divided between the two countries but because of its strategic importance
and geographical position Kashmir is intimately connected with the security of India.
Two nation theory divided India into two countries. This state was one of the princely
states of India ruled by Raja Hari Singh. In 1948, Pakistan supported terrorist groups
attacked border areas of India. Raja Hari Singh asked for help to India and signed a
document to annex Jammu and Kashmir in Indian Union but Nehru advocated that the
final decision would be based on the opinion of the people living in this territory. That is
why the issue of Accession acquired further complexity due to some political reasons. It
was a great mistake of India the indecisiveness of India became a major problem and it
laid down the foundation of Kashmir issue.
The position on 20th Oct. 1947 in Kashmir was that both the rulers and the people
had acceded to India, but to keep the matter completely above board. The Govt. of India
unilaterally offered the people of Kashmir a chance to decide their future by the
recognized democratic method of plebiscite or referendum which in order to ensure
complete impartiality might be held under international auspices once the soil of
Kashmir has been cleared of the invaders. The India felt that the UN Security Council
would understand the India’s concern but Pakistan held that Hindu Maharaja of Kashmir
knew very well that his subjects wanted to accede to Pakistan. Therefore, in order to
mislead them, the Govt. of Kashmir concluded a standstill agreement with Pakistan but
at the same time came out with a well throughout plan to accede to India. Pakistan
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European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 01
January 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 628
requested Security Council to examine her case in total and not to concentrate on the
Kashmir issue which was only one alone of the many facets of the unhappy relations.
In June 1948, the Security Council passed a resolution and appointed a
commission to investigate the Kashmir Issue. After many investigations, it submitted its
first report on third August 1948, this resolution was accepted by India and rejected by
Pakistan. Therefore, the commission issued some fresh proposals on 11th Dec. 1948 and
on 5th Jan. 1949 but both the countries India and Pakistan failed to implement these
proposals. Meanwhile Pakistan refused to withdraw her forces from the territory of
Kashmir. The Security Council appointed the Graham Missions in 1951 and 1957 but
these commissions also failed to solve the dispute. However, in 1957, the Security
Council gave its new proposal for arbitration over the Kashmir Issue but India rejected it.
India made many efforts to settle the dispute with Pakistan but in 1965 Pakistan
attacked on India. Pakistan wanted to secure Kashmir by force. Indian forces answered
the infiltration of Pakistani troops. The war continued and by the peace mediation done
by UN Secretary General U. Thant both the countries agreed to a cease fire. Now, a
meeting for Tashkent agreement was held in Soviet Union from Jan. 3rd to 10th, 1966.
This agreement between India and Pakistan is known as Tashkent agreement but
unfortunately the Tashkent declaration did not deal with the Kashmir issue. Meanwhile
Pakistan did not show any positive efforts to solve the problem and in 1971 Pakistan
made a strong attack on India. After the war both the countries came on table to sort
out their disputes. Now a conference in 1972 in Shimla was held out and Shimla
agreement included a sub clause of clause 9 and it added that in Jammu and Kashmir,
the line of control resulting from the cease fire of December 17, 1971 and shall be
