About time. The dogs may bark, but the caravan goes on. There is really no one who can understand this unless you are from the Indian sub continent. They are solving their internal problems, leave them alone.
I don’t expect India to lecture USA on the 2nd amendment, they will never understand the American point of view on it.
34
I venture to guess 98% of Americans have no idea of the significance of this action - heck most can't even find India on a map. What will Pakistan do?
19
It is an act of greater hegemony to overrule the status of the Kashmir by India as it is a Muslim Majority state who wish to join Pakistan. In this way Modi has invited more violence in the region. According to the resolutions of the United Nations on Kashmir, the people of Kashmir have right of self-determination to join India or Pakistan. But India never abided by the resolutions of the United Nations & always ignited the situation by provoking wars. Shameful & disgusting !
6
Modi seems to be matching Trump in every political deicision in saving people struggles and finding a stable solution. Kashmir was not offering Permanent Residency to any Indians so far; with this new rule, any Indian can get PR in Kashmir now and lead a normal life. I request Trump also to do some miracles (like this) for those non-immigrants who're deprivied of their PR in spite of waiting for 10-15 years in USA.
6
“Both nations covet Kashmir, which is Muslim majority, and occupy portions of it with military forces.” I’m just curious why India would want to control it. If they originally divided along religious lines is there something else to the story? Such a natural resources etc? Can someone please let me know. Thanks
3
American readers should not compare Pakistan to India.
One is the world's largest Democracy (yes, flawed, just like the US), a rich diversity with 21% Muslim population (the second most populous Muslim nation in the world). Muslims represent all walks of life and social strata here, despite what the International Liberal press wants you to believe. 200 million unhappy Muslims would be recipe for turmoil-yet India is as safe a nation as the US. I digress
and the other is failed state. a Nation and its organizations that shielded, if not nurtured the worst terrorist in the world. Bin Laden. A state that uses and nurtures Terrorist organizations to harass it neighbors and has not loyalty to its best allies *cough,US* as it cozies up to China.
37
Do the Kashmiri people get to vote on what appears to be an annexation by India? Apparently not. (What are the natural resources of this region? How many people are affecte? How many religious groups, how many people in each "sect?") In other words what is this really about? The "Indians" and "Pakistani" at it again?
And people think have more children is the answer!! and then war.
And with the communication blackout, fear dictates action, and people aren't talking anyway.
What next steps are in the offing?
2
PM Modi's far-right Hindu nationalist government seems intent on stirring up conflict in the region. It's no secret that Muslims in India are marginalized to a severe degree. Also not a secret that Indian security forces have carried out an extensive campaign of rape, torture and murder in Kashmir to suppress their calls for a plebiscite. I fear that it's only going to get worse for them from this point forward as Hindu nationalists become more emboldened and attempt to alter the demographics of Kashmir.
Seems to me that all the talk of India being a secular and democratic state were just bunk. India is nothing more than Hindu Pakistan. I suppose it was inevitable after the trauma of the partition and the entrenched communal attitudes of people on the subcontinent throughout the centuries. What a mess - the entire subcontinent would've been much better off if it had been balkanized into about two dozen states.
7
The Kashmir issue dead decades ago. Now, it is made official.
7
Won't be long now before Pakistan and India exchange nuclear weapons.
3
As a intense yoga practitioner, who also follows certain Hindu meditation practices and scriptures, I'm appalled at the naked power grab disguised in the name of religion by that ruthless and fake Modi and saddened how he has soiled the image of India, Yoga and Hinduism.
6
Wonder if Beijing will now think it's just the right time to bring troops into Hong Kong now this Indian putsch is soaking up headlines?
One footnote:
"President Trump recently met Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan in Washington and offered to mediate on Kashmir" Trump mediate?--ha ha ha...
4
Permanent Instrument of Accession signed in 1947. Article 370 included as a temporary article of Indian Constitution article in 1954. I.e. Accession was never conditional on Article 370, latter modified many times by Presidential decrees under Congress governments of 60 years. Kashmiri militants threw out half million Kashmiri inhabitants (ie. Hindu Pandits) in 1990 after butchering, raping, torturing, abducting, threatening and forcibly converting hundreds of them. So called democratic leaders (Muftis, Abdullahs) facilitated the sale of Pandit properties for throwaway prices without their consent, and never supported / allowed Pandit's rehabilitation in Kashmir. Following Pakistan example where Hindu population has mostly disappeared after having a 13% presence in 1950 (30% in 1947). After depriving their minorities of basic right to existence in their territory, Pakistan's and Kashmir's leaders now call the Indian kettle black. While minority population percentage in India grew post 1950, and minorities have equal rights as citizens. Truth and Justice have prevailed.
27
What a bold move. Kudos.
15
What is heartbreaking is that there are two great traditions of spiritual wisdom occupying this land and yet the behavior of the so-called leaders of the nations represents the most regressive and ignorant self-serving cruelty.
If Krishna, Mohamed, Jesus, and Buddha had a say in what was done for people, the walls would be torn down, the poor would be fed and sheltered, judgment and hate would be ended and the practice of peace, love, and kindness would be the law of the land.
Instead, we have religion used to divide and the law of the jungle allowing a very few to possess most of the resources as millions upon millions suffer in our world.
How might we better live by the precepts of the wise beings God has sent to guide us? Upon whom may we count for the transformation of the behavior or species towards one another and the beautiful fragile planet and its beautiful life?
8
Call it nationalism or any other euphemism, this was a political step taken 70 years ago. The article really lacks depth and make broad statements like”Kashmir never really fit into India” reflects a poor understanding of geopolitical realities of South Asia. Kashmir is a part of India and that is a reality and therefore an internal matter for the Indian state to deal with.
15
I am Indian and travelled across the country and now reside in United States. I don't like many of what Modi govt does adding fuel to religious divide that India has but I support this step and I am waiting for uniform civil code.
Here are why:
1. Kashmir was home of Muslims as well as Hindus (Kashmir Pandits) from historical time. Fact is - Pandits are forced out of Kashmir and that changed demography significantly.
2. Kashmir was included in India through a princely decision during Indian independence and produced this article 370. But reality is India moved on from that point. Today (I strongly believe) Kashmir is better off being part of India and participating Indian economic success. The success story can be challenged - but I think everyone will agree even in conservative manner this will flow investment in Kashmir causing economic development.
3. Kashmir was used as a proxy war pawn by Pakistan for years. While not expert, I hope this will help resolving this.
4. Legal and International Impact: Reality should prevail over legal discourse. The scenario and condition changed in Kashmir in last 70 years. I am sure Supreme Court will look at this in pragmatic manner.
16
A level headed person, Imran Khan was showing promise of moving in the right direction but Mr. Modi just wanted the crisis to continue.
5
The decision of Indian government to revoke article 370 in Kashmir is both historic and heuristic.
During the past 4 decades over 100,000 innocent Indians got perished in unprecedented acts of terrorism. The rouge neighboring state, Pakistan, consistently manipulated the greedy and corrupt politician of Kashmir to redefine the geographical boundaries of a sovereign state.
The genocide of Kashmiris Pandits by Pakistan-based jehadi groups led to the mass exodus of the minority community from the state. The political leadership of Kashmir remained as mute spectator to this monstrosity.
The draconian provision under article 370 combined with the minority appeasement by the successive "so called" secular governments in Kashmir further encouraged the secessionists. The provisions under the special status were discriminatory and disallowed Indian citizens to own property or invest in Kashmir. Unlike many other Indian states, the economic progress in Kashmir has suffered because of lack of investment and job opportunities. The situation was grievous and required a strong will and bold political leadership to stop the bleeding.
BJP, the leading political party of India has always been committed to revoke the special status of Kashmir to build a prosperous and integrated nation, and an equitable society. The long awaited decision reflects the peoples will and political honesty and determination of BJP.
Kudos to prime minister Modi and his team of ministers and BJP!
13
In the current crop of Government Heads (GOH) across globe, it's Modi of India who matches Donald Trump in taking decisive, progressive, and meaningful decisions. Wherever there is a people struggle, there seems to be a stable solution by these two leaders.
4
Half way reading the article, I made up my mind that an Indian contributed to this story, and I wasn't disappointed.
There was no infiltration from Pakistan after partition. It has always been the people of Kashmir wanting to live free. However, the Hindu ruler of the state at that time decided to acede to India, a move that became the building block of years of oppression.
2
'While international human rights groups swiftly condemned the action, Hindu nationalists celebrated, saying this could bring peace and investment to the war-torn region.'
Could, I guess. On the other hand, it could just start a war.
5
Nationalism is flourishing across the planet. Some nationalists you may abhor, some you may agree with. Recall that wherever this happens, the same pattern occurs. The minority is reviled by the majority and the minority either uprises or keeps its second class status as hardliner nationalists call for removal or genocide as in the case of the Rohingya. I hope that people respond globally to virulent nationalism wherever it rears it’s ugly head.
9
@Summer Smith
This has nothing to do with nationalism.
Imagine if Alaska has a Special status wherein no one from the Lower States can buy land or get Government jobs there and they want to join Russia
What would the rest of the US do?
13
This is the right step in the fight against terror and religious extremism. The archaic provisions of this special status are responsible for imposing sharia on Muslim women in Kashmir, and openly discriminating against minority religions. The first two words of article 370 are in fact "temporary and transient"… So it should really not come as a surprise that it was revoked. The only news here is that it took so long.
23
Why Pakistan should bend out of shape over India’s internal matter? It should manage POK ..... may be granting Pakistani citizenship to the people of POK might be a good start.
16
This is such a biased hit-piece. The "Hindu Nationalists" are actually India's legitimately elected government - not once, but a second time with an even bigger majority! Second, this was long overdue - the so-called freedoms you talk about are not freedoms at all - Kashmir excludes all other Indians from buying property, getting jobs and living in Kashmir, and all the government did was to eliminate that wrong. That provision was put in place in the 40s - with the stated intention of being only for a short duration. It's lasted 70 years - till yesterday.
32
This is unacceptable. India has abandoned all pretense of democracy in Kashmir. I fear that a drive of settler colonialism will be the next logical step. Kashmiris have an inalienable right to rule themselves.
4
@Basant Tyagi they had 64 years to do that. All they have done is make four families amass millions of dollars and reduce rest of the Kashmiris to become beggars. The women of Kashmir have no rights ..... none. Kashmiri pandits lost everything and they were kicked out. I’m not sure what definition you are using of the self rule but these Kashmiri politicians don’t deserve anything not even freedom.
8
@Basant Tyagi
You cannot do ethnic cleansing of the Kashmiri Pundits and then say the people have the right of self determination.
Did you ask the Pundits where they would like to live?
8
A conflict between India and Pakistan may be beyond the control of the UN, NATO and most of the world. Certainly, the US cannot take a role in any possible negotiations, with little credibility. This is what happens when the World sits back and doesn't deal with problems that can blow up in our face.
4
I remember visiting Kashmir a few times when I was young during my summer break from school. I have many fond memories of the place, especially Srinagar. It's beauty is only rivaled by the beauty of Switzerland. My uncle had a business there. He was not local but had moved there when I was just a tiny baby. Because of article 370 restrictions, he could never own a property and was forced to move quite often, which was a source of huge frustration for him and his family. Later on, when I grew older and came to US, he was forced to flee from Srinagar after increased militancy in the region and a failed kidnapping attempt of him. Giving Kashmir a special status was probably done to prevent any public backlash at that time. It's about time it was sunset as by integrating Kashmir fully into India it can be hugely beneficial for all. It can allow big businesses to setup shop there and spur the local economy, allow housing boom along with enabling all sorts of Indians to own houses in Kashmir. I hope to return to Kashmir someday soon and not feel like an outsider anymore because of all the restrictions that had been there when I went there as a young boy. The locals will have to go through some adjustments but hopefully soon they will realize that it's for their own good as well.
19
India put all Kashmiris under house arrest. Their relatives can't reach them as all communication channels have been cut. Sick people can't get treatment. All journalists and foreigners were deported by Indian forces. How is this "democracy"?? This is a terrifying symptom of extreme oppression. Anyone who thinks that this is gonna end well is delusional. The US should impose sanctions on India.
5
@natan US should first solve the problems back home where 17,000+ Americans are killed every year in gun violence. No nation on earth lets so many citizens die in the name of constitutional freedom. Maybe sanctioning itself would yield better results.
23
@Natan
You are not serious,are you?
I mean Mexico might issue a travel advisory soon for its citizens that they may be gunned down in the US.
6
Unspeakable horrors reigned throughout this region in and around the partition. As I read this I shudder the door to those horrors is being opened again.
3
If mollycoddling radical extremists in Kashmir who used the special status to ethnically cleanse the valley of Hindus and Sikhs in the 90’s was considered good policy then good riddance to that policy and status that enabled it. The world should support the vibrant democracy of India over extremism and terror in Kashmir enabled by repugnant policies of Pakistan
21
The article 370 starts with the word Temporary. Not any other word but Temporary.
21
Great opportunity now to let the private sector build out the infrastructure in the pristine land. Similar to what is being done in Amravati, the new state capital of Andhra Pradesh after bifurcation of the state in Telangana (Hyderabad) and Andhra. Smart cities.
9
Nuclear powers, to boot.
Geez, just what we needed.
Pakistan has literally used PoK for its state supported terrorists. India has never done nor will do anything like that. India wants to bring a level of economy of J and K to a level to those levels in other states of India. No More and No Less except giving people similar rights of freedome and liberty as those are in the rest of India.
13
Imagine what would have happened if Nizam of Hyderabad was given the same option. India today will be in more turmoil. The special status to Jammu & Kashmir was very much related to Jawaharlal Nehru who is still my hero and the singular architect of modern India and who had an emotional attachment to Kashmir and made this important blunder regarding Kashmir. If he had let Sardar Patel who handled the rest of the princely states including Hyderabad , india would not have had this lingering pain for 70 years. Nehru made another mistake and that was going to United Nations. Modi government did the right thing even though Modi and his cronies have been disaster for secular India in many other ways.
No state in he Union should have any special status specially based on sectarian lines
18
I’m listening to Led Zeppelin’s version right now.
7
The bloody legacy of British divide and rule continues. The mortal logic of British divide and rule division of the Indian people into "Hindus" and "Muslims" was reproduced by the post-independence capitalist rulers of India and Pakistan as a distraction from their own cruel misrule. As the world economic crisis deepens the criminal regimes in Delhi and Islamabad will push for more conflict to distract, just as Europe and the US whip up anti-immigrant racism with mortal consequences. Working people everywhere must reject these nationalist deathtraps ad imposed identities and fight our real enemies and the cause of our misery--our "own" rulers.
5
It has nothing to do with the British. As usual, it’s religion, that intellectual poison of the world, that causes these conflicts.
Just like Trump - white Christian good - anything else bad. Wake up people, you’re being conned.
3
I thought Trump solved Kashmir
4
I don't know the details of the History, or the stated Article in the Indian constitution. But how does Pakistan comes into the equation?
India is a independent state, and the region in question is under the Indian control (with certain provisions, seems like). I am reading commentary and articles about how it would lead to a India-Pakistan conflict, and I am having difficulty understanding how.
What right do Pakistan have in regards to how India deals with its internal problem? And other than to speak words of unity and call for peace, how could Pakistan have a say in this?
15
@Sam its disputed land for a reason. At the time of division, the non-Muslim ruler, appointed by British, went with India while population wanted to go with Pakistan. War ensued when people found out that he is about to sign them off to India. India approached UN for intervention and signed the resolution for plebiscite. But since then it has never agreed to hold plebiscite as it very well know that it will lose.
1
@Sam
You are right
Pakistan has no locus standi in this thing,but Kashmir is a Muslim majority state,Pakistan feels entitled to it
3
Congratulations India and congratulations Mr Modi. This will help tackle Islamic terrorism and sepereatism in Kashmir where muslims have performed ethnic cleansing of Hindu Kashmiris. Kashmir will have the same autonomy as any other state in India, no more special status.
12
India is no longer a democratic state but a Hindu Empire in which not belonging to the majority religion is to be dismissed and suppressed. Ghandi lived his life with a vision of a peaceful, mutually tolerant and multicultural land where greatness regained was possible but hatred has decided otherwise.
8
Please get Gandhi's name correct before commenting on his beliefs.
4
@Al Manzano
Interestingly enough, Gandhi was assassinated by a Hindu nationalist from the RSS. The same organization the PM Modi was brought up through, and the same organization that gives the BJP its marching orders. Gandhi's vision died a long time ago, it seems.
4
The situation in Kashmir is now very fluid and unpredictable. Kashmiris will likely protest and express their outrage and seek a resolution to this crisis in their favor. Amit Shah, the BJP strongman, now Home Minister is not known for compromising. The Supreme Court, normally independent, will be tested in how they rule on the constitutionality of this stunning government action. Unsettled and thus dangerous times for this region of the world.
