The Kashmir conflict is one of the oldest unresolved territorial disputes in the world. It began in October 1947 when British India was partitioned into two independent nations — India and Pakistan. The princely state of Jammu & Kashmir, governed by Maharaja Hari Singh — a Hindu ruler over a Muslim-majority population — was given the choice to accede to either nation.
When Pakistani-backed tribal militias invaded Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh signed an Instrument of Accession to India in exchange for military protection. A UN-brokered ceasefire in 1949 established the Line of Control that divides Kashmir to this day.
The UN Resolution That Was Never Implemented
In April 1948, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 47, calling for a free and impartial plebiscite to allow the people of Kashmir to decide their own future. The conditions required both India and Pakistan to withdraw forces. Neither fully complied, and the plebiscite was never held. More than 75 years later, this resolution remains unfulfilled.
Wars and Failed Diplomacy
India and Pakistan have fought three full-scale wars with Kashmir as a central issue. The 1972 Simla Agreement attempted to resolve disputes bilaterally, effectively sidelining the UN process. Despite multiple diplomatic rounds, no lasting resolution has been achieved.
The Kashmir question is not merely a territorial dispute between states. It is a human rights issue — a matter of whether 15 million people will ever determine their own future.
Kashmeeriyat believes the only path forward is through peaceful dialogue, respect for international law, and recognition that Kashmiri people on both sides of the Line of Control must be heard.