4th SPD – Jammu/Kashmir
Background
The situation in Jammu and Kashmir is a territorial dispute between China, India, and
Pakistan. The conflict began after both India and Pakistan gained their independence from Great
Britain in 1947. As these nations began mapping out their new borders, each wanted a stake hold
in the region of Jammu and Kashmir, a region geographically located between India and
Pakistan. Initially the regions decided to join India, based upon the leaders decision as India
would provide military aide and possibly a referendum in the future. Pakistan disagreed with this
agreement because the majority of the people in the region were Muslims, the main religion in
Pakistan; therefore Pakistan felt that it should have the right to integrate this region into their
nation. These tensions have led to two Kashmir wars, the first one occurring in 1947 and the
second one occurring in 1965. The accumulated casualties for both the wars are estimated
between 10,000-15,000 people. The two wars each ended in a ceasefire due to the build up of
casualties.
China became involved in the region of Jammu and Kashmir in 1962, when Chinese
troops fired on 50 Indian troops within the region closest to China. China is also another
bordering country of Jammu and Kashmir. India, not wanting to retaliate against one of
Pakistan’s allies, merely condemns the actions of China. To this day, the region continues to be
disputed between India and Pakistan, and has no signs of compromise anytime soon. One of the
major issues that must be tackled are the religious tensions between India and Pakistan. The
religious conflict between India and Pakistan regarding Jammu and Kashmir is that both of these
nations’ main religions Hinduism and Islam both have major population in the regions and
therefore each side clashes over religious rights. The situation in Jammu and Kashmir is an issue
for the international community because both India and Pakistan contain nuclear weapons, and
therefore must be treated with caution. Additionally in order to protect the civilians in the region
of Jammu and Kashmir from more violence, communication between India and Pakistan must
progress in order to maintain and control the situation in the region.
United Nations
In 1948 the United Nations created the United Nation Commission for India and Pakistan
(UNCIP). The UNCIP goal is to monitor the area in Jammu and Kashmir in hopes of finding a
solution. The UNCIP is the main proponent in helping form resolutions for India and Pakistan
regarding Jammu and Kashmir. The UN has passed a total of sixteen resolutions to this date
through the UNCIP. In 1949 the United Nations Military Observer Group for India and Pakistan
(UNMOGIP) was created. The UNMOGIP was created in order to maintain the ceasefire from
the first Kashmir War. It was also created to protect the civilians in the region from outbreaks of
war that could threaten the civilians’ safety. Currently there are 44 military observers in the
region of Jammu and Kashmir; these observers are simply monitors from different nations
around the world, who observe the military aspect of the conflict and create solutions that will
ensure peace in the region. In 1971 the UN passed Security Council Resolution 307, which calls
for the reduction of violence in the region as well as promote humanitarian aide to the region.
This resolution has been the guidelines for all activities made by the UN in the region. The main
activities that the UN has done through this resolution have been humanitarian since the UN does
not promote violence. The UN has been a main advocate of opening dialogue between the two
sides in hopes of reducing the tensions between the two nations. In a sense China’s involvement
in the dialogue is not valued as much as India and Pakistan, seeing as how the main issue
regarding the territorial dispute has been between the two nations and their religious tensions.
Multilateral peace talks have also been proposed though did not progress as much as the UN had
hoped due to very little cooperation between India and Pakistan. The UN however, continues to
stress the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and hopes that the current situation will improve and that
violence will not outbreak again.
Solutions
One of the major short term solutions the international community hopes to improve is
the humanitarian aid. The international community wants to see that the humanitarian aid sent is
actually being received by the refugee camps, and from there used appropriately in order to treat
the patients in the camps that have been wounded and displaced due to the conflict. Ensuring that
the aid is being used properly will go along way in keeping the civilians in the region safe.
Sending in humanitarian aid is the quickest way to help the civilians in the region while peace
talks progress. This goes along with the UN’s goal of improving the UNHCR refugee camps; it
would allow for more adequate equipment and supplies to treat the refugees. Furthermore, the
international community wants to address transportation for refugees. Using the donations
worldwide, transporting the refugees from areas where no treatment is available to the locations
where the camps are will further ensure security and safety for the civilians. The entire world
continues to stress the importance of opening dialogue between the two nations India and
Pakistan. Proposing multilateral talks with the UN as a mediator has been rejected multiple
times. Some incentives have been offered in the past such as financial assistance but no proper
agreement has resulted. The international community’s most recent activity is the added pressure
onto India and Pakistan to try and find a common line a compromise to the territorial dispute.
Questions to Consider
What is China’s role in the current situation?
Should the civilians in Jammu and Kashmir have a say in what is going on?
Is their an effective way to reduce religious tension between India and Pakistan?
Should other nations have a say in the territorial disputes of the region?
Without using military force or choosing sides is their anything the UN and international
community can do to create progress?
Aside from humanitarian aid is there any other solution that can effectively help this conflict?
Works Cited
<http://www.opinion-maker.org/2011/02/kashmir-the-essence-of-the-uncip-resolutions/>.
<http://www.cidob.org/en/publications/opinion/asia/foreign_assistance_unwelcome_in_china_in
dia_boundary_conflict>.
<http://unhcr.org/refworld/topic,463af2212,469f2dcf2,487ca21a2a,0.html>.
<http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/unmogip/background.shtml>.