William Hickman, I will proceed to express my opinion to some of the points you make by quoting from your post first and follow up with mine.
<<....I am not sure if you are advocating that Kashmir cannot become independent because other states (areas?, provinces?)in India desire the same thing, but IF you are I for one do not accept that argument....>>
I do not accept that argument either
<<....the circumstances under which Kashmir became part of India are entirely different ..>>
I agree on that also.
<<....People have argued on this forum that the withdrawal of Kashmir from India is the end of secular India...>>
I do not agree with that. If Kashmir separates from India, India will still continue to be a secular country. The next Indian president is likely to be a Muslim, India's secularism is enshrined in its constitution. It would need more that 2/3 votes to change that.
<<...To my mind the concept of an Indian nation is a very fragile one...>>
What would you call Pakistan, a fragile concept also? Let us compare the two for a while. India has had democratic elections consistently. The elected govts. no matter from which political parties, have had control of the borders, its internal security, a good economy with a significant level of trade with Western countries. If this performance does not serve as a indication that the existence of India makes sense, then we need to determine if Pakistan has had the same level of performance on the secular issue, the economic front etc. In Pakistan even the Muslims are second class citizens (the Ahmadiya sect)
<<...If the idea of Indian nationhood is so weak it can't survive Kashmiran Independence then maybe India deserves to fail as a nation...>>
I agree. But to me the question is not whether Kashmir needs to be independent of not. As I understand, Pakistan is pushing for the entire state of J&K to become part of Pakistan. And the Indians are saying no in support of the independent minded Kashmiris, the few that are still there in that region in spite of threats to their lives and property by Pakistani insurgents. The PoK has been rid of independent minded Kashmiris by the Muslim fundamentalists. Would involving the present implanted residents of PoK in a plebiscite be relevant now?
My opinion, freeze the international borders at the LoC and move on. Get the Al Qaeda since they are deflecting the focus from themselves to this issue by raising this issue now. |
