The Kashmir Question:
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/8715/noframe.htm
Lying for Terrorism
Kashmir's Muslim majority should have been incorporated into Pakistan after the British withdrawal from India. Despite the wishes of the population for an independent state India claims sovereignity and maintains the largest occupation force in the world who are responsible for severe Human Rights abuses in one of the world's most beautiful regions. The situation has become more tense with the entry of both India and Pakistan into the nuclear family, with first India, and then Pakistan carrying out nuclear tests. Both countries now face tough sanctions from the rest of the world.
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/8715/kashmir/index.htm
Tensions between Hindus and Muslims were extremely high when Britain withdrew from their most populated colony in 1947. In a bid to protect the Muslim minority, who feared persecution and preferred to rule themselves, the colony was divided into two states, Pakistan and India, with majority Muslim states to join the former and majority Hindu states to join the latter. However, despite a Muslim majority and a desire of the people to be incorporated into Pakistan, the Hindu leader declared Independence and when the people rose against him called on India to intervene. A war between India and Pakistan ensued and the state was divided, with India controlling roughly two thirds of the land.
India has ruled its section since with minimal respect to the mainly Muslim inhabitants. Two further wars between India and Pakistan have increased animosities, and in 1989 a militant separatists campaign was initiated against the Indian occupiers. The uprising has been dealt with brutally by the half million Indian security forces who make the region the most militarized in the world. Extrajudicial killings, horrific forms of torture, extensive use of sexual abuse and arbitrary arrest are common.
Some of the separatist militants have also been known for their brutality, with mass killings of minority Hindu villagers and careless attacks on security forces that kill and injure more civilians than combatants. Western tourists have also been targetted and several have been beheaded by their captors.
The struggle for independence however also extends to peaceful demonstrations and strikes that often bring the Summer capital, Srinagar, to a standstill.
While the initial struggle of the Kashmiri people was for incorporation into Pakistan, the undoubted support of the population is for independence. The UN brokered a deal between India and Pakistan in 1948 involving a referendum, but due to continuing Indian military presence and the upsurge in militant activity this has been impossible.
Last year both India and Pakistan detonated Nuclear devices, bringing international focus on the area. Wide ranging sanctions were imposed by Western countries already possessing the weapons. Despite that there has been little pressure from the International Community to solve the Human Rights or sovereignity problems.
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/8715/kashmir/intro.htm
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/8715/kashmir/abuses.htm
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/8715/kashmir/milit.htm
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/8715/kashmir/sepabuse.htm
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/8715/kashmir/legal.htm