Muslim extremists fighting American and other coalition forces in Afghanistan under the Taliban banner capture headlines daily.
But few readers and even fewer of the young foreign correspondents realize this warfare traces its beginnings to the disputed Himalayan state of Kashmir and India’s failure to abide by promises made 62 years ago.
As one who traveled constantly in Pakistan from 1965 to 1968 and who went back in 1995 to teach at Punjab University in Lahore, Pakistan, I believe much of today’s Islamic militance stems from the west’s failure to force a resolution in Kashmir.
Many of today’s Taliban guerrillas are sons and grandsons of Muslims who have waged war against India virtually since Great Britain granted the area independence on Aug. 15, 1947.
Britain’s Lord Mountbatten, in India negotiating with Hindu and Muslim leaders, agreed to creation of East and West Pakistan. In the final days of negotiations, the Muslims demanded Kashmir go to Pakistan.
Mountbatten reported to London that India’s Hindu leaders had agreed to a popular vote in Kashmir to determine if the state would go to Pakistan, to India, or become an independent state.
On Dec. 31, 1947, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru wrote the U.N. Secretary-General that as soon as “raiders” were driven out of Kashmir, the people there would freely decide their fate in a “plebiscite or referendum.” No such vote has ever been held.
On April 21, 1948, a U.N. resolution said a plebiscite should be held in Kashmir on joining India or Pakistan. No such vote has ever been held.
Through the years, the Kashmir debate has continued and India and Pakistan have engaged in a series of wars. To date, India has ignored 16 U.N. Security Council resolutions saying a vote should be held in the disputed state. Yet, some suggestions have been made that India deserves a seat on the Security Council!
In October, 1963, the U.N. debated Kashmir – the 110th debate on the 90-plus percent Muslim populated state. No outcome.
As a result of the wars, Pakistan controls 5,134 square miles of Azad (Free) Kashmir and China holds a chunk of northeast Kashmir.
Published reports say India stations 600,000 soldiers in Kashmir, the highest percentage of armed soldiers to civilians anywhere in the world. India denies the figure, but will not give one of its own.
By contrast, the United States sent approximately 150,000 military personnel to the Persian Gulf to fight a dictator who had sophisticated jet fighters and missiles. That was one-fourth the size of the Indian army suppressing Kashmiri Muslims, mostly agricultural and handicraft people.
The Vale of Kashmir should be wealthy, with both Pakistan and India benefiting from tourists traveling through their countries to visit the lovely mountain valley. Kashmir is renowned for Cashmere woolens, carpets and children’s rugs called Namdas.
Instead, because of the constant military presence and frequent outbreaks of violence, tourism has been dead for years and Kashmiris suffer economically.
Kashmir is a festering cesspool of poverty, hunger and rage. The International Commission of Jurists says Indian legislation on Kashmir is “draconian.”
There is little doubt that Pakistan’s intelligence agency has for years armed guerrillas fighting the Indian forces in Kashmir. It is also widely accepted that many of the guerrilla fighters left Kashmir to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan. Today, they are the Taliban.
Would American servicemen have to be battling the Taliban today if India had resolved the Kashmir issue years ago?
Joe McGowan, a Lakewood resident, and retired Denver bureau chief, spent 42 years with The Associated Press, including years in Asia, Central and South America. EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an online-only column and has not been edited.
