Kashmir conflict:
I have visited "Azad Kashmir" -- it is in a terrible state; its sight ought to dispel any notion about Pakistan's concern for Kashmiris. I have not had a chance to visit Indian Kashmir, so I cannot say, though I have been wanting to visit this heavenly place for a long time, and always given up the idea because of violence. That should say enough about conditions there.
However, I have many (Indian) Kashmiri friends, who just want their place back! They express little interest in "Islamisation" of Kashmir. But as in many other unfortunate places in the world, Kashmiris have borne ruthless atrocities from all sides -- religious fanatics, mercenaries from Pakistan, and very significantly, from the Indian forces, according to them. They do not deny the list of benefits Kashmiris on the Indian side enjoy from the Indian government, namely:
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. 1) No one outside the state of Kashmir can buy land in Kashmir.
2) Free education up to highest level to all in Kashmir state.
3) All foods are subsidised by the Federal Government.
4) Cheapest possible rate to the business entrepreneurs.
5) Federal subsidised medical facilities.
But even these do NOT wash off the atrocities the Kashmiris suffer day in and day out. Both the Indian and Pakistani governments have played their chess games on these people; no uninvolved observer can deny that. It's somewhat like the Iraqis today; the pain is the same whether they get blown up by insurgents' bombs, or by US bombs or poison gas!
Having been through the horrors of 1971 in Bangladesh perpetrated by Pakistan, I can appreciate the hardship of the Kashmiris. But we (Bengalis) suffered only for 9 months, thanks to the Indian intervention, the Kashmiris have been bearing it since 1947!
So any rays of hope, like that the ones we see now, are much welcome.
In a different analogy, Kashmir is like Palestine of our subcontinent; solving this problem is essential for overall peace in the region. And any one party involved can spoil the whole thing even if all others intend well. Claims of scripture (Book of Genesis or Veda), therefore, are useless.
No debate intended; only peace and well being for the Kashmiris, and eventually for the rest of the subcontinent, now described as the most probable theatre of nuclear war, and that it will most likely be over Kashmir! In that sense, none of us really are "uninvolved".