47
@JJ - The Supreme Court can rule whatever it wants on the Constitutionality of the abrogation of Arts. 370 and 35A, but if the hand of the Parliament is forced, then the Constitution will end up getting amended. The SC can do nothing about that. That is how our democracy works - nothing goes over the elected legislature, not even talking head judges in the Supreme Court.
18
@IKMW There are special majority (2/3 of present and voting) provisions needed to amend the constitution which may be possible in LS as of now but not RS with regard to Arts 370 and 35A.
3
@JJ, It is too intricate an issue for outsiders to grasp and help. Hopefully the powers that be --two governments and local elites in Kashmir --work out what is good for ordinary people in Kashmir who deserve peace and prosperity.
5
I take it one belt one road (OBOR) is officially dead? The trade war, article 370, Kashmir mediation talk. All these happening at the same time can’t be a coincidence. Right?
4
"Kashmir agreed to become part of India, but only under the autonomy enshrined in Article 370."
The NYT is promoting a falsehood. The accession of Kashmir was in 1948, and Article 370 came about some years hence. And it was meant to be temporary from the very start.
26
India treats its Muslims horribly so why go through this? Kashmir is Pakistani.
9
@Omar I agree, India has a poor record on it's minorities. Practically, India cannot afford to give up Kashmir. Would the US cede Texas, Arizona, California, New Mexico and Utah back to Mexico? These were annexed after made up excuses. The reason that the Himalayan and Karakoram range play such an important role is simple:water. Most of Asia's large river systems originate in the Himalaya. Let's see, Ganges, Mekong, Bhramaputra, Beas, and the Indus. As unfair as it may be, it will never happen.
16
Minority have been wiped out from Pakistan and you can to count the number of Hindus,Sikhs and Christians - all wanting to leave. And india today has the second largest Muslim population after Indonesia- a large vibrant population.
28
@Omar
Muslims in India got a separate homeland in 1947. The partition saw a division of chairs, typewriters, files, I wonder why didn't have total transfer of population.
8
I've been fortunate to have traveled to both Indian and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, and (thanks to my work colleague who is from there) spoken to a range of Kashmiris. This comments section is dominated by the Modi supporters who falsely portray Hindutva India as secular and that Muslims exaggerate systemic and institutional prejudice.
Both countries have oppressed these people through human rights violations. The fact is Kashmiris (majority Muslim, even before Pandits were persecuted) are facing the same path as Palestine and Xinjiang. The local people have little say over their own land while outsiders settle them and forcefully integrate them with the rest of the country. Here in Texas, we rebelled against Mexico and became our country because of similar heavy-handedness from far away. I wish they could be independent and free to govern themselves.
163
@John W Let us focus on what article 370 does. For the past 70 years, it gave JnK its own constitution and prohibited outsiders from settling in that state. The anology of Texas here is completely wrong, since Texas is great because it allowed people from everywhere to settle there.
No country or state can grow in isolation, which is what article 370 made JnK do. For the past 70 years, JnK has got more autonomy than Texas. It would make little progress though, with militancy from Pakistan, incompetency from its native leaders and the article 370.
Abolishing this article actually makes it more like Texas, it allows free movement of goods and people. Kashmiri will keep their own identity still, just like the rest of Indian states do. It won't be like Palestine or Xinjiang, because India is a democracy, and you have proof of the rest 27 states of India. Of course, we won't know if that is the case right away, it will take at least 10 years to know that.
63
@John W Thank you for pointing out the obvious that the comment section is dominated by Hindu Nationalists, who believe in a Hindu supremacy, and is driven by Islamophobia. I believe this illegal action that is not only anti-Kashmiri, but also anti-Indian will be challenged in court, and most likely will be stopped. This also violates international laws. I am a strong believer of Indian judicial system, no matter how slow the process is. The Supreme Court will prevent these Hindu Nationalists from destructing Indian democracy.
32
@John W
John, one can label It heavy handedness on the Indian government, but the Kashmir issue has been allowed to fester by very narrow interest groups.
These groups have cost lives and subjugated largely peace loving Indians in extreme poverty resulting in unrest in the region.
Self governance might sound nice, but instead of using India as a petri dish for such ideas people could try out these ideas in western societies.
32
Modi is a dangerous Hindu nationalist with a long history of being involved in sectarian oppression and even violence.
He's also a globalist who's selling India's ecosystems and "resources" to multinational earth-destroying corporations.
He's in business with Trump Inc., and has many of the same demagogic tendencies as Trump.
He speaks about Muslims the same way Trump speaks about Mexicans, blacks, journalists, environmentalists, etc.
Birds of a feather.
27
@Steve Davies
You have no Idea about the politics of Indian subcontinent, this step was very necessary for the overall development of Jammu and Kashmir. And giving it special status was a historical mistake that has been corrected.
6
As one who was born and raised in the Indian occupied Kashmir, I can confidently say this dangerous step by India is a prelude to war. Even though this exercise does not change the humiliation ,suppression and abuse of Kashmiris and only adds to these, it clearly shows that India cannot be trusted to carry out international agreements. India had agreed to a plebiscite and then reneged; it gave a sort of limited autonomy to Kashmiris as a pacifier in the form of Article 370 and has now abolished that also . Only a decisive war between the people of Kashmir helped by Pakistani forces and the Indian aggressors is the answer. It is not a question of territory alone, but a question of 1o million Kashmiris freedom, honor and way of life.
12
@Syed Abdulhaq I understand that the terms for a free and fair plebiscite can no longer be met, by India or by Pakistan.
How do you imagine a free 'land' of Jammu & Kashmir would be as a separate nation? How much different would it be from Afghanistan? Would it be the next bed for a cold-war like global politics perhaps this time between China/US/India?
Also, please explain how your freedom, honor and way of life gets abolished by fully integrating into India. No judgements here, just explain.
14
@Syed Abdulhaq
The promise of a plebiscite had a few pre-conditions. Pakistan completely withdraws from Kashmir, Giglit and Baltistan. All security was to be handed over to Indian administrators. Once these Pre-conditions were in place, a Plebiscite could be held.
About the decisive war, it is very convenient to say that sitting in the west, reality is however different.
Primarily a Hindu-Muslim Issue whether you like it or not. The issue started right when the people were forcibly converted to Islam during Mughal times. It did not start in 1947 like everybody thinks it does.
13
@Syed Abdulhaq
Every Indian state has it own identity and culture that they have kept intact. What is special about Kashmir ? If all other people groups can live freely with honor and dignity under the secular Indian constitution can you.
24
Would Pakistan military undertake a direct confrontation with India & risk its 5th humiliating defeat, as all previous 4 confrontations before? Or will Pakistan be continuing its low intensity guerrilla warfare & so-called salami tactics to bleed India through its "Kashmir jugular" & support such terrorist act as "moral & other diplomatic support"?
India, other western countries must not tolerate Pakistan to spread its Islamic extremism in India, Afghanistan, & all over the world using Kashmir dispute, which it created immediately after 1947 independence, as an excuse. It was utter incompetence of Nehru & other Congress led Indian Govt that allowed Pakistan to still occupy a huge part of Indian territory despite of repeated defeats in all previous 3 (actually 4, if we consider Kargil) wars, costing so many lives & money for India and yet got no tangible benefit other than creating Bangladesh, which is also not so friendly to India.
There seems to be no benefit of peaceful negotiation with a country, which defines truth and justice very differently, and uses Islamic terrorism as its foreign policy, even though it itself paying the highest price. But that policy also enables Pakistani elites (that include Military bosses) to get away with corruption, misrule, & subservience to its military regime, which control not only the actual political power but also a huge swath of businesses there.
Now it's time for Pakistan to live up to a new world order under Donald Trump and Modi.
20
A dark day in history of so called biggest democracy and secular country in one swipe BJP has removed J&K autonomy and wiped this state off the map cutting it politically,culturally,socially,economically RIP secular India
26
@Jawad Y
You are correct in your opinions if you only look at the things according to Pakistan's self-interest. But if you are a Kashmiri, this opens the gates for rapid political, cultural, social and economic success and progress. Instead of any wiping out, a peaceful Kashmir with its great beauty will be a beacon to world travelers it deserves to be. Give peace a chance.
36
@DM You presume that Kashmiris want to be tied into India that way. The connected article disputes your view.
10
@Ryan How else do you want the Kashmiris to live? Will they join Pakistan and end up like Bangladesh? The idea of creating nation states on the basis of religion is abhoring.
3
For those comparing Kashmir to China's actions in Xinjiang, shoud also speak about Pakistans actions in FATA and Baluchistan. By the way, not every person in AJK, POK wants to be a Pakistani. Where is the solution here . Just blaming India won't cut.
Kashmir has been Hindu state until converted by Islamic marauders 500 years ago. Hindus still live there. Kashmir is riddled with Glorious oldest Hindu Temples. Culture, language,cuisine everything is given by past, present local Hindu civilization. Kashmir can't be seperated from India just because majority are Muslims.Kashmir is part of India's Civilization and has been ruled by Delhi directly. Same can't said of Xinjiang
42
@Aditya
So you don't believe in democracy? The rest of the world won't put up with the ridiculous behavior of both India and Pakistan, who refuse to abide by the UN decision to hold a referendum.
2
@Shaz constitution can be changed and thaTs what's being done. Let us be clear, all Indian government is doing is revoking the special privileges bestowed on Kashmiris.
2
@Harsh Chaitany
What kind of special privileges banned cellphone connections, heavy oppression on Indian Army?
Or Is it that your capitalism did not work and you couldn't buy a land up there and it was a heavy tourist location?
2
I cannot escape the conclusion from current affairs as well as history that with Islam only the stick is understood; carrots merely emboldens bad behavior by giving the impression of softness. Compare the constantly simmering Islamic militancy in Europe vs the peace prevailing in Myanmar after the jaw breaking response to Islamic attacks on Buddhist civilians and security personnel.
In the case of Kashmir, forcibly converted to Islam by tyrannical invaders at sword point as with other locations worldwide, decades of maximum autonomy, full religious freedom, plentiful financial subsidies only resulted in the massacre and expulsion of the indigenous Hindu Pandits in 1989 when this proved a successful model in Afghanistan.
This is the first time India has pushed back. Hoping for much much more.
49
Illegal and criminal move by India, no two ways about it.
By revoking Kashmir’s status and then forcefully changing its demographics from Muslim-majority to Hindu-majority, India can no longer call itself a democracy, but a ‘Hindutva’ regime instead, where all minorities (read: non-Hindu) should fear for their lives.
UNSC needs to convene a joint emergency session and condemn this in the strongest possible terms with a litany of sanctions to follow by the West and all international organizations until this illegal decision is reversed.
And this needs to be handled swiftly and justly by the West, otherwise another bloodbath awaits for the residents of Assam, Punjab and Nagaland, other ethnic minority states vying for independence from the tyrannical Hindutva raj.
30
@PeaceLover
How would you like a christain majority state in USA or Hispanic majority state in USA and rest of US citizens are not allowed to buy property in that state?
15
@PeaceLover
Illegal and Criminal? BALONEY!
India is a sovereign Nation and Kashmir acceded to India and NOT to Pakistan. Pakistan has no legal status here. It has illegally occupied part of Kashmir and it was a bankrupt Congress led government all these years that allowed it to continue. It is time to, once and for all, settle the issue of Kashmir's complete integration into India. Already, Kashmiris can and have access to all of India, its Resources, and Opportunities. The Kashmiris have settled in different parts of India and taken up government jobs and conduct businesses. Period.
3
@PeaceLover Putting aside the validity of this move, how exactly will this 'convert' Kashmir into a Hindu-majority? If the trend in the rest of the country persists, the population grown of Muslims is far faster than Hindus.
3
Born and brought up in Kashmir, I moved to the US 10 years ago. And comparing the Ameican functional democracy with the defunct, hypocrite democracy of India, Indian democracy is nothing short of any Islamic fanatic sharia law. Whether it be covering up Sikh separatist movement in Punjab by attacking their center of religion or whether it be Kashmiris now, India is a tyrant country for the minorities. India should repeal its constitution and rip out any democratic references in the books, just rip the bandage off and call itself a very polarized Hindu nation. FYI, the majority of martyrs and freedom fighters against the British were Sikhs and the Indian government even declared practicing Sikhs as terrorists and incited Sikh genocide in 1984. And now it is going to be poor Kashmiris. Sooner or later, all tyrants come to an end. It is just a matter of when a rebellious movement turns into a revolution.
16
@Singh If what you say is true, how was Modi elected by all sections of the population including Muslims, Christians etc. Certainly there was no Russian meddling in Indian elections was it ?
12
@Ravi the previous elections have been a mockery of democracy where electronic voting machines malfunctioned only to vote for the bjp. The election commission worked as a facilitator for the ruling party. It’s nothing but the people’s mandate. If voting was done by ballot I wonder this massive mandate would have happened.
2
You like all bright guys are entitled to your opinion Mr. Singh. And now, you, like all bright guys must consider education -can we call it on facts, because it is way past noon? - as a means to lay out arguments.
India is a land of democracy because millions and millions VOTE, and since Sikhism seems dear to you, Sikhs perhaps are the only minority race that have had BOTH a President, and a Prime Minister supplied to the land. Not to say a chief economist as well. That doesn’t sound too tyrannical, does it?
Be moderate, calibrated and well-considered in your public discourse. Oh I am sorry, that is for your next 20 years in US.
We will wait.
This moves nullifies the instrument of accession - as such Government of India now has no legal basis to be in Kashmir!
Basically, India has now openly declared itself as an occupying force in Kashmir.
40
@JD
I think you have the dates mixed up. Kashmir opted to join India in 1948. The 370 was in 1954.
14
@JD Clearly you do not know that article 370 and 35A were promulgated in Indian Parliament 5 years after Kashmir came under Indian control through accession by the King of Kashmir. The Indian parliament passed article 370 and now they are removing it. It is all being done legally to bring peace to Kashmir. No doubt terrorists will always find reason to kill people. They have been killing people for many years. India is a secular country and will remain one.
10
Kashmir signed exactly same instrument of accession like 567 princely state that joined India. Instrument of accession signed by the states were full and final without any special condition.
Special status were given as a temporary measure by a presidential order which was never voted in the parliament.
7
The Hindutva outfit that rules India won elections on divisive agenda of spewing hatred and staged the stunt of Pulwama terrorist attack in Kashmir on its own soldiers just before elections and juiced it to the hilt to gain majority. Their latest excuses that they were moving the extra paramilitary forces and shutting down the entire valley because of impending "terrorist" attacks proved to be a BIG LIE. All this military buildup was manufactured and designed to suppress the democratic rights of the Kashmiris while India stole their constitutionally guaranteed autonomy , violate their human rights and United Nations resolutions which calls for referendum and right to self determination. India is deliberately creating tensions on the border to divert Pakistan's resources and attention to undermine Afghanistan's peace process, because of being completely made irrelevant in the region by Khan-Trump meeting. It is time that the UN Security council and President Trump warn India to not tinker with Kashmir's constitutional status and immediately hold a referendum as per UN resolutions.
12
@Freesoul
You are correct with all except to trust Trump, UN and these resolutions. They only use them when it comes to benefit big powers that have the seat. India will suffer from destabilization from now on, not only in Kashmir but other states will be restive. Brutality against kashmir I'm afraid will not stop until there is a war.
8
This is one of the darkest days in modern India. At the time of the partition of the sub-continent along Hindu-Muslim lines, the region of Kashmir was, and is, a predominantly Muslim region but ruled by a Hindu king, a kingdom doled out by the British decades earlier. During the tumultuous months leading to the partition, the British administrators drew a line of separation from the Arabian Sea all the way to Punjab in the north but stopped at Kashmir. Other states such as Nizam and smaller kingdoms in the heart of today's Uttar Pradesh and in Gujarat adjoining Pakistan joined India by coercion and practicality. The Kashmir ruler, Hari Singh, feared his own status as a monarch in a post-partition Pakistan and thus joined India. It was not the will of the people of Kashmir but of its ruler. And to recognize the Muslim majority, Article 370 was rightfully brought about, ensuring that Kashmir is for Kashmiris only - by removing this restriction, the Indian government will now send trainloads of folks from Bihar and UP and change the composition and vote bank of the state, while pinning down Kashmiris through curfews and cutting off the internet. And ironically, Modi is imposing the essence of Article 370 in North East India to keep Muslims out. India knows that Trump can do little as he has actively supported Israel's similar efforts in Palestine. South Asia has become the flashpoint for a major disaster in the making.
192
@Varadha
Darkest days are created when divisions occur, not integration.
It takes a courage and attitude of adjustments to live together and so it needs to be respected an admired.
Darkest day was the partition of India; and like wise many colonies by British Empire. Just read the history and look at the current world situation; you will see that majority issues are due to division.
54
@Varadha Many parts of India are Muslim majority. That doesn't mean that part can join Pakistan or be independent. All people of India are the children of Mother India without any regard to religion or creed. That is a basic principle of India. It is worth to defend that principle in Kashmir.
76
@Varadha
The exodus of Hindus from Kashmir should also be addressed. If you want to quote history; you may want to go back a few hundred years more and talk about forcible conversions to Islam too.
Go back a few thousand years...it is the land of the great sages and where the vedas were written.
99
India know that US will not intervene for human rights violations, so no they are a rogue state. That is just another reason why trump is a worldwide tragedy for so many, even outside of the US.
Kashmir should be made an independent neutral country whose integrity is secured by both India and Pakistan. It’s obvious and the world is heartily sick of this tedious sterile conflict.
1
This is the darkest day for Indian democracy and the people of Jammy& Kashmir , a transparent betrayal by Hindu radicalized India to Kashmirs for their faith so called once secular India. this would have severe consequences across the whole region and blood bath for poor innocent Kashmirs , tranquility of peace is been murdered , Hindu India will bear the consequences, this is mockery of constitution and no Indian parliament can implement this change in realty on the ground , let them test their guts to ask UN offices in Kashmir to leave and they would understand , by doing this they have declared occupational force in Kashmir similar to Isreal state
What is behind this acne-like breakout of ill natured behaviour around the world if not the lack of any moral leadership whatsoever from the world's once indispensable nation?
I am disgusted the way the New York Times in its reporting and comments picks supports the non-democratic military government of Pakistan which has unleashed Islamic terrorism throughout the world against the secular, democratic Indian republic. New York Times staff should go on a weekend retreat and take a mirror to their values and see why they have gone so far away from mainstream America and the values it represents.
9
This article raises several questions for me:
1) What is the end goal of the BJP in this? The only outcome I see from studying the region for several years (I have a Masters degree in Global Affairs and worked on climate change issues in Bangladesh) is that the Pakistani Government OR Kashmiris are provoked to violent action. This action gives fodder to the militant groups within Kashmir and takes away hope from people that were otherwise against violent action.
2) If India is doing this to claim resources in the region, and have brought in security forces, how are they considering civilian lives? By causing a shortage of consumer goods and cutting off communication, Kashmiris are being forced to live in greater fear than they were already facing. India may want the land, but it seems clear that they do not consider Kashmiris full citizens.
3) How will the international community respond? In this day and age, there is a (at least perceived) large apathy within the West for Muslims around the world. We, as Americans, as Westerners, need to condemn this action immediately, if only from a human right lens. I hope that the UN Security Council listens to Pakistan, regardless of their own intentions to take advantage of the situation.
India has the highest rate of unemployment in 45 years. India has regressed on most indexes under Modi's regime. But the government creates these distractions to keep people focused on symbolic actions like scrapping of Article 370, which could very well be nonmatter. We need to pay attention to the actors like Mr. Amit Shah. Muslims in India, with the constant stream of news of lynchings, feel beleaguered in their homeland. The scrapping of Article 370 has less to do with India and more to do with the attempt of a Hindu Nationalist party in power to further demoralize a helpless minority and inflame their base. I have advice to those who disagree with my assessment. Please talk to a Muslim citizen of India and understand what has happened to them since Mr. Modi came to power. It is not the democracy if the majority in India ignores and demonizes the minorities living in our midst. Fascists and Nazis have done that history is not kind to them.
2
India is celebrating today. NYT should cover those celebrations.
Look at the injustice that the amendment today fixed:
Prior to today, if a Kashmiri woman married an Indian from some other state, she would lose her Kashmiri ‘citizenship’. But if the same woman married a Pakistani, that Pakistani would get Kashmiri ‘citizenship’.
This dual citizenship of Kashmir has impeded the bright, peace and fun loving Indians for long.
It was time the issue was fixed.
Kudos to Modi. The world needs more leaders like him.
3
This is a distraction.
Modi government is unable to create jobs for millions of youth. It has failed to check pollution in air, water, and land. Infrastructure, healthcare, and primary education are way behind China.
Kashmir should be integrated with India. But that is not the priority right now.
1
A lot of people were not fully aware of the evil visited on Kashmiris by the special status granted to Kashmir by the Indian Constitution. It did little to help the people of Kashmir; it kept them poor and ignorant; it was used by the ruling class, chiefly made up of two families, to hold on to dynastic power and to line their own deep pockets. These families vociferously professed loyalty to the Indian State but did little to discourage the rise of terrorism in Kashmir. In fact, they encouraged it under the surface. Under their 'watchful' eyes, genocide was openly committed against 500,000 Hindu residents of Kashmir valley; these Hindus were either murdered or fled in fear to other parts of India or to Canada. The special status of Kashmir is now cancelled, and Kashmir can now join other Indian states in becoming more prosperous and less mired in Wahabi Islamism. Any objections to this cancellation are coming chiefly from those few who misused the special status to enrich themselves or from Islamic fundamentalists.
4
The world is too crowded now for nationalism, yet nationalism persists. We are headed for disaster.
So many American readers like to agitate for the independence of Tibet, but never think to do the same for the independence of Kashmir. Why?
I guess Kashmir never shows up in the news, so it doesn't exist. Goes to show how the public attention is completely controlled by the narratives the newspapers feed it.
4
Not a big story. A huge story. Could be incredibly destabilizing with Pakistan owning the lots next door.
For those who argue that Kashmir has majority Muslims and they should determine their destiny and that Indians have done something that they should not have, consider some facts:
1. India has 172 million Muslims, the 2nd largest Muslim population in the world.
2. Muslims have succeeded in all walks of life in secular India
3. If Muslims have identity because of religion, so do the Tamils, Telugus, Kannadas, Malayalis and 26 other states who have a distinctive language, customs, heritage and culture. Having an identity is not a valid reason in India to demand a separate country when one considers its very make up.
4. The arguments from the likes of @Varadha, who bring up historical information re article 370 & how British divided India, forget a simple fact. Pakistan and India were one country & the British engineered the division to ensure lasting enmity since 1947.
5. Billions of dollars have been squandered by wars and in arms race, when many ordinary Indians, Pakistanis and Kashmiris suffer for basic needs. Those seeds of division did succeed!
6. Some of the people who criticize India are the same people who choose have a different view on the issue of Palestine or Sri Lanka or many such conflicts.
7. Division does not help. Integration does. A unified country brings opportunity & prosperity. Kashmiris will develop, prosper and the world will enjoy its beauty.
How can Kashmir benefit by being sandwiched between two hostile, nuclear powers? Just imagine...
3
Finally, world sees India for what it is, a Hindu nation, and a sham democracy. It was all good and passable until the BJP started showing its ugly face; the process started slowly with beef-related-murders, reached Sanghi pastime of Muslim-lynching and now this. Its an unconstitutional move and done in a typical tyrannical manner. So at least we know what India really is as a country and they should accept it.
It will be interesting to see whether the supreme court of India gets a chance to say anything about it.
For Kashmiri people, things gotten worse, will be dealing with more bloodshed and oppression at the hands of now correctly and legally labelled Indian Occupying Forces. And they will become fodder during the up-coming fight between the freedom fighters and government forces.
For Pakistan government, they have no options, they can simply protest but we all know UN, US, EU, GCC etc. are not that bothered, they will give lip-service but nothing else. Eventually, they will accept it.
For Pakistan people, this might be blessing in disguise, as they can finally tell its military to take it easy on their pockets now as major issue is resolved and now just take care of our part of Kashmir and lets new era begin. India should simply offer Pakistan peace talks now, get some good business incentive agreement in favor of Pakistan signed off and lock this down. They should simply stay out of Afghanistan and let the peace takes its course, otherwise they will get blamed.
I am no fan of Modi but this is overdue. You can't have a part of a country governed differently from the whole. It will be unpleasant, maybe even bloody but the status quo was enabling a problem to fester into eternity. Indian Kashmir is a part of India. Pakistan occupied Kashmir is Pakistan. Kashmir is not a sovereign state.
2
Imagine, if Alabama only agreed to join the United states if it were allowed to keep it confederate flag, allow to have its own separate Constitution and made it illegal for black folks to own property Alabama. Then the beat and raped Black folks (Kashmiri Hindu pandits) and chased them out of the state and confiscated their homes and shops.
Reluctantly, the US agrees to let them be a state along as all foreign affair and defense issues of Alabama are handled by the US.
This is article 370 which has been revoked.
4
Oh please. This has nothing to do with Hindutva. This has everything to do with coddling an army of mullahs in a democratic India (no longer coddled), and property rights (that were denied Kashmiris).
As a displaced Kashmiri, I am very happy to learn of this.
Kashmiri Hindus, who lived there for millennia, were steadily cleansed out by Islamic invaders starting in the 14th century. Virtually all of us were driven out, or killed. After partition, there was no way to survive there - we left.
Those who survive intend to return to our land in which we lived for a very long time. After the independence of India, Nehru's ineptness and general cowardice and greed of elected governments made once concession after the other to Islamic theocrats and mullahs. Kashmiri Muslims lived a subsidized life subsidized by Indian taxpayers, participated with Pakistan to hurt and destroy India, aided and comforted terrorists trained in Pakistan.
The temple around which my family lived lies in Islamic Pakistan where temples are routinely destroyed; minorities routinely killed or thrown out. As a son of Kashmir, I could not - prior to this, buy land in Indian Kashmir.
This will now change. Trust me, we will plain buy the whole thing out. Terrorism and theocracy are not productive industries, and they are the only ones that survive in Islamic Kashmir. Those of us who left and sought refuge across the world - worked our tails off and are now ready to return.
Thank you PM Modi.
4
If diversity is such a great strength why is there such chaos in Kashmir?
1
The British Empire used master strokes to rule the world. One such is "divide and rule". During American Revolutionary War, they patronized the Native Americans to get back at their cousins trying to assert their independence. They did the same in India. I went back to The New York Times archives, and read their report on 1st round table conference of Nov 12, 1930 which took place in London. In that conference, the Hindus, Muslims, and the others were perfectly united and they all urged home rule for India. Thanks to the British divide and rule policy, by the time of the second round table conference of Sep 7, 1931, there were rifts, and there were more by the time of the third one. So the British told Gandhi, "Partition is the price of freedom". During the partition, Kashmir was stuck in the middle. Before 1930, the people of British India, including all princely states such as Kashmir who were in subsidiary alliance with the British, wanted to be one free country. By the time of 2019, international community is offended when India gave Kashmir the same status as its capital region of Delhi, to help it integrate with the rest of India. Bizarre outcome for a non-violent freedom struggle.
6
Two things, plain and simple:
1. Democracy is not perfect, but people chose to put the folks in power who made these decisions- for good or bad. If the public doesn't like the new rules, they can either challenge them in court or push the ruling party out of power in the next election;
2. A region is either part of a country, or it is not. Even if it needs a special status, the same should be removed as soon as the justification for doing so in the first place is no longer valid. Nobody seems to have a convincing argument as to why status quo should be maintained, except that it's been there for so long.
Really confused, am I missing something here (that's making the people really upset with this decision)?
3
Forget what raja Hari Singh and Nehru decided about Kashmir in 1940’s, it was purely circumstantial and for their political benefit. This decision had led to loss of so many innocent lives and displacement of Hindus from the region. As of now this is the right choice and Revoking article 370 brings in benefit to Kashmir and its people. Jobs, education, economy and prosperity which Pakistanis hate to bring in the region.
3
Forget what raja Hari Singh and Nehru decided about Kashmir in 1940’s, it was purely circumstantial and for their political benefit. This decision had led to loss of so many innocent lives and displacement of Hindus from the region. As of now this is the right choice and Revoking article 370 brings in benefit to Kashmir and its people. Jobs, education, economy and prosperity which Pakistanis hate to bring in the region.
1
I was born in a Hindu family in Pakistan. My grand father was born in 1940 and he told me the story of how our family may have ended up in Pakistan instead of India. He said that his father went to take the train that was taking folks to India and the train seem to not have come that day. So he stayed. I hate that some politician/technocrat woke up one day and decided to draw lines that lead to bloodshed to this day. This is what happens when you don't ask the people what they want. This is what the Brits did to us South Asians in 1947 and now the Indian state is doing to Kashmiris.
People should come before any politics. It should not take 500,000 soldiers to make Kashmiris want to stay in India. Their voices must be heard. Their politicians must be allowed to speak and not thrown in jails. They should not be herded like cats to be part of one nation or the other. This is 2019 and anyone who justifies Modi government's action should be reminded of the reasons that led to the second world war.
This is a mockery of the fundamental human rights of Kashmiris.
4
Modi, Xi Jinping, Trump, Boris Johnson....this is the state of the world today! The Kashmir move is yet another indication that Nationalistic populism is sweeping the world. Is marginalization the new cool? I shudder to think what is next...
7
I believe that China’s ambitions to rule the world and payback to UK, Japan and others for their wars earlier in the 20th century is the cause of much, and USA by outsourcing its manufacturing has exacerbated the rise of China thus creating bigger problems for the world. China is doing what British used to their advantage many a couple of centuries back - DIVIDE and RULE...
They have kept south and south east Asia fighting with each other for long, made manufacturing jobs redundant in many economies, offered debt at low rates to build infrastructure which is being slowly taken back by the Chinese government..
In the context of Kashmir, China has actually a direct beneficiary.. China occupies much of the land which the Indian government has claimed for decades, but didn’t do anything to take control of the territory..now obviously those territories are way cold for any human settlement, and hence hold mainly strategic defence and symbolic real value, China’s hegemonistic tendencies and India’s fear of her sine the loss in war in 1965 has meant that the Indian governments have been too weak to do anything..
China in the meanwhile has stoked anti India sentiments either directly or through active complicity of Pakistan, which for some reasons seem destined to press the self destruction button for very long..India is changing the rules of the game now with a government with a strong mandate from her people to get closure to these perennial sores.
I lived and worked in Kashmir. The fact is that 370 status has blocked any outside capital investment in the state. This has led to concentration of wealth in just few hands (both Mulim leaders in Kashmir and Dogras in Jannmu). Thi shas only led to more poverty and malaise in the state. No matter how people see it today, but one day when the people are doing better economically they will be better off.
Anyone who claims an "independent kashmir" will survive is fooling themselves. 1/3 of Kashmir is in Pakistani/China control. The moment India let's go of Kashmir Pak and china will devour it and no one will be able to do anything.
Strategically, it will be a suicide for India to let go of it. So here is fact, this is a new reality and everyone better live with it!
17
@SFGUY
Absolutely correct.
1
Past time for India to claim that troubled appendage as their own and if Pakistan declares war, immediately air land Paratroopers on their Nuke sites and then defeat Pakistan totally! Make it an autonomous state under Indian jurisdiction for, say, 100 years.
5
@Moe
I sure that will work. hello to more hotel mumbai
Perhaps the author of this article should have acquainted himself with the history of article 370 and its details before writing this piece. Article 370 was not a condition for the Monarch of Kashmir (Dogra King) to sign the instrument of accession. It was a series of Presidential orders that happened starting 1950 along with a dialog between the Indian Government and the Kashmir state Government under Sheikh Abdullah, which essentially closed the chapter on monarchy. It is to be noted that Sheikh Abdullah's government also did not implement most of the things specified in those initial orders and along with unrest in Jammu and Ladakh at that time which led to the demise of his short run Government. There is certainly a case to be made that the current executive, the President of India does have the right to do away with the state constitutional article in question. Perhaps the affected parties can contest this in court based upon the earlier decision of the Supreme court. But even with article 370 in force, the preamble and article 3 of the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) states that J&K is an integral part of India. So if it is an "integral part" of India as defined in its constitution, why should J&K be treated differently than other states or Union territories. Article 370 was meant to be a temporary fix that has outlived its use-by date!
7
Modi is just fulfilling his campaign promises. A just solution of the Kashmir problem is the farthest thing from his mind.
1
Why is a just solution? That Kashmir be handed over to Pakistan simply because it has a Muslim majority population? Pakistan has caused much of the strife which has happened in Kashmir in active conspiracy with local politicians who haven’t seen beyond their dynasties and treasures. The people of Kashmir have suffered because of this.. do you think Kashmir is better off being an independent nation, surrounded by 3 nuclear armed countries? India has proven herself to be a much better governed country out of the two and the current economic, social and world standing of India vis-a-vis Pakistan clearly shows which country can deliver on the promise of development for the people.. Muslims should stop looking at problems in other countries and trying to solve it using religious brotherhood.. this interventionist mindset is the cause of increasing hate crimes against innocent Muslim citizens.. so other people end up paying for the sins committed by the rich and mighty fueling unrest.
1
If Indians from other states move to Kashmir and start living there then what is wrong with that. Isn’t that what diversity is all about, given that they are all Indians.
10
The darkest day for Indians as a human was the massacre of jalianwala baug executed brutally on the orders of General Dyer, like the lives of American forces and citizens, the lives of Indian Soldiers serving our motherland and also of our civilians is equally precious but which is always destroyed or threatened by terrorist state Pakistan, in order to protect the interest of India as a sovereign and democratic state every possible action is justified, In the book named "Why we want you to be Rich" authored by Mr.Donald Trump and Mr.Robert T.Kiyosaki, Mr.Trump had mentioned about India few important things:-
1) In the last 10,000 years,India has never invaded any country.
2)India is the worlds largest democracy.
3) India is the worlds largest and continuous civilization
4)India is one of the few countries in the world that gained independence without violence
5)Sanskrit is the mother of all European language.
6)India was the richest country on earth until the 17th century,when the British invaded.,
but now we can understand that he requires the Pakistani support to deal with Taliban, even though they had harbored and given shelter to the 9/11 mastermind Osama who is eliminated by US Marshals and Navy seals in Abotabad, and as result the Pakistanis had jailed the doctor who was the informer on spying charges, I am surprised when Pakistanis speak about Democracy and Human rights , it is a height of hypocrisy.
12
@Vivek The Cold War made Pakistan a valuble piece of real-estate for the US military planning for the Third World War. Yes, Pakistan helped Kissinger pave the way for Nixon's visit to and the opening to China. US-China planned jointly to counter the Soviert Union. Now, Soviet Union is gone, even then the US penchant for "special favors" to Pakistan continues--thus Pakistan could create the Taliban, preserved and protec Osma, now act as the Instumentality to kill the GIs in Af ghnistan, and the list goes on. One waits for the day when the Pentagon will outgrow its "coziness" with Pakistan!
1
While India and Pakistan have been grappling with the issue of Kashmir, terrorists from Pakistan have wiped out the entire Hindu population from the valley and kept the valley brimming with violence. It has archaic laws such as women married to a non-Kashmiri and their descendants automatically lose their citizenship and right to property . Economically it is one of the poorest state in India despite central government support.
It was time to make some bold changes and get the region out of poverty and cycle of terrorism.
9
All around the planet, there are beautiful regions and people. But geo-religious politics causes such strife and tragedy. Only when people realize they have more to gain from cooperation and peace than division and violence will things change for the better. Right now we cannot even agree to disagree.
Millions of minority community were forced out of Kashmir due to constant terrorism within state over past 50 yrs. This state cannot be treated differently compared to other states within India. While I do not like Modi's party of religious extremism, I am personally impressed with the background of Modi (from tea seller on train station to prime minister, which can occur only in democratic country) and I say "yes" to his policy on Kashmir. Once this obstacle is removed, high tech. institutions and industries can acquire land and invest in the state for the benefit and prosperity of all Kashmiris: Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists.
10
@Khatija Shah
Iv both lived in Pakistani part of Kashmir and seen the other side.
In terms of freedom there is no comparison.
Pakistani side Kashmiris are free to do whatever they want, even have their own parliament.
On the Indian side there is what you would call absolute oppression like those Bosnians under Chechnian rule.
An occupying force which does not like the population they are occupying and vice versa.
I am very sure you have visited neither. Your depiction is so far from reality it almost seems like its deliberately misleading.
Pakistan definitely has its problems but these people dont want neither of the two countries.
They want "Azadi" ie Freedom.
2
I applaud the move of the Indian government to rescind special provision of Article 370 to integrate Jammu, Laddakh and Kashmir in India with full political and economic rights as the rest of the country. With this masterstroke the Indian government will diminish Pakistan's support of separatists and militants, elevate the lives and future of the natives of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and reduce the cost of maintaining a heavy security presence in the state. Bravo!
7
This article fails to mention that the Kashmir Valley is under 10% part of the state and tiny when compared to the other two regions - Jammu and Laddakh.
The majority of federal funds from the central govt. to the state govt. get held up by the politicians who mainly are from the valley and people in Jammu and Laddakh do not get their fair share of the federal help for the appropriate development of their regions.
The Kashmiri leaders' intention to keep the 370 was to keep the control over free money receive. They wouldn't let the industries set up in any part of the state, keeping it backward. At least with 370 gone, the central govt. can now help those funds to allocate appropriately. Rest others who are screaming kashmir for kashmiris should ask how people in Jammu and Laddhakh feel about this decision.
7
India is doing this using their power with a malevolent motive. Indians neither consider kashmiris as Indian nor they want any betterment of Kashmiris. They just have their interest in the land and that's it. If they had any intention to do anything in kashmiris welfare, they would have offered a referendum way before today. However, despite claiming world's largest democracy they are scared of referendum in Kashmir since the voice of Kashmiris doesn't matter at all to them.
3
The world doesn’t run on referendums pal!!
Read some history about the place first s you would know what caused the initial crisis in Kashmir.. it was Pakistani aggression or claim a land simply because majority of its residents might have been Muslims.. that is what forced the ruler of Kashmir to finally say yes to India.. a country which was stitched together with many princely states and territories coming together to form the largest democracy in the world. We have free and fair elections, we have a functioning democracy.. yes, we could do much better.. but we have not done too badly for ourselves especially in the context of where Pakistan has landed.. yes, we can compare ourselves with Japan and China and inspire ourselves to close the gap between them and us faster.
India is not a one man ruled nation.. a country as large as this cannot be ruled with an iron hand from center..
Also, you cannot blame India for holding out to territory which folded into the country in the name of giving people their wish.. these people are ones whose minds have been controlled by Pakistani extremism, and religious teachings.. there is no logic for Kashmir to be part of a failed state and also to be an independent country surrounded by three nuclear armed countries.. what defence budget it would have? How would it protect itself from Pakistani designs to gain the territory for nothing else but to get control of startegic heights.. China’s role in this mess cannot be forgotten as well!
1
I have some memory of India's independance. I read a lot of artciles and opinions , some I agreed and some did not.
Let me highlight my opinion on revoking of article 370.
1. Article 370 is not a constitution caluse. It was created to appease a group of politicians by the then Indian Government, without analysing its future consequences.
2. This article prvented investment, job creation, many social and infrastructre development that was due to Kashmiri people as has been enjoyed by the rest of India. The politicians who designed this article made sure that in absence of economic and social development, Government of India creates doles and helps in many sectors and pours money through them for the Kashmiris. Poor Kashmiris are poorer and these political families are reacher.
3. To keep the common people engaged, religious hatred was generated. The victims were the original people of Kashmir, the Pandits. Millions of them were scared out of their homes and lands of several thousands of years. If any comparison is to be drawn with Palestanians or Uhgirs, it is the Pandits who are the victims of ethnic cleasnsing in Kashmir.
4. Last and least if Modi Goverment takes any steps for the benefit of the ordinary people I wonder why some people see the ghost of Hinduvta? In the last election the Indians , irrespective of religion voted the current Government for their peole oriented work and reform. Hope the scare mongers will learn to respect the people India.
10
You know funny thing that this article failed to mention, Pakistan has given a small slice of Kashmir to China. Now was that done after consulting the Kashmiris? Or after holding a plebiscite? Why do Mr. Khan need to jump into India’s internal matters.
8
Reading the article, my first question was whether this now allows Indians (not from Kashmir-Jammu) the right to buy property in the region. It is my understanding, Article 370 precluded that right. Although the revision has not completely been clarified, reports are that wealthy Indians are now inquiring about property dealers and rates of property. If true, the ethnic makeup of Jammu-Kashmir could transform very rapidly.
2
I think India only kept the provisions of Article 370 to provide an option for reclaiming the whole of Jammu and Kashmir including that under Pakistan and China. But since no Indian government dare to reclaim the lost land, there is no reason to keep Article 370. By abolishing Article 370 India seems to loose the reclaimation of Azad Kashmir and Aksai Chin, but also enforced the status, that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, in their current boundary, are strictly part of India like its other states and union territories, and any outside intervention on internal matters would be dealt with strong action.
5
Thank heavens for India finally has a decisive leader in Modi and a parliamentary majority (almost in the upper house)....India did have parliamentary majority bigger than the current one but only weak leaders like Rajiv Gandhi who didn't have the courage to do what is needed.
Hopefully, Kashmir will be a part of India's economic progress and not remain a parasite like the last 70 years.
Can't wait to visit or even buy a condo in Srinagar!
4
If Pakistan is mad then be mad at your prime minister who met with Trump and then sat there glibly while Trump lied about having been asked to mediate the dispute. You whacked the beehive with the biggest stick you could find and now you're protesting about angry bees.
11
When Russia can annex Crimea, Israel can occupy west bank, china can take over Tibet, Why is it wrong for India to make changes in the legislature of Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir?
11
This article shares personal view of the journalist..BJP has never been just a Hindu ideologist party.. Scrapping article 370 would help Kashmir grow into a developed state..give people more employment and generate more revenue.. actual problems are created by Pakistan..they infiltrate terrorists into Kashmir to create ruckus..start a proxy war..pay the youth to pelt stones on military installations and army..it is very easy for us to comment but government of India is doing a great job in handling the overall situation
16
Jingoistic nationalism is what you offer your people when you can't actually solve their problems. It makes them feel important and powerful when they are actually poor, powerless tools.
4
Being neither a Hindu nor a Muslim, I have to say Mody is trying to change India from being a secular country to one that is a country for Hindus. It is well established that when Modi was Gujarat's chief minister he stood by and watched Muslims get massacred by Hindus. Muslims and Hindus lived peacefully till Modi decided to make life tough for Muslims. Hindutva is Modi's war cry and don't mistake his aim. He is not a fair man. He belongs to the extreme right political party that schooled Narotamdas Godse into assassinating Gandhi-a great national leader. Today, there are hindus who want to erect a statue to Godse calling him a national hero! Beware of listening to Modi aficionados tell tales that are intrinsically a pack of lies.
If only Modi would focus on helping the poor in India instead of targeting Muslims. Instead, he will be remembered for his cruelty to a minority community. Kashmir is only a chess piece in his aim to further attack Muslims.
8
You don’t sound much like a non-Muslim to me.. the Gujarat riots began with a massacre of Hindus travelling in train to provide their support o building a temple for their God, Lord Ram.
Muslims have been a favourite whipping citizens of many political parties for heir respective vote bank politics, and Muslims have brought it upon themselves by keeping religion above economics and patriotism.. no nation can allow anti national activities to prosper within its borders.. many Muslims have lost the trust of the citizens for their failure to keep their flock straight and to contribute to nation building rather than rabble rousing and fear mongering.. people all over the world are gullible to trust their leaders to salvage them.. religion unfortunately is the biggest divider instead of healer.,
Coming back to Modi, he is a decisive leader under whose reign in the last two decades no more large scale riots have taken place.. issues like cow lynching while unfortunate have been taking place sporadically for years.. and it’s a direct result of the assault on majority of population.. how many Hindu countries are there in the world?? How many Muslim countries are there in the world??do you know how many Hindu or non Islamic countries have been converted to Islam over the past several years?? Do you know that Pakistan was created especially for Muslims living in India at the time of independence? What’s their state of country today? They be survived thus far from Chinese doles!!
2
@Navin
Yes, I know how the Gujarat riots started, but do two wrongs make a right, and that too with the Chief Minister condoning all of it. I grew up in India! You cannot write me off by quoting history that I am very familiar with. And I am not a Muslim just because I choose to speak to their plight. There are other ethnic groups watching this Hindutva parade in India. The problem is that folk deify Modi and the scales will never fall from the eyes of those who choose not to see persecution. India has risen most marvellously, but that started under ManMohan Singh- who is a PhD. unlike Mr. Modi! Yes, I know about all the rampant corruption that no one has yet been able to stop; not even the Thousand rupee debacle of demonetization.
Good luck in Modi worship.
“....Kashmir originally opted to remain a small independent state. But militants from Pakistan soon invaded Kashmir, leading it to seek protection from India.”
Militants from Pakistan. Need we say more?
16
Its an open secret that India supplies weapons and bombs to the terrorists who have been creating havoc in Pakistan.
India has fought 3 wars with Pakistan, 1 war with China and several skirmishes with Bangladesh. So basically, India has been fighting with all its neighbours.
1
The US should allow all Pakistanis and Kashmiris entry into the US. Germany will be open to take them as well.
7
@AS
Good idea. How about Saudi Arabia?
2
There has been significant recent activity with ISIS and Al -Qaida joining existing terrorist organizations. I am sure that the security issue and increasing radicalization played a major role in this decision as well.
The world has changed folks. I believe that this decision will stem this tide and start turning things around.
8
One nation, one rule - I fully support Government of India's efforts to do away with an artificial barrier. This will deliver significant peace dividends and allow India (and Indians) to invest more resources and to establish diverse industrial base in the state. For long, the 1% ruling class of Kashmir denied any such opportunity to the 99% Kashmiris while making all Indians subsidize their elite life style.
13
Important article — any incitement to communal violence is dangerous, especially given the possibility of escalation.
3
This was a correction of Historic mistake made by previous administration during 1947-54. This article 370 was a temporary provision to facilitate smooth transition and intended to make Kashmir Region as an integral part of India. This ad hock constitutional provision was misused and abuse several class of people and faith specially few family who ruled at least 70 years without giving any economical benefit to the Kashmir people. Kept them uneducated and poor for seven decade. Some elected family has amazed millions of dollar for their own family for decades.
With thumbing majority in recent election ruling part has taken extremely important tactical decision to save India's security and step towards bringing Kashmiree people in a main stream of India. Hope fully this will curtail terrorism in the region.
11
Kashmir's final integration and it becoming full fledged part of India is no different from current status of Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and California being part of the US. At least India was nice or naive enough to grant it a special status.
The root of the problem is religious animosity between two people, Hindus and Muslims, and their countries. Pakistan's military and intelligent service, are happy to stir up Indian Kashmir to keep its control over the country and rousing the masses to support it.
Just because majority of Kashmiris are Muslim doesn't mean a neighboring Muslim country has any legitimate claim over it.
13
@Jack Um - 'Majority of Muslims' in a province was really the legitimate difference between the two countries at partition. That is literally how the two separate countries came into existence in the first place. So you mean to say, Pakistan should now, wholly accede to India because well, who cares if there is a Muslim majority who voted to become Pakistan in the first place?
3
There is no voting which was done to decide on the partition of country at the time of independence.. it was done by Britishers so that they would be able to run away quickly from what was becoming a hot spot for them at the time.. similar to what Trump is trying to do with Iraq and Afghanistan.. he has too many issues at home front than to worry about people living in other side of the world.. same was with britishers at that time.. post World War II and after having milked India dry at that time, they saw no reason to continue resisting the demand for independence coming from a 400 million strong country, the power hungry politicians divided the country so that they can have their own fiefdom.. and you can look at how history has planned out for Pakistan and India sine then.. Pakistan is nothing more than a pawn for a China, US, Russia today.. large swathes of population are poor, corruption is endemic, army rules by proxy, and keeps tensions high as it provides them with legitimacy..
India has more Muslims than Pakistan and for most part of the freedom since 1947 have lived peacefully and co-existed with other religions.. its again the politicians who have tried to religion based politics who have vitiated the atmosphere time to time.. Muslim appeasement began a big thing for last two decades resulting in anger building up in majority.. And it’s again politicians who benefited from these policies as Muslim population at large continued to remain poor, uneducated for long.
1
I remember teaching multiple Indian students about a decade ago regarding Kashmir. They spoke of the land in almost religious terms. "The most beautiful land in the world". I would anticipate Indian capturing this land. Pakistan may very well uses their nuclear capability to fight back.
2
Since we clearly anticipate imminent violence of a large scale, it is rather disgusting to see the picture of celebrations in Delhi. Why am I reading about hoarding food supplies and baby food among curfews - what a nightmare! - and having to see this picture? That says all about what's really going on!
3
This Kashmir Panic was designed and executed superbly by the MODI-AMIT team of the Hindu Nationalist Party only to divert public attention from the poverty, unemployment, lynching and Unnao debacle; and hardship due to the empty treasury. The Kashmir issue will run for months and even years for BJP to continue in power without much trouble.' Of course Kashmiri will suffere more in coming days. Hindus like Israeli settlers will occupy the Kashmir land without any legal issue, and soon Kashmir will have Hindu majority.
7
Something Trump said? Or is Pompeo working on a new way to bring the end of days?
2
I expect the civilized world to condemn gross violations of human rights of my people, the Balochs/Baluchs in Pakistan, and ask Pakistan to restore rights of Balochistan as promised by Pakistan's constitution and founders.
13
Pakistan is dangerously stoking ethnic fires in Kashmir. It is a matter of time when Pakistan will start to disintegrate due to the illiteracy levels, population growth, and poverty.
17
@A van Dorbeck
Ethnic? lol, seriously? I would have half respected your comment had you said said "religious" instead of "ethnic" , but even then you would have been wrong.
Kashmir is of no strategic and/or economic value to India (or to Pakistan for that matter). This is nothing more than nationalist pride in the extreme. The world cannot tolerate a nuclear war, and Kashmir is not worth risking a nuclear war over. Modi and the BJP are recklessly playing with nuclear fire.
10
@Todd Kenneth Dwyer
Only 80% of India-Pakistan's water comes from various water bodies originating in Kashmir. Only 1.5 billion people in the subcontinent depend on it. Kashmir also provides access routes to China, Tibet, Pakistan and other Asian countries. Almost half of South Asian flora and fauna depends on Himalayas.
So not important. Not!
2
So what does Trump have to say about this? Nothing. What does his State Department have to say about this? Nothing. What does his NSC have to say about this. Nothing.
Here's one of the potential world crises for which this administration has no clue how to respond. And Trump is waste deep in the big muddy of his trade war with China. Quagmire.
1
@Art
Not saying anything is the best he could do. Trump has no business in India's internal affairs. It's like Modi asking to negotiate between Democrats and Republicans after shootings in the US. Not his business.
4
@Art
This is not a world crisis. Calm down.
3
Removal of article 370 was long due - finally the Indian Govt did the right thing, however let's understand the effects it (article 370) has had -
1. Created a state within a state i.e. India's constitution didn't apply to J&K (Jammu & Kashmir), why? Is there any other country in the world where this happens?
2. It gave special status and treatment to the J&K populace, it meant as an Indian you just couldn't do business the same way as the rest of the country
3. J&K is probably the only Muslim majority state in India that's more tilted towards Islamic fundamentalism - part of the populace became conduit of Pak terror activities, on its own it would have become another Taliban. BTW, they kicked out the Hindu families from the valley (mainly Srinagar).
4. Rest of the India has progressed better in terms of developing a an economy - jobs, education, decent home and life. J&K populace has been isolated by a few powerful families who want a status quo to retain their influence and they are the ones who are very vocal and loud against the removal of this article.
5. Indian tax payers have long funded the J&K's development. The returns for Indians? Indian soldiers are at the receiving end of their violent activities
6. India however flawed is the biggest democracy, has been attempting to be secular and the 6/7th largest economy.
7. Removal of this article will allow and help better integration of the J&K populace and their economic development
17
This was a longtime core position of Hindu Nationalist parties from 1950s and they finally fulfilled their ambitions. But the ground was prepared by 60+ years of Autonomy failing to guarantee peace. Indians are now fed up with the status quo and want to break it in a way that favors India. In any case, the status quo was untenable and hated by all parties - Indians, Kashmiris and Pakistanis. Now the pieces will fall wherever they will and the law of consequences will take over. The consequences will extend from Kabul to Islamabad to Srinagar to New Delhi. Everyone should brace themselves for a wild wild ride. India and South Asia are now changed forever with this epochal decision.
10
Amit Shah-en-Shah has simply followed Pakistan's lead by splitting Ladakh into a separate federally administered territory like Pakistan did with Gilgit-Baltistan many years ago - and reduced the rights of the Indian Kashmiri people to a level that exists in Pakistani Kashmir.
1
Amit Shah-en-Shah has simply followed Pakistan's lead by splitting Ladakh into a separate federally administered territory like Pakistan did with Gilgit-Baltistan many years ago - and reduced the rights of the Indian Kashmiri people to a level that exists in Pakistani Kashmir.
3
As an Indian, the intention behind this move by the Indian Government seems right to me. As long as I can remember, the status of Kashmir had remained uncertain and this uncertainty was exploited by various players for their own benefit. Kashmir, like all the other parts of India, should be integrated into the whole. At the same time, I am unsure about the legality of this move. That it seems will have to be decided by the Supreme Court of India. Here, I am amused by the emphasis given to comments made by various Pakistani politicians in this article. This, for the lack of a better term, is really none of their business.
156
@Siddharth, What about the Article 371A (Nagaland state), Article 371B (Assam state) and so on for Manipur state, Sikkim state etc where their constitutional provisions does not allow outsiders to settle in these states so why did govt just choose Article 370 for the only muslim dominant state of Jammu & kashmir.
13
So, the ends justify the means? Even if you are not sure that this is legal, you are okay with it?
Also, curious that your comment fails to mention the folks who live in Kashmir today altogether. You do not mention either Hindus or Muslims from the valley as if they are a mere abstraction. Who is this so-called "certainty" for?
And what is this straw men argument of "various players"? Would you kindly name the names? Who do you think is exploiting it? Do you think two ex-CMs of Kashmir (presumably enjoying some local support) like Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah have been jailed justifiably?
India is a powerful state and its power should come from the well-being of its people. All of her people, including Kashmiris. If it has to deploy 500,000 soldiers to control a piece of land then you have to wonder about the resiliency of Indian state. Modi's government just indicated to the world that it may not be such a strong state, after all.
11
@Seema
If a war breaks out- are you going to return to India and fight? Or will you remain in the safety and comfort of the United States?
8
We have another Palestine issue in the making here. This unnecessary action radicalises even those moderates who had not come out in support of the separatists. This was instead a time when India could have called Pakistan’s bluff which has been constantly calling for talks so that it can focus on its economy. Modi is proving to India what Zia proved for Pakistan; a mutant who derailed an entire country and its ethos.
4
@Arabian Sea
Just tell me why only Sunni Muslims are getting radicalized ? Pakistan state put Ahmedis through hardships for decades, but none of them got radicalized. Hazaras (Shias) were targeted so badly that they live in prison like ghettos in Pakistan, but they didn't become radicalized. Hindus and Christians in Pakistan faced trouble for years, but they didn't become terrorists (or trouble makers, at least) either. If you look at Muslim countries in Middle-East and North Africa, Mulisms there suffered under dictators for decades, but how many were radicalized against their own countries ?
The answer is - Pakistan state and Pakistani religious organizations such as JuD and LeT use religion to radicalize people and that's the reason for violence in Pakistan and in the immediate neighborhood.
@Arabian Sea When someone from Karachi, Pakistan believes that Pakistan was bluffing in its offer of talks, why do you think anyone in India would buy the "bluff"?
@Ananth Nori: The answer to your question is in front of you. What is radicalizing Hindus in India? Until recently, I had not seen my Hindu brothers marching with swords on the day of Lord Rama's birth. As a Hindu, I am appalled at the violent display of weapons during religious processions in India. The same kind of fundamentalism that destroyed Pakistan is now crushing India. Such people exist in every religion. It does not give me comfort that Hindu radicals belong to my faith as they will harm India as Muslim extremists damaged Pakistan.
This is a much needed step to integrate Jammu and Kashmir with rest of the country. In this global economy, we need entrepreneurs and capital to improve the lives of the people. Article 370 put restrictions on the businesses, so the largest employer in the state is the government. British caused mayhem in 1947 and we are still seeing the effects of the bad partition.
If Pakistan stops exporting terrorism to India and Afghanistan, then the south Asia will be peaceful and prosperous.
7
I lean towards state autonomy over gross centralization of powers. However, even if you hate it, this is a brilliant move at an opportune moment in history.
BJP in India has majority control over the Central Government. Pakistan is in dire financial straits and in bad terms with USA over its support for terrorists.
USA moved its embassy to Jerusalem and recognized it as part of Israel. China has to deal with its economy and trade war with USA.
So, Pakistan doesn't have the money to foment trouble in Kashmir and definitely can't rely on support from USA or China.
I feel sorry for the people of Kashmir. For every other linguistic and religious minority in India, this is the canary in the coal mine.
India is a country of minorities - linguistic, cultural and even Hinduism practiced among its millions is unique to the region and language. I think this is a crushing blow to state autonomy and further centralization of power by the Hindi speaking, Brahmin-Bania Raj.
First they came for the Kashmiris
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Kashmiri
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
6
India have been invaded in the past 1000 years because it didn't have a strong central government.
Thousands of small and large states were more interested in fighting with their neighboring state than the Muslim Invaders that repeatedly looted the Indian subcontinent.
1
India should have revoked the Special Status of Jammu and Kashmir long time back, but the Congress government, which saw Muslim votes, did not act.
And Modi should have done it during his term. Anyway, he did it now, which I think it is good for India.
5
@Mbr he did it now because of the failing economy. There is nothing else to show. This will give him a reason to coverup the coming recession.
India for the last seven decades at the cost of : i ) Huge yearly increases in millions of people suffering under poverty .ii ) Estimated 00 million living without access to safe drinking water and sewer lines to houses and hearths and neglect of iii) Basic Health Units across the country and other pressing domestic issues . India 's priority has been in controlling and becoming a regional super power in South East Asia . prime Minister Modi after his reelection has suggested to be recognized as another Super power. In the aftermath of the War in Bengla Desh , has never tone down hostility with all neighboring countries , including brutally denying the Kashmir the freedom they have been fighting for since the British rule ended in 1947. This is about time the the international community should intervene for lasting peace in the S. E Asia . What do you think ?
1
@dmf
Confusing. What do you want to say ? Do you know that at least 500 million Indians came out of lower middle class/poverty in the last 30 years. Finally, India is not in South East Asia, but in South Asia.
1
"We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and to impress him takes on his multi-armed form and says, 'Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.' I suppose we all thought that one way or another."
Robert Oppenheimer
During the partition of India, Kashmir was made a part of India, without anyone asking the Kashmiri people what they wanted. By culture, religion, and geography, they were far more connected to what became Pakistan, than to India. Given a choice, they would have voted overwhelmingly to be part of Pakistan, and India knows it. Since then, Kashmir has been, essentially, occupied territory. India has kept control with an increasingly heavy-handed military presence. No one should be surprised that some Kashmiris have turned to violence, democracy having been denied them.
Modi has stoked religious division and strife, and made his name by shrugging while Hindus carried out murderous anti-Muslim riots. He's Donald Trump on the steroids of violent religious intolerance. Those who don't care, because his victims are Muslims, should consider that he has no love for Christians, either, or any other minority in India.
Meanwhile, America has little moral ground for complaint, having elected a President and who fans the flames of hate, against all minorities, all immigrants (legal or not, unless they are white), and whose political party is devoted to thwarting the will of the people.
I used to think that the arc of history bent, if slowly, toward justice, tolerance, and progress. I'm not so sure anymore.
8
@Frank O
1. No plebiscite of the type you say should have happened in Kashmir was conducted in any part of India or Pakistan. So, asking for it in Kashmir is an exception.
2. That Kashmiris would have "overwhelmingly" chosen Pakistan is a laughable speculation.
3. If you are student of the "arc", why don't you make your arc larger and see Kashmir a thousand years before Prophet Mohammed? And how all of a sudden the population "became" Muslim! You will see justice!
2
I think Kashmiri should look the example of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). West Pakistan (now Pakistan only) collected taxes from East Pakistan and did nothing in East Pakistan. That's why East Pakistan separated from West Pakistan. Thanks to India.Now Bangladesh is also progressing like India.
I know it will be beneficial for Kashmir to stay with India. Good luck to Kashmir and India.
5
This move is a shameful disregard of national and international norms. The Indian supreme court should step in to safeguard the law of the land as enshrined in its own constitution. Otherwise, "might is right" may become the Indian norm as it has become Israeli norm.
The situation may get out of hand if US and UNO don't do something.
5
@Deb Chatterjee
Well, let's see what the Indian supreme court says about Modi's move. All the UN conversation over Kashmir, perhaps, is quite meaningless for Indians. I thought they were better informed.
1
Considering the length of time during which India was colonized by the British you'd expect that they'd have some idea as to handle the situation in Kashmir. Treating the restive population of that beautiful state with this sort of heavyhandedness is certainly not the way to do it. Delhi should offer the locals in that state (or at least in the Muslim-dominated Vale) a referendum to determine whether they'd prefer remaining in India, going with Pakistan or opting for complete independence.
11
@stu freeman Just curious if you know that the Instrument of Accession signed in 1947 by the then ruler of J&K was an unconditional one; exactly the same as the IoAs signed by the 500+ other princely states. Article 370, provisions of which were repealed today, came later and was a political arrangement post-accession. Don't get me wrong, am no supporter of the current establishment at the centre in India, but we need to get the facts correct.
6
@stu freeman
Completely agree. Both India and Pakistan should hold referendums in their respective regions of Kashmir.
3
@stu freeman
Just like Americans have figured out the Middle East? It is easy to be a armchair quarterback and say they should have figured it out by now. Would America consider a referendum on changing the Second Amendment? or on Abortion?
Let's say the referendum vote is 50 -50, then what? Also, how do you know only Kashmiris are voting? There are so many practical issues, there is no possible way to conduct a referendum, withour interference from Pakistan.
3
Hopefully, those of you who have condemned Article 370 know WHY it was put in place, right? It was because the princely state of Kashmir voted to be an independent country at the time of Indian independence, and only agreed to be part of India if certain aspects of autonomy were guaranteed. In other words, Article 370 was India's quid pro quo for having Kashmir become part of it.
As for the point made regarding the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, "in 1947, the Pandits made up about 6 percent of the Kashmir Valley's population. By 1950, their population declined to 5 per cent ..." [Wikipedia]. Yes, there was injustice. However, should policies be made based on the issues faced by just of 6% of the population?
All that said, the current move by India to fully annex Kashmir may well be better than the status quo. I am not hopeful; however, time will tell.
@Rrkr The Instrument of Accession signed by the ruler of Jammu & Kashmir in 1947 was an unconditional one. Article 370 was added in 1949 to the constitution that was just then getting written up. Ambedkar was against Article 370 and so was, believe it or not, the Congress Working Committee. Patel and Gopalsamy Ayyangar pushed it through with the writers of the Constitution.
The way this has been done though by putting democratically elected leaders under house arrest, mobilising the army in massive numbers and stripping J&K of it's status as a full-fledged state leave a bad taste.
Time will only tell how this whole thing plays out. Fingers crossed.
3
@Rrkr Do not put the false information about the Article 370. The accession of Jammu Kashmir to India was done in 1947, whereas the Article 370 was put in after two years in 1949 and then 1954 with 35A. This had nothing to do with any conditions of Jammu and Kashmir accession to India, but this was more to do to please the people in power(Close friends of Indian PM at that time). This article 370 was also brought in haste then as well. Jammu has suffered a lot from this too, and being a Jammu resident I can see, how only couple of Muslim parties have been ruling Jammu and Kashmir since Independence. They always talk about Kashmir and Ignore Jammu, thats the same reason people in Jammu are happy after this.
7
@Rrkr y our terminology rests on non existent ground situation. Kashmir is fully a part of India. The special privileges that were given to Kashmir could be better viewed as modern tendency to extra- pamper minorities and underprivileged. You are right about genesis of Article 370, but I will add they were explicitly a temporary measure and fully understood to be revocable.
No one is basing this decision on Kashmiri Pandit experience. It is a simple decision rooted on concepts of equality and fair play.
4
In summary: This step would open Kashmir to investments.
They just removed the provision which prevented non-kashmiris from investing in Kashmir.
In the long run, I hope all Kashmiris would realize this was a great day.
8
This is nothing but assault on the minority community. Special status is given to several other states like Malachi, sikkim, NE states where expect for local population no one can buy land. Then why change it in kashmir and not in these other states ? simple answer is kashmir is the only state where minority is majority. Now it is no longer even a state meaning self governance is severely restricted. This is the first time in history of india that a state has been taken away its statehood. if this is not assualt on democracy then i don't know what is. To india is no different than any other non democratic countries. In india democracy today exists for majority and minorities are merely reduced to second class citizens and very soon that second class citizen status will be taken away rendering them stateless just as we are seeing in indian state of Assam.
7
Once again, an example of what happens when a wide are of mostly tribal cultures are gathered and split up as appropriate to Western interests.
A map from ca. 1700 shows many areas of British and French dominance. And, for example: The two dates assigned to Bombay indicate that Charles II received it from Portugal in 1661, and granted it to the East India Company in 1668.
The overall control and management of these types of "countries" is very hard, even with the niceness of modern Constitutions and the guidance from the outside.
2000+ years of history is hard to overcome.
1
@John Hanzel
"2000+ years of history is hard to overcome"
Or perhaps 1000+ years of foreign exploitation is indeed hard to overcome.
3
You are correct there is no way to keep tribal tendencies in check like more than 50 million killed during European first and second “World Wars”
4
All Modi government is doing is revoking special privileges given to Kashmir and Kashmiris. Of special concern is right of Kashmiris to buy and settle down on a piece of property anywhere in India but non Kashmiri Indians not having the same exact right in Kashmir. There is another special right Kashmor enjoys, that is it's residents do not have to pay sales tax unlike rest of the country. I don't know how that will be effected.
Some may be wondering that buildup of troops or temporary emergency measures is a supression of democracy, far from it. Such measures are routinely taken in India for very limited periods in all parts of the country, if situation so demands. And difference between a union territory and state is not much. At least not so far as human rights or freedoms, democratic rights and due processes are concerned. For example citizens of New Delhi or Washington DC aren't full states. It's a largely political matter of administration which has been announced to be a temporary ,ensure. Although it remains to be seen for how long.
4
My sister was recently in Kashmir. She went to visit a temple. She said there was a soldier stationed every 10 feet. The people of Kashmir were friendly and were no different from any other in India. She was Hindu and they were Muslims but there were helpful and did not seem to have any grudges. They both exchanged stories about their children and their future. The land was spectacular. She felt that the few ordinary people that she met wanted peace, jobs and education.
I just hope this change would lead to that because the last 70 years only got them misery.
6
The Partition was designed to cause pain and unfortunately it was successful. The UK is reaping the karmic debt right now.
6
@Far Away
I don't think Great Britain intended to make such a mess, the same way I don't think they intended to make a mess in Palestine. It was just getting to be too much for them and they were looking for an exit, the sooner the better.
2
@Far Away
You are giving too much credit to the "Masters of Disasters"!
1
For sure, this catapults 100 times more Kashmiris liberation struggle against India's forced rule. As already being reported, those Kashmiri politicians who once had faith in the state of India and remaining inside it are up in arms and ruing their now proven wrong position. Not only has Jinnah's "Two nation theory" been proven correct again, this overplaying of its hand by the Hindu extremists led BJP government is very fatal folly. An even more resilient and deadlier movement against India's rule beckons. For one, the UN Security Council must wake up from slumber and actualize the resolution that it had passed.
5
@FAhmed
I despise Modi just as I despise Trump, but you have to realize that every country makes stupid decisions from time to time. FWIW, I don't believe in the two-nation theory: I think the partition has done more harm than good. Indian Hindus and Muslims have, for the most part, learned to live together, despite tensions from time to time (stoked by people with ulterior motives). The Muslim family I grew up next door to is practically family to me. And I believe most Indians cherish the contributions of Muslims to our culture (and science, but especially culture). As the classical vocalist Bade Ghulam Ali Khan once said, "If one child in every Indian household had been taught music, India would never have been partitioned."
4
@Bhuvanesh You have good intentions and your music point is also well taken. But as much vital as micro goodness is the ugly macro can't be ignored. Macro realities turn into public policies (implicit/explicit); fears of Muslims and other minorities are due to their experiences lived. Actual or constant threat of worst brutality by Indian forces in valley or cow lynchings/discrimination etc elsewhere nullify any good examples. "Two nation theory" validation is not a surprise. At a fundamental level, if everyone could live together there would not be 193 countries today.
1
Undoubtedly this is the darkest day in the history of India. President Trump must intervene now and help to sort this decades-old dispute, as per UN resolutions and in accordance with aspirations of Kashmiri people.
Our prayers and good wishes for President and people of US of whom we seek support for this heartwrenching and inhuman Indian military occupation in Kashmir.
4
I’m sure our president will quickly bring his wisdom and diplomatic good sense to this problem and solve it in a way that makes all sides happy.
2
@Ian
I got a good laugh out of your sarcasm. The best thing about this article is learning how little I know about the situation. I've read articles and forgotten them. But one thing not to forget is that Optimistic America wins a battle and tries to govern without studying or understanding what we decided to govern. The results are lots of dead people and no allies or successful democracies. Afghanistan and Iraq come to mind.
I have a sense that all, as in just enough to make this really hairy, is spinning out of control, and we have nobody in a leadership role to protect our interests...and, there’s still 534 days until the next inauguration.
For sure, this catapults 100 times more Kashmiris liberation struggle against India's forced rule. As already being reported, those Kashmiri politicians who once had faith in the state of India and remaining inside it are up in arms and ruing their now proven wrong position. Not only has Jinnah's "Two nation theory" been proven correct again, this overplaying of its hand by the Hindu extremists led BJP government is very fatal folly. An even more resilient and deadlier movement against India's rule beckons. The UN Security Council must wake up from slumber and actualize the resolution that it had passed, for one.
Two nation theory by Jinnah has left 178 million Muslims In predominantly Hindu India ,Bangladeshi nationalism and failed impoverished state which is always trying to be a client state of others and trying to pull weight more than it warrants
1
@FAhmed
I despise Modi just as I despise Trump, but you have to realize that every country (including both India and Pakistan) makes stupid decisions from time to time. FWIW, I don't believe in the two-nation theory: I think the partition has done more harm than good. Indian Hindus and Muslims have, for the most part, learned to live together, despite tensions from time to time (stoked by people with ulterior motives). The Muslim family I grew up next door to is practically family to me. And I believe most Indians cherish the contributions of Muslims to our culture (and science, but especially culture). As the classical vocalist Bade Ghulam Ali Khan once said, "If one child in every Indian household had been taught music, India would never have been partitioned."
1
@Bhuvanesh You have good intentions and your music point is also well taken. But as much vital as micro goodness is the ugly macro can't be ignored. Macro realities turn into public policies (implicit/explicit); fears of Muslims and other minorities are due to their experiences lived. Actual or constant threat of worst brutality by Indian forces in valley or cow lynchings/discrimination etc elsewhere nullify any good examples. "Two nation theory" validation is not a surprise. At a fundamental level, if everyone could live together there would not be 193 countries today.
At the heart of the conflict lies India's historic refusal to allow the local population (mostly Muslim) to vote if it wanted to join Pakistan (mostly Muslim) or India (most Hindu) after the British withdrew from India
India kept rejecting the UN plan to avoid a plebiscite that they felt, correctly it would lose. Sir Owen Dixon, UN mediators came to the conclusion that India would never agree to conditions and a demilitarization which would ensure a free and fair plebiscite and commended India for it.
And indeed , the plebiscite never took place
In all long duration conflicts from a catholic Ireland occupied by Britain some 500 years ago, to the Palestinian conflict the center is great injustice to the local people that will not go away
And so it is with Kashmir. Modi's step solves nothing
2
@Talesofgenji The plebiscite did not take place as the other party key to the plebiscite refused to the accept the conditions of the plebiscite viz that it withdraw all its forces from the occupied territory. Please read up the material on this out there.
3
This is a great day in post independence Indian history. I have been hearing Indians grumbling about art 370 that is discriminatory to Indians all these years since as a child, in spite of Indian tax payers subsidizing the state for a comparatively better living standard for an average Kashmiri.
Finally Modi and Shah corrected a historic wrong and took the steps to integrate Kashmir to rest of India and make Kashmiris full Indian citizen.
Great news also for Buddhists of Ladakh whose aspirations have been drowned out all theses years.
As someone else mentioned Modi govt probably ensured another victory in 2024 election going by the support from ordinary Indians and even non NDA parties like BJD, AAP, TRS etc
7
@Observer So, should article 371F also be abrogated? Why single out J&K?
Also, why strip J&K of its statehood and make it into a UT? Why put democratically elected politicians under house arrest?
Kindly spare a moment to reflect on these questions as well to get a more holistic view of the issue.
2
@Observer
I hope you're wrong about another victory. We need good news, no more Trump/Modis.
1
This move by itself is not significant.
What follows will have major impact.
With the removal of 35A, non-Kashmiris can buy property. If many hindus do,
the demography will change. Kashmir
will no longer be the muslim majority state. This is the real intent of BJP.
This really follows Israeli template
of creating facts on the ground. It is
likely to destabilize the region leading to
much blood shed.
5
As a proud Indian, I am extremely happy with the Indian governments decision to put to rest the issue of Kashmir.
Since Indian independence all governments have let a very small issue become an elephant for vote bank and coalition politics.
India as a proud nation of 1.3 Billion people cannot and should not look at other nations for guidance or support for every small problem. We as a nation have a million issues, but we will find our way just as we have over 4500 years.
Jai Hind!!
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@Mark
"Since Indian independence all governments have let a very small issue become an elephant for vote bank and coalition politics."
I, too, am quite puzzled as to why both India and Pakistan covet such an insignificant region. Let's just hold a referendum and let the people decide what they want. After all, we're not living in the Stone Age anymore.
The Article 370 which has been repealed was an iniquitous law that gave unfair advantage to permanent residents of Kashmir. Kashmiris were allowed to hold property anywhere in India while non-Kashmiri Indians were not allowed to hold property in Kashmir. The Article discriminated against all other Indians and it is because of that, that industry and investment did not come into Kashmir. The Islamists were happy with this as it kept Kashmiris in their control without the possibility of modernizing their society and economy. It is important to note that the Kashmiri Muslims chased away all almost all the Hindus of Kashmir and took away their property in the last 30 years. The abrogation of Article 370 ( which was a temporary measure as written into the Constitution of India) was a necessary step towards making all Indian citizens equal.
5
I don’t care much about Modi and BJP’s nationalist agenda but this step was needed. If you take away the shock of the timing and mock outrage, don’t see what is wrong with this step. It is high time that people leave their regional mindset and work for the betterment of the future for everyone and this planet.
6
Majoirty of Indian people support this including from opposition. Delhi CM appreciated this change, though he is strong opponent of Modi Government. Kashmir's unrest not started from recently. Kashimiris witnessed the height of atrocities and I do not think thinks will get more worsened. The probability is things will get improved.
4
It is certain that Modi's pronouncement will lead to no good outcome. PM Modi is the leader of a religious based Hindu Party that frightens Muslim citizens in India. The China connection with Trump's trade war and India's provocative act put yet more strain on the regional peace. Pakistan, who was behind the Mumbai massacre, seem likely to use terrorist tactics to combat India's unilateral pronouncement. As has been stated Kashmir has a complicated history in which a Moslem majority controlled the state. A Moslem prince agreed to let Kashmir fall to Indian authority if the Indians respected their independence. Now India has made it regular part of the country. With Trump's efforts to contain Chinese ambitions Modi is banking on Trump's support.
1
While in 1950 the special status may have been thought as good for people of Kashmir, the years have proven otherwise. Even the Moslem merchant class from Mumbai and Gujarat could not own a business in Kashmir. That has kept them back in economic development. With this change slowly the economic activities will increase and will give employment to the locals.
7
Greater control will bring peace, prosperity and remove the people from clutches of evil leaders who have been playing with Kashmiris emotions for their careers, protracting the conflict.
They don't offer a solution which is acceptable to all sections. If the Sunni Muslim opinion is applied as the decision for all, that would be gross injustice for sections. Sunni Muslim opinion isn't the patented one. There are Hindus, Buddhists, Shias , Tribals.
Mind you, when Sunnis talk of Kashmir solution, they impose their own solution on whole JK. Whose solution should win ? Why should Hindus of JK accept it ? When they themselves can't give any solution, inspite of enjoying so much autonomy, they are only doing public drama, egged on by Pakistan, ruining peace, blaming India.
All that Pakistan wants is impose solutions on India like it did in 1947 when Minority Hindus had no role in new Islamic Pakistan. Why would India play same game again ?
India wants to stop all this drama and try different tactics. Encourage India.
3
Status quo via Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that somewhat worked over 60 years was not working out. The Indian Government did the right thing in fully integrating Kashmir with India. Best of luck India and as a corollary Kasshmir!
3
This was much needed & most awaited pending decision. Kudos to strong Modi gov. Hope aftermath political & military happenings will not disturb peace.
2
Why not hold referendum to determine what the people of Kashmir want? To be part of India, or Pakistan, or (most likely) to be an independent nation?
3
The UN asked both countries to hold a referendum. It's the right thing to do.
1
@Silty: simla/agra agreement override the un decision
@Bhuvanesh
Please read up up about the UN resolution. Pakistan Army was to withdraw from occupied Kashmir as a condition for the referendum. Didn't happen.
1
Notwithstanding the UN Resolutions, which are in any case recommendatory and not mandatory, and which have become redundant with the passage of time, India is well within its rights to make whatever constitutional and legal changes it deems fit, just as Pakistan has done in the case of the Mirpur-Muzaffarabad belt of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, as well as the Gilgit Baltistan belt of PoK. Pakistan can scream and shout, probably ratchet up the violence through its terrorist proxies, but it cannot change the status of the state.
5
The economy is faltering, there is social unrest across India due to joblessness and false promises by Modi government not being fulfilled. What better option than the bogeyman of Kashmlr to divert the attention once again from main issues? The Modi Shah combo continues to hoodwink the people of India and the world at large. Trump here and Modi in India. Be afraid...be very afraid. These are not great leaders. Their agenda is the same. To stay in power at any cost by creating lots of smoke and mirrors.
4
I just hope the expected nuclear exchange and fallout between these two hyper nationalist and reckless countries (aided and abetted by a hyper nationalist, ignorant and reckless US president) stays contained locally.
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@Sane citizen
These are 2 countries that never signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and they hate each other. If the missiles start flying, the nuclear fallout will be experienced worldwide.
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@Sane citizen. Nuclear warfare is not real. And your perception of hyper nationalism is wrong headed, biased by the common distortion of distance, cultural differences, biased ideologies. All in all you can relax, go for fishing
1
What is missing from this article is that making Jammu and Kashmir a UT will give the central government (currently run by islamophobic thugs) tight control over the people of the region. The majority of Kashmiris want independence. When will their wishes be taken into consideration?
Azaad Kashmir!
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@Kaur Maybe the government has become Islamophobic after dealing with decades of Islamic terrorism sponsored by Pakistan, a horrific Islamic state?
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@Kaur If Kashmir was not put under the central govt and state govt would have been put there instead, then the unrest wouldn't have stopped. And I'm sorry to say, but majority of Kashmiris do not want independence from India(There is no evidence). its only a small percentage(its a fact- look it up), and it is they who cause the unrest. A solution can be achieved by talking. But these terrorists, all they want is to attack and create unrest.
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@Kaur
Only sustained international pressure on both India and Pakistan can force them to hold the UN-mandated referendum.
Withe revocation of Article 370, the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is like any othe state in India. Now, the part of Jammu and Kashmir that is occupied by Pakistan is like Pakistan occupying any other part of the country. India should get it back with force ASAP.
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@Kodali
Sure, and Pakistan should win back India-occupied Kashmir.
1
@Kodali
What a great idea! Let’s all pre-emptively take over a sovereign country’s territory (which happens to be disputed to begin with) and call it our own.
By the same token, US should take over the Canadian Yukon Territory because it’s connected to Alaska or Michigan should be expanded to include Ontario or vice versa.
‘Presidential decrees’ aren’t how democracies are run, otherwise it’s nothing but a ‘sham’ secular republic.
2
The dirty secret is that Kashmiri Muslims except for few politicians always agreed with the Islamist ideology of Pakistan. The Pro Indian politicians became multi millionaires and siphoned off the dole from central government. Kashmiri Muslims ethnically cleansed the Valley of the Hindus ,discriminated and denied rights to native the indigenous Valmiki Community( So called Untouchables who are sanitary workers) bossed over two culturally distinct regions of Hindu majority Jammu and Buddhist Majority Ladakh.
Two Nation Theory which led to partition of Pakistan has created havoc in subcontinent , diverted the funds to arms race and created distrust between two major communities, It has led to creation of failed weak state of Pakistan which perpetually wants to introduce third player in subcontinent to balance stronger Indian state . Any chaos in Kashmir is going to light the tinder box of Hindu-Muslim antagonism in India . Muslim community has to tone down its pan Islamic rhetoric and know how to coexist with other communities in the subcontinent. Hindus have to lose their sense of historical grievance about millennium of oppressive Islamic imperialism and live in present . They need to stop treating their compatriot Muslims as foreigners. Otherwise subcontinent will go the Yugoslav way.
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@Azad Why are we suppose to tone down and Coexisting when people in our country are being lynched on a suspicion of eating beef and no action has taken place for it?
1
@Azadwhat is pakistan’s Muslim ideology? It hasn’t worked for Pakistan. Your comment about Kashmiri of Islamic faith agree with Pakistan is a bit of hog wash. In fact majority of Indians of Islamic faith are celebrating this move by the government including Kashmiris. If there is any agitation precipitated by Pakistan or some misguided minority then India will deal with it. THe separatists have all the rights to separate themselves... they are free to migrate to POK. I think this move will bring lots peace in the reason and will bring prosperity for Pakistan too.
1
Nobody likes troop buildups and martial law, but NYT staff, don't you think you could have brought up the spectre of Islamic terrorism that ha plagued Kashmir for decades, and is the whole basis for India reasserting control over it?
It's all very nice and good to bring up "Hindu nationalism" as an explanation, but let's get real - "Hindu nationalism" is a response to Western colonialism and Islamic theocracy, with the latter being the main factor that empowers the conservative party today.
If the Islamic militants win, and Kashmir becomes "independent," the fate of non-Muslims will be dismal, as they can expect no better treatment than non-Muslims experience in Pakistan.
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@Raghavendra
Kashmiris fighting to expel invading army from their homes have a legitimate right to do that and are freedom fighters.
Same as General George Washington was a freedom fighter and was fighting the British militarily to get them out of his home.
2
@Raghavendra
Let’s not equate western colonialism or mostly British colonialism to American imperialism. The morass that is the subcontinent exists due to the British botching up the land division (aka Kashmir issue), not Americans selling arms to the two archenemies.
As for the fate of the non-Muslims in Muslim-majority Kashmir, perhaps if the Hindus really can’t stand the Muslims, they should stop going to rich Muslim nations of the MidEast for work en masse.
Quite frankly, there’s very little history of Muslim intolerance towards Hindus or other minorities in India in recent times. In fact, it’s the Muslims that are lynched for supposedly ‘eating’ or transporting ‘beef’ even though India (a Hindu-majority nation) happens to be the world’s leading exporter of Beef. Hypocrisy at its finest!
And whatever grievances Hindus May have from the past, it obviously pales in comparison to the Hindu oppression of Muslims (present or past) since Muslim rulers despite ruling India (thru one dynasty or another) for nearly a 1000 years never attempted to erase Hindus or Hinduism from India or forcefully change the demographics for ‘compliance’ or ‘politics’, for that matter. Ever.
1
@Mike
What are you talking about?
Pakistan's hindu population has reduced from 18% to 1%. Bangladesh's hindu population from 13% to 6%.
Indian muslim population has increased from 11% to 14%. There have been 23, yes 23 mob attacks by musllms against hindus in India alone.
My neighborhood had a bus full of tourists removed by a mob, and they targeted only non-muslims.
Islamic rule in India was notorious for mass conversions. Only a handful of those rulers were tolerant. Thousands of Temples were destroyed. Today's afghanistan and Pakistan are bereft of hindu culture and identity.
The current wave of hindu nationalism does not remotely compare to sunni muslim majoritarianism in the subcontinent.
5
Americans should come down from their high pedestal of morality, stop preaching the silliness of absolute freedom, rights which even America doesn't always guarante.India can do changes in its governing structures in its interests. Is that a big deal?
There are many union territories in USA, likewise there will be in India. Request Americans not to fall for misguided,selfish,outrageous propaganda from Pakistanis.
India's Kashmir will now be equivalent of how Pakistanis part of Kashmir,which isn't a fully democratic province and how other disturbed provinces like Baluchistan,FATA are ruled. Ruled by federal govt.
FATA region of Pakistan, didn't even have public representation until 2019, after 70 years of independence. That's Pakistan for you,if Americans want to be educated.
Compare this with India's Kashmir where there are laws like Art 370, Art 36A,preventing Indians buying land, owning businesses, marrying Kashmiri women etc. What kind of stupid laws are these ? Why were Kashmiris joining insurgency, getting weapons, training,money, bombs from Pakistan?
What more freedom India could have given them anyway ?
Yes, this is downgrade from democratic province to a union territory. This is only done after earlier laws which have been misused by Kashmir seperatists, leaders misguiding people on Islam.
23
Breaking news:- Amit Shah has offered to mediate between US and North Korea if both agree.....!!!!!!! What if this is true?
14
@Fuddy Singh Thanjs, I don't often get to break into a huge grin while reading the comments.
1
As an Indian I condemn the Modi government's decision. They are playing with something worse than fire. This stupid, ideological decision is antithetical to peace in the region.
13
@Bhuvanesh as a human being you should be pleased Kashmiris will now have largely same legal and political rights as rest of Indians, nothing more.
3
@Bhuvanesh I think this was the perfect time. It had to happen one day or another. Right now Pakistan won't interfere. Kashmiri terrorists are scared. Yes, it is a very risky step. But it had to happen.
1
@Bhuvanesh
And exactly what is your reasoning? Has there been Peace in the valley? You have no objection that Pakistan doesn't even allow any freedom to the Kashmiris under her control? Read this: "Article 4(7)(2) of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Interim Constitution Act of 1974, states: 'No person or party in Azad Jammu and Kashmir shall be permitted to propagate against, or take part in activities prejudicial or detrimental to, the ideology of the State's accession to Pakistan." !
1
At last......now peace will pravail....a historic moment for Indian and their kashmiri brother and sisters
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@Rm
I don't think they have announced the UN-recommended referendum yet, so this will only create an insurgency. If I were in Kashmir I would be tempted to join the insurgency.
India is falling into a classic Chinese finger trap....While they are looking at Pakistan, the Chinese will gleefully fill the void they leave to their east if they enter a confrontation with Pakistan.
1
Pakistan made the wrong move breaking the spirit of the Simla Accords of 1972, whereby NO foreign intermediary is allowed to intervene in determining the final status of Kashmir. It made overtures to both China and US (As demonstrated last week) in requesting intervention.
People must know that Kashmiris are treated FAR better than the Palestinians in Occupied Territories. IOK Kashmiris have the right to have their own legislative assembly. Kashmiris have the right to travel to any part of the country. Indians treat Kashmiris as Indians. Israelis see their Arab citizens as sub-citizens. India has long respected autonomy in Kashmir, while Israel has bull-dozed away all hopes of self-governance in Palestine.
After all, India is a secular state. India has Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Rastafarians living harmoniously next to each other (barring the 950m uneducated religious zealots). This is a right step for Kashmir and India. India is Kashmir, Kashmir is India.
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@John
Kashmir is India?
Then why is it called Kashmir?
@Moehoward
Do you even know that the word Kashmir comes from the name of a Hindu Sage/Lineage called Kashyap and there are millions of people that can trace their lineage to this sage? It has been part and parcel of Bharat (or India) since times immemorial.
Your question is like asking" Is Texas US? Then why is it called Texas?"
3
@Moehoward Kashmir is a state in India. Your statement is analogous to be saying "New York is the U.S.? Then why is it called New York?"
1
Oh my, Mr. Kahn , you say " President Trump had offered to mediate the Kashmir dispute when the two leaders met in Washington last month.
Did you confer at all with Venezuela's Guaidó about Trump's unreliable offers of help?
38
Those who know the history of this “ disputed “ region will surely appreciate the bold decision of the Narendra Modi government on the heels of his party’s resounding victory recently for another term.Almost all position parties have supported the decision except Congress and some of its Islamic allies.This could be further trouble for Congress in its efforts to revive itself.
35
This is a nothing burger. Period. Article 370 of 1954 is not same as Article 370 in 2019. Most of the "special" provisions has been diluted over the years...no real masala left.
Heres the wake up smell the Coffee version of the event.
1/ Nothing really changes on the ground, more folks in uniform than Civilian folks, a common sight in J&K.
2/ This will bring large investment in the state..yeah right!! No Article 370 in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore and they have become the Switzerland of sub continent right? This is still India..the same india as yesterday.
3/ Finally people in the state of J&K will be governed and not ruled - at least that's the expectation.
14
@Anand we are not looking to make Switzerland .. we are just there to keep India as Indian as possible..
3
@Anand
isnt it unfair to compare indian cities with switzerland. Is new york become switzerland?? NO
I've been living here since 20 yrs, and I have seen massive changes, economically!!
1
@Deb Chatterjee
1. Firstly there were exception to the rules. So it was never a binary situation. And you have such restrictions in other parts of the country as well. Does it make it easier? You bet it does ... but at what cost?
2. There were people from the state in IITs before todays circus. Check your facts please. RISE institute - run by a Kashmiri from IIT Bombay helps student get into IITs. Will be happy to connect you with him. And if you have ever attended these colleges, you will know that it's takes far more than some political stunt to get into. Will be really happy to see more Kashmiri in better places any day. :)
3. Kashmir was an issue before 370, during 370 and as you will see after 370. Huge military buildup, human rights abuse, violence and oppression can not resolve political issues...anywhere...and 5th Aug circus doesn't change it.
"Kashmir agreed to become part of India only under certain conditions that guaranteed its autonomy, which were protected by Article 370. "
This is wrong. The author should read history and should not twist facts with alternative facts. When Maharaj Hari Singh integrated Kashmir with India, he did that with any pre/post conditions. It was the occupying British rules Mountbatten who suggested some conditions. Also 370 is a temporary one and is supposed to be removed when situation normalizes which is the time now. Also this article doesn't talks about the Pandits who were driven out of their home from Kashmir by Islamic terrorists with Pakistan support. Facts please, no alternative facts.
73
This is a good development. Now the government of India has removed the last fig leaf that Kashmiri moderates like Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti were hiding behind in order to justify their participation in the Indian political system.
All Kashmiris will finally have to answer this one simple question. Are you for Kashmiri independence or do you want to be an ordinary Indian without any special privileges?
If you want independence, fight for it. We Indians struggled for almost a century to get our independence, no reason why you should get it for free. Bleed for it first, you will appreciate it more when you finally get it.
15
A big move. It appears that this is very popular in India. More trouble ahead... eventually this will only worsen the spiral of violence. Only one way this will end..
6
@Ravi
More trouble ahead? Yes. Will it only worsen? No, it will get better finally peace will prevail. Of course, it will take some time. After all, we have lived almost 70 years of unrest, violence, and terrorism. At least now, we can look forward to the settlement of Kashmir as a truly integral part of India and a peaceful place after some skirmishes. No pain, no gain!
Considering the fact that the USA wants to remove her soldiers from Afghanisthan, and Pakistham's unstable government, and Chinese interests in the region, India have to safeguard its strategical interests in Kashmir. The removal of article 370 should be seen as a move to have more control over Kashmir. However, I am not convinced whether it will bring stability if Kashmiris themselves are not happy about this decision. If I am right, Sardar Patel had to intimidate some kingdoms to join the Indian union, and this move is part of similar tactics though the objective is different.
10
@Thomas
By the same token, you’d see no problem with the Canadian government removing ‘Quebec’s special status’ and all other powers and rights granted to it since the British rule under the guise of more control and security? Not to mention the separatist movements galore in Québec and their recent assault on religious minorities for the sake of ‘Laïcité’.
2
@Mike India is not Canada. it is far from an ideal democratic nation. The state and religion go hand in hand. I am sure Canada will take care of Quebec's need graciously according to the situation.
This is good, but what does this mean for the US? Ultimately this makes defeating the Taliban in Afghanistan essentially impossible to achieve (not that it was likely under the circumstances anyway). Pakistan will triple down.
1
@A
They were never going to defeat the Taliban anyway. They will declare victory and come back to the US
Right step in the right direction. One caveat and hope Modi will remember to focus on good objective administration when the union territory is formed. Enough blood shading- hope this is the new beginning where people have lost so much.
17
It is a pity that this article does not even once mention Kashmiri pandits who were forced out of their homes in 1990. These Kashmiri pandits became refugees in other parts of India and though out the world. @NYT should provide more comprehensive coverage of the affairs
147
@Abhi Kashmiri cannot be a refugee in India. He/she is a citizen of India.
11
@Thomas
They were not stateless since they were/are citizens of India. But they lost their ancestral homes, properties and businesses when they were forced out of Kashmir. So they were deprived of their birthrights in several ways.
39
@Thomas And yet many of them suffered that fate.
5
Great move by Modi Govt. it will bring wide range of Businesses in to the J&K
31
With this move India started the process of Kashmir becoming independent or joining Pakistan (people should chose). New Indian president who won on basis of nationalism and racism is the culprit and if Indians don't want civil war or worse they should get rid of him.
10
@kakorako Sorry, you dont know the reality or twisting the facts. Modi government reelected because there was no other viable alternative.
10
@kakorako Fact - Kashmir is now equal as all other state in India. End of debate.
12
@vino
Not really--it is no longer a state.
Downgrading J&K to a union territory needs to be analyzed and explained by the NY Times to confused American's (like me).
On the face of it, seems the BJP will essentially take direct executive control of the former state - appointing all ministers and leaving a rump legislature with barely any power.
How is that democratic? This seems to be cementing the area as an Occupied Territory, similar to the West Bank or Tibet.
19
@Daniel J&K was and is national breeding ground of islamic terrorist in India for a far too long time. Union territories tend to have best facilities across the country in India in contrast to West Bank or Tibet situation.
18
@Daniel
Reverting from statehood to union territory does not make it undemocratic. Would you consider the US administration of its territories as undemocratic.
The issues here are more complicated than West Bank or Tibet where the local population completely opposes the rulers.
Kashmir is different. Too complicated even to the experts. Add to it generations of tensions between Hindus and Muslims.
And Pakistan injects itself into this issue without anybody asking for them to do so.
Luckily for India and Pakistan, it is typically a non-issue for the big world powers as long as they are assured nuclear weapons will not be used in any conflict.
Needless to say, that is a false assumption. Hope I muddled it up even more for you.
8
@Daniel
Reverting from statehood to union territory does not make it undemocratic. Would you consider the US administration of its territories as undemocratic.
The issues here are more complicated than West Bank or Tibet where the local population completely opposes the rulers.
Kashmir is different. Too complicated even to the experts. Add to it generations of tensions between Hindus and Muslims.
And Pakistan injects itself into this issue without anybody asking for them to do so.
Luckily for India and Pakistan, it is typically a non-issue for the big world powers as long as they are assured nuclear weapons will not be used in any conflict.
Needless to say, that is a false assumption. Hope I muddled it up even more for you.
4
The Times could have done better here. It still can, but would need to devote its considerable talent to get into the history of Undivided India a bit deeper.
The Times could, for example, research the Abdullah family of Kashmir that led the Muslim Conference which later became the National Conference. Their opposition to Hari Singh, the Hindu puppet ruler of Kashmir, and how that opposition was distinct from the desire for an outright Muslim identity a la Pakistan.
Or it could research Nehru's own decision to override the need for a single country-wide constitution, just because he trusted Sheikh Abdullah and his apparent secular credentials. Or how he overruled Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, a minister in his own government, who essentially founded the modern day BJP and died in Abdullah custody in Kashmir in the 50s.
This news story is making it blindingly obvious that the Times has been talking about Kashmir all this while without really knowing what the dispute is about. And yet, that understanding is precisely what the world needs today. If you are gonna take $4 of my money every week, could you please go to work for it?
135
Nehru was a Kashmiri Brahmin. I thought he wanted Kashmir to stay with India because of his personal roots there. On the other hand, if the British had not created Pakistan for that pork-eating dandy who had made his home in Britain and who died shortly after partition and independence, instead finding a way to retain the single nation of India, so much everywhere would have been better.
6
@Barrie Grenell, on the contrary, pre-partition India was ungovernable and awash with violence carried out by Jinnah's Muslim League. Noakhali and the Calcutta massacres showed what was in stow for Hindus and Sikhs if the crazies weren't allowed to form their own country. As it is Pakistan has shown itself to be virtually ungovernable and a source for great instability in the region and the world. India was better off with the partition, but the Congress failed to ensure that all of the Muslims voting for Pakistan left. Instead, Indian Muslims had their cake and ate it. In contrast, places like Sindh which, pre-partition had up to 70% Hindus in some towns now have less than 1% remaining. This was the reality of the partition; Hindus ethnically-cleansed from Pakistan, and Muslims remaining in sizable numbers within India and growing in number.
8
@TK
May I suggest something here? Why limit your "digging" to the last century? Why not dig all the way back to the times when Kashmiri Hindus were "peacefully" converted to the peace loving religion?? Or may be another thousand years deeper when Adi Shankara established the "Sarvajna Peetha" in Sage Kashyapa's land?
1
This is similar to what the Chinese did with Tibet. They annexed it, then flooded it with ethnic Chinese in order to destroy its independent culture and identity.
As with Tibet, this act of aggression and occupation should be condemned.
27
@Baddy Khan
What about the Kashmiri Pundits? Kashmiri hindus have been forced out of Kashmir for decades, changing the ethnic composition and making it more of a muslim majority than it was in 1947. Those people deserve their rights and homeland too, right?
16
@Baddy Khan Well, I dont think Tibet was ever a breeding ground of terrorists. So, there is a fundamental difference between Tibet and Kashmir. I know you know that.
13
@Baddy Khan
Like what Pakistan did with Azad Kashmir (POK)?
1
Whole country including average Kashmiri has welcomed the move. Secondly, article 370 and 35A we’re introduced in 1954 as executive orders and they can be removed. It has nothing to do with the constitution. A good news for Kashmir.
It’s a real defeat for Pakistani terrorist who terrorized the Kashmiris.
Once the dust settles it will be a prosperous and peaceful place.
42
@HCJ Why such a sudden increase in the military presence in the already heavily militarized state? Why politicians house arrests? Why the internet, roads blocked? Why is Indian opposition in an uproar over this?
9
@Mannie There are three political dynasties that cause mischief in Kashmir. I think this is a very clever move. Well done Mr. Modi and Mr Shah
8
Kashmiris should seriously consider what works better for them. By becoming a 'regular' state of Indian Union, Kashmir has the opportunity to modernize by taking advantage of the booming growth of India. As part of Pakistan, it could become its eastern Baluchistan.
There was only bloodshed and power grab but no plebiscite in any region during Indian partition, it is unlikely to be different now.
16
Integration of Kashmir into India is only the first step in meeting the defense challenges of India and in the establishment of lasting peace in the subcontinent.
There is no historical or ethnic cohesion for the appendage ‘Pakistan’ in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. This was an artificially created name by taking the first letter of the names of a few northern provinces Punjab, Afghania, Kashmir and Sindh. The letter i was incorporated to ease pronunciation in 1947.
East Bengal from the time of partition did not wholly feel part of the brotherhood and got independence in 1972. Baluchistan, the vast mineral rich wilderness is not included in the coinage of the country name. It also does not feel part of Pakistan and wants out.
Now “K” is gone, only “Pa” remains. Prime Minister Modi can perhaps try to finish the job by separating Baluchistan. The fiercely independent frontiersmen of Pakthunistan are also itching for a divorce from the rest of the country. There is little love lost between Pathans and the rest of the countrymen.
33
@Appu Nair
Sometimes speaking to various Indians from different parts of India I get a sense that many other regions of India would like to be independent and India with this stupid move against Kashmir just started that process.
11
@Appu Nair
This is a rather stupid move, in my opinion. J&K is not the only state with special provisions. The people of the other states will question the commitments of the Indian state and start looking for alternatives. And I do not think the Indian central authorities have the capacity to hold back all centrifugal forces by coercion. The Great Unraveling has just begun. Now, where is my popcorn?
3
Punjab, for example?
1
This was a decades - long overdue action by the Indian govt. If steered correctly (by both the Indian Govt and the Kashmiris themselves), it has the potential to improve the lot of Kashmiris by bringing their state fully in the folds of Indian democracy and constitution, freedom and prosperity that is afforded all other Indian states.
India finally has the opportunity to decisively and effectively address the issue created by the British and their criminally irresponsible haste to leave India after effectively controlling her for three hundred years - first through British East India Company and then directly through the British Crown. Clive Radcliffe knew nothing about India, had never even set foot there before he established the line separating India from Pakistan. All done in seven weeks. It is worth recalling the poem "Partition" by WH Auden -
"He got down to work, to the task of settling the fate
Of millions. The maps at his disposal were out of date
And the Census Returns almost certainly incorrect,
But there was no time to check them, no time to inspect
Contested areas. The weather was frightfully hot,
And a bout of dysentery kept him constantly on the trot,
But in seven weeks it was done, the frontiers decided,
A continent for better or worse divided."
42
We have a Sardar Patel, who unified India by orchestrating unification of all the princely states with India, in Amit Shah. It is worth to assert the fundamental principle of India that it is a secular democratic society. Kashmir Muslims claim that they cannot be ruled by Hindu India, they need to either join Pakistan or be independent. This is the root cause of terrorism there. Neither is an option. If either is accepted, it will destroy a basic character of India, that is secularism.
14
@Alex E You say Kashmiri Muslims need to either join Pakistan or be independent, but then say that this isn't an option. Do you mean to say that Kashmiris do not have the right to self determination? If this right to self determination hadn't been pushed for India, we would not have been independent today.
Also not sure how Kashmiris being allowed to decide their own fate would destroy secularism in India. It has already been destroyed by the current government anyway.
13
@@AD Kashmir is part of the Indian territory, it cannot just recede because it feels like it. Their desire for Religious segregation isn't a valid reason.
1
@Alex E
I think you missed the funeral. Indian secularism died about 5 years ago. Like most things in India, this blueprint is also borrowed - from the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.
1
Article 370 was a temporary provision added 7 years after India’s independence providing special status to Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). It allowed a few dynastic families to rule the State. It’s its revocation was long overdue. India is a secular country and people of J& K will benefit by its full integration with India.
India has suffered economically because of 50 years of socialist rule by Congress Party. Modi's critics unfairly brand him as Hindu Nationalist. His party BJP is a right of center party like the US Republican Party. Modi is focused on Development. Another 10 years of his party's rule will make India a Developed country.
15
This is not who we are as Indians. These aren't our ideals. This country gained independence on Mahatma Gandhi's principles of non violence, human dignity and respect. If we are to call Kashmir an integral part of India, we must listen to the Kashmiri people and allow their voices to be heard. A democracy does not simply imply the will of the majority. It takes care of everyone. There is no strength in the use of force.
We must stand up for our ideals. We must not let this go unseen. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
17
@@AD
Ideals, Gandhi, Listening to the Kashmiri people. These are all human emotions. Whats happening right now is probably a nations self-interest taking priority over anything. There are two many events happening in an around South Asia and everyone will look out for what helps them more. To put it more bluntly, the Indian govt seems to be spooked by the impending end to the US forces stationed in Afghanistan. When this happens, Pakistan has a lot of breathing space on the western front. What will it do on its Eastern Border? India is right to consider its self interest before anything else, however unjust it is to the Kashmiris.
9
@MRK Even though you somehow admit that this move is unjust towards Kashmiris, the lack of empathy in that statement is seriously shocking, to say the least. We, as Indians got to decide our fate in 1947. So, why not the Kashmiris? Even if we want them to be an integral part of India, we need to first gain the confidence of the people. Force and violence are always counterproductive.
Also, if peace in the region and India's self-interest was of concern to this government, it would move towards brokering peace with Pakistan rather than fueling unrest. Yes, the peace process hasn't been successful so far, but how exactly does provocation help? We are both nuclear nations. This is an incredibly dangerous situation and things can spiral out of control very soon.
An eye for an eye will definitely make the world blind.
7
@MRK
I dont think this was a result of any recent geopolitical events. Read the BJP's manifesto - it is all there in black and white.
2
Long overdue inevitable process seem to be starting now. Let's see how Indian Govt handles it and how India's western neighbor, Pakistan, and its northern partner, China, react. But more crucial would be how India's opposition parties behave.
India and other western countries must not tolerate Pakistan to spread its Islamic extremism in India, Afghanistan, and all over the world using Kashmir dispute that it actually manufactured immediately after 1947 independence of India and Pakistan, as an excuse. It was the utter incompetence of Nehru and then other Congress led Indian Govt that allowed Pakistan to still occupy a huge part of Indian territory. There seems to be no usefulness of peaceful negotiation with a country who defines truth and justice very differently and uses Islamic terrorism as its state foreign policy, even though it itself paying the highest price for doing so. But that policy also enables Pakistani elites to get away with corruption, misrule, and subservience to its military regime which control actual political power for more than half of its existence as a country.
15
This was a legacy weak incomplete action, which was created by inaction of past governments.
It's time for change and with this; Indian companies (& foreign) will be able to invest in Kashmir helping local population.
8
I was in Srinagar this year a week after the Pulwama attack and spend some time with friends and family. The movement were restricted and the situation was suffocating. However we went around doing our stuff and meeting friends and family.
I know the special status was dear to people, but in the last 70 years all it has given is isolation and poverty. It has cut off my friends access to the growth opportunities and given a false hope. I would say this was a Fake special status that the leaders and politicians use to exploit voters.
The only ones that benefits from this special status are the politicians and leaders who do not suffer and live a luxurious life with their kids studying abroad. And for sure the militants benefit.
89
@Syed thanks for candid comments as a common Kashmiri. Wish your friends and family prosper and succeed as Indians in Kashmir UT and across India. Hope investment and greater trades come to Kashmir. Eventually IT companies set up dev centers and start ups along with tourism as a world class mountain resort flourishes.
2
@Syed, Thank you for this comment. The special status is one of two factors responsible for J&K missing out on the economic growth seen in the rest of India. Pakistan sponsored militancy being the other. It is even more important now to ensure the average Kashmiri has access to economic opportunity and can lead a life unencumbered by all of the restrictions, inconveniences and instability. This would also be a time to make amends for the suffering of the Kashmiri Pandits and ensure Jammu, Ladakh and Chenab valley are no longer at the mercy of the situation and in the valley proper.
That being said I am not quite sure if the way the Modi govt is going about it really helps the situation. The tact and deft touch displayed by former prime minister Vajpayee which helped defeat an international terror campaign is sorely missing from this administration. Paying attention to needs and dignity of average Kashmiris while isolating separatists and defeating terrorists requires more tact than is in evidence with Mr. Shah.
1
Great! About time?
Now the state/territory getting by far the highest per capita financial support from the central government, will be treated more like just another Indian state.
Imran Khan and Pakistan need to stop dreaming that they have any special claim to Kashmir. Muslim majority? So was Bangladesh. History is pretty clear on the carnage Pakistan wrought on its then own people there. Pakistan has no special claim to anything Indian.
Imran buddy, if you truly believe the "path to peace" is through Kashmir, an immediate return to cricket, in any capacity, is in order.
59
@AJ
So Pakistan thinks it holds rights in areas of
Muslim majority ?
See what they did to East Bengali Muslims . They haven't learnt lessons .
8
Humanity, showing its lack of morality. Hope for the best and most probably, settle for what survives the chaos. With the results of climate change, the entire world will be fighting over food, water, and habitable land. We are losing it, unless humanity changes its spots.
5
Long awaited action, which was desperately needed. Modi campaigned on revoking article 370 and the Indian voters gave him a thumping majority to do so. More over the Article 370 was enacted in a tenuous manner and was always on shaky legal grounds. This is Democracy at work and hopefully will bring in Peace and prosperity to the region. People from all part of India can work, buy property, start businesses and vote in Kashmir (if they move there). Earlier this was not possible. This brings Kashmir equivalent to any other part of India.
184
@Demian Item 3 of that article 370 says how the President can make the article to cease to exist. See below.
QUOTE
(3) Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this article, the President may, by public notification, declare that this article shall cease to be operative or shall be operative only with such exceptions and modifications and from such date as he may specify:
Provided that the recommendation of the Constituent Assembly of the State referred to in clause (2) shall be necessary before the President issues such a notification.
ENDQUOTE
1
@Demian How is that undemocratic. The Central govt was elected by the people to take decisions. When J&K was ceded was it taken after consultation with all the people? It is done by electing a representative and central govt is a representative. Also no one is revoking the rights of the people there, they are being brought to the mainstream Indian constitution. Special status did nothing to improve the life of the people there except isolate them from rest of India. You know and everyone knows who benefited from special status (the political dynasties in J&K).
1
@GS
It seems to me that "Democracy at work" would consist in allowing the referendum on the status Kashmir, called by UN resolution 47, to take place. India never permitted it and is therefore responsible for this situation.
10
Amid all the quite warranted concern about what this means for Kashmir, and how it may unbalance the delicate equilibrium between India and Pakistan, no-one mentions Ladakh.
This high mountain region - a predominantly Buddhist area once called Western Tibet - was grafted onto Kashmir at partition as part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. This in spite of being utterly different, socially, ethnically, and culturally. This left Ladakh as a political Cinderella, ignored, bullied, and neglected by the powers that be in Srinagar.
So for Ladakhi people, Ladakh's new status as a Union territory - and administrative and political separation from Kashmir - is welcome. Now they have more of a say in their own affairs, without their voices being drowned out by their more populous Muslim neighbors down the Indus Valley in Shrinigar.
95
@Kealoha, Thank you. In all of the the rhetoric of separatists, Pakistan and their enablers elsewhere Ladakh/Kargil, Jammu and Chenab valley are just inconveniences that get in the way of their narrative and best not mentioned. They should have the ability to move ahead without being at the mercy of the situation in valley proper. Add to this Gujjars, Bakarwals in the mountains who have not bought into the rhetoric of the separatists. All of them need to have their interests addressed every bit as much as the loudest voices when it come to the region's future.
2
First of all British India was partitioned in 1947, between Hindu India and Muslims India as per demand of Muslims with the threat of civil war and direct action in 1946 that killed Twenty Thousands Hindus in Calcutta ruled by Muslim Prime Minister of United Bengal. India should have been declared a Hindu Nation as per partition criteria imposed by the Muslim. Indian Independence Act did not allow a princely state to be an independent country so the desire of remaining an independent state by Kashmir was not legally tenable. India was not declared secular in the Constitution of India drafted by the constituent assembly of India. Currently India has more Muslim population of 200 million compared with Pakistan. There are 56 Muslim majority country that are proudly Islamic state, India is secular because Muslims are not the majority. Before sermonizing the Hindus of India, writer should do research on History of the Indian subcontinent.
25
It was Partition of Punjab and Bengal - not the whole of India. The British did this to benefit their evil colonial strategy. And India today has the second largest Muslim population after Indonesia - a large vibrant Muslim population in a secular tolerant India.
9
As a Kashmiri, it doesn't change anything for me. I don't become a patriotic Indian overnight with this decision. Kashmiris are not fighting for Article 370 but against the daily humiliations, gross human rights violations, extra-judicial killings, rape and torture that has been used as an instrument by the Indian State to suppress the legitimate demand for freedom. It is similar to what China is doing in Xinjiang or Russia in Crimea. Kashmir dispute cannot be solved by bifurcating it into two or twenty territories. I hope that the BJP comes to its senses and starts to honestly address this issue rather than using Kashmir to further its fascist Hindutva agenda. But with the right wing hawks deciding the Kashmir policy in Delhi, this seems to be a pipe dream for now.
45
@Sheeth and every indian citizen will fight with you to prevent any extrajudicial killings. What you are not talking about is the amount of violence and barbarity directed at soldiers and the danger they undertake to protect ordinary Kashmiris; just as they would any other indian.
2
As per instrument of accession that created two nations India and Pakistan from erstwhile British India, India has legal claim to whole of Jammu and Kashmir. It is a state contiguous to Afghanistan.
India is a secular state that like US is created on the basic principle of separation of religion and state. These are the values by which Free world stands. Pakistan also was founded per similar values but later turned Islamic.
The new law that fully integrates the troubled state into Indian Constitutional Framework is something the Congress Government led by Nehru had envisaged. The legal proviso was defined to be temporary in nature, it was an expression of limitation of Indian capabilities. Times have changed now.
It is a watershed moment for India and the region could easily spin into greater instability. The way for Free World values to prevail is a unequivocal commitment by all those who live by the same value.
158
@Mary Sampson. That view of BJP is rather simplistic, I must say. They do have nationalistic tendencies and should be doing more to be inclusive, but the idea that they persecute Muslims goes a bit too far. As somebody who lived in India for 25 years, I still find it difficult to comment on the Kashmir issue one way or other. Many people want the Kashmir region to be peaceful and develop into a thriving economy, but that has remained a dream for the last 70+ yrs since partition. Perhaps the BJP may have some beneficial intentions after all to change the game in the valley (and bring it upto part with the rest of the country)?
20
@Mary Sampson I think the role of a central government is to safeguard all of India’s interests.. not Kashmir alone.
20
@Mary Sampson Have you actually lived in India as a Muslim?
9
About time that the special status was revoked. It should never have been established, but for Nehru's blithering and blundering. Once the Raja of Kashmir signed the agreement to join India, Kashmir should have been absorbed as an equal state of India. After 70 years of violence and bloodshed, perpetrated originally by Pakistan and continued by India, yes there will be more violence in the short term, but hopefully things will settle down in a few years once non-Kashmiri Indians are allowed to purchase and own land in Kashmir. In the meantime, the US is impotent, having looked the other way as China moved aggressively in Tibet, Hong Kong and Xinjiang - all autonomous in name only.
37
Imagine if Texas had special status and no American from another state could move there. That was Kashmir before. No one else was allowed to buy property in Kashmir.
76
@Shipra Imagine if Texas was promised a plebiscite on independence and continually denied. How might Texans, or anyone, react when democratic means are blocked?
13
@Shipra
Other regions in India, such as Goa enjoy this status to preserve the distinct culture. People not from Goa or it's adjoining state, Maharashtra cannot buy property there.
9
@Ryan The world can't go back to late 1940's when plebiscite was an option. The story of Kashmir starts in summer 1947, when it became independent Kingdