Free Kashmir - this is how the name of this territory is translated from Urdu. In fact, it is difficult to call it truly free. Although it has the rights of self-government, it is under the control of Pakistan.
Long-standing dispute
Kashmir is a historical region with a long disputed status. The fact is that there are always places where cultures border on each other, where financial, economic, territorial and strategic interests sharply converge. Kashmir - a mountainous country with important roads and a mixed Muslim-Hindu population - has been the subject of wars and strife among neighbors since the early Middle Ages. It was under the control of the Indian rajas, the Mughal Empire, the Afghan tribes, the Gurkhas. The penultimate conflict was the Anglo-Sikh war, as a result of which, with the permission of the British, the protectorate kingdom of Kashmir was formed with a hereditary ruler from the Sikh dynasty.
Victim of "liberation"
In 1946, the British Empire decided to stop being an empire in the fullest sense. Its colonies in the region of the Hindustan peninsula gained independence. The interests of many principalities likeKashmir, however, were ignored, since two states were created, the division into which was based on a religious principle. Territories with a population professing Hinduism (and Buddhism) went to India, Muslims united in Pakistan. Even territorial proximity was taken into account in the second place: for example, now independent Bangladesh also became part of Pakistan, despite the fact that it is separated from it by a significant Indian space.
Formally, "Kashmir-like" entities could declare independence, but no one could vouch for their future. That is why almost all of them ceased to exist, joining someone. But for the Kashmiri Maharaja Hari Singh, this choice did not have a solution in view of the above-mentioned "borderline" of his country. The Sikh rulers were Hindus, but the majority of the population were Muslims. Initially, the Maharaja was forced to declare neutrality, but this did not suit the Muslim population, who were eager to live within the borders of Pakistan and therefore staged a series of protest actions in the form of shooting and riots. In addition, both India and Pakistan were active in propaganda, trying to win over the Kashmiris.
As a result, Maharaja Singh in 1947, in exchange for full support, declared Kashmir part of India, which caused the invasion of Pakistani unofficial volunteer military units, supported by the Muslims of Kashmir. India's support was expressed in the introduction of a regular army. Since the British army refused to intervene in the conflict as a peacekeeper, to protectPakistani troops entered Kashmir. Thus began the first Indo-Pakistani war (1947-48).
"Frozen" Kashmir
The war took place with the advantage of the Indian army. Most of Kashmir, including the largest cities of Srinagar and Jammu, came under Indian control. In 1948, the parties decided to make peace, and they turned to the UN to resolve the conflict. At first, they again offered to disengage on religious grounds, but both sides refused. As a result, the conflict moved to a frozen stage, in which it remains to this day.
Azad Kashmir today
Pakistani Kashmir is not much different from an ordinary Pakistani province. In terms of functions, the president of the "country" is equal to the governor.
At the same time, Azad Kashmir is far from the last in terms of development in Pakistan and is even important for the economy. One hydroelectric power station on the Jelam River is worth something! Third in the country!
The capital city of Muzaffarabad is not so big - less than 30 thousand inhabitants. The last time a city in a picturesque valley flashed in the news of world news agencies was in 2005 on a sad occasion, being at the epicenter of an earthquake that destroyed half the city.
The Indian part has been transformed into the state of Jammu and Kashmir and is fully integrated into the life of India. The Pakistani part received autonomy, the formal signs of an independent state of Azad Kashmir in the form of a president and parliament. Everything matchesnorms. However, it is always depicted on the map of Pakistan.
The meaning of the Pakistani "feint" is that the fate of Kashmir, as planned by the UN, should be decided in a plebiscite by the people of Kashmir themselves, who first need to regain integrity. That is, the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir should be annexed to Azad Kashmir, and only then… However, India is not going to give up the territories, realizing how "free" Western Kashmir is, and the UN has not insisted on a quick solution to the problem for almost sixty years.
For more than half a century, the population of the former principality has already managed to disengage: precisely on religious grounds. It would probably be worth recognizing the current borders as completely legitimate, but … a bad peace is better than a good quarrel. Moreover, India still lays claim not to parts, but to the whole of Kashmir. Like in Islamabad, they want to see the whole Kashmir on the map of Pakistan.
