What is the History of Kashmir?

The two sides once again agreed to resolve the issue peacefully, as domestic issues dominated.

tourism in Kashmir declined during the late 1980's and 1990's, due tothe terror perpetrated by separatist militants and self-styled freedom fighters.Victimized by Islamic fundamentalists and mercenaries, thousands of innocent Kashmiri lives have been lost due to terrorism

The two sides once again agreed to resolve the issue peacefully, as domestic issues dominated.

Both India and Pakistan had other important domestic problems which kept Kashmir on the back-burner. In 1975 Indira Gandhi declared a state of national emergency, but she was defeated in the 1978 general elections.

. Today the situation has some what improved with both countries agreeing to come to the negotiating tableand discuss all outstanding issues with an open mind.

. Today the situation has some what improved with both countries agreeing to come to the negotiating tableand discuss all outstanding issues with an open mind.

Both India and Pakistan had other important domestic problems which kept Kashmir on the back-burner. In 1975 Indira Gandhi declared a state of national emergency, but she was defeated in the 1978 general elections.

. Today the situation has some what improved with both countries agreeing to come to the negotiating tableand discuss all outstanding issues with an open mind.

Both India and Pakistan had other important domestic problems which kept Kashmir on the back-burner. In 1975 Indira Gandhi declared a state of national emergency, but she was defeated in the 1978 general elections.

. Today the situation has some what improved with both countries agreeing to come to the negotiating tableand discuss all outstanding issues with an open mind.

Both India and Pakistan had other important domestic problems which kept Kashmir on the back-burner. In 1975 Indira Gandhi declared a state of national emergency, but she was defeated in the 1978 general elections.

. Today the situation has some what improved with both countries agreeing to come to the negotiating tableand discuss all outstanding issues with an open mind.

The Kashmir dispute dates from 1947. The partition of the Indian sub-continent along religious lines led to the formation of India and Pakistan.

Both India and Pakistan had other important domestic problems which kept Kashmir on the back-burner. In 1975 Indira Gandhi declared a state of national emergency, but she was defeated in the 1978 general elections.

there remained the problem of over 650 states, run by princes, existing within the two newly independent countries.

The people had been fighting for freedom from British rule, and with their struggle about to bear fruit they were not willing to let the princes fill the vacuum.

The people had been fighting for freedom from British rule, and with their struggle about to bear fruit they were not willing to let the princes fill the vacuum.

Although many princes wanted to be "independent" (which would have meant hereditary monarchies and no hope for democracy) they had to succumb to their people's protests which turned violent in many provinces.

Kashmir could choose to join either India or Pakistan. Maharaja Hari Singh, the ruler of Kashmir, was Hindu while most of his subjects were Muslim. Unable to decide which nation Kashmir should join, Hari Singh chose to remain neutral.

Hari Singh appealed to the Indian government for military assistance and fled to India. He signed the Instrument of Accession, ceding Kashmir to India on October 26.

Indian and Pakistani forces thus fought their first war over Kashmir in 1947-48. India referred the dispute to the United Nations on 1 January. In a resolution dated August 13, 1948, the UN asked Pakistan to remove its troops, after which India was also to withdraw the bulk of its forces.

Once this happened, a "free and fair" plebiscite was to be held to allow the Kashmiri people to decide their future.

According to “Rajtarangini”, a historical write up for Kashmir written by Kalhana, Kashmir Valley was formerly a lake and the water was drained Rishi Kashyap by cutting a gap in the hills at Baramulla. It is proven with the fact that Kashmir is bowl shaped and the word KASHMIR if broken in two parts means DRIED OUT LAND since KA means WATER and SHIMEERA, which means DRIED OUT

India, having taken the issue to the UN, was confident of winning a plebiscite, since the most influential Kashmiri mass leader, Sheikh Abdullah, was firmly on its side. An emergency government was formed on October 30, 1948 with Sheikh Abdullah as the Prime Minister.

As calculated in 2011, the total population of Jammu and Kashmir is 12.55 million which is more than individual populations of 133 independent nations of the world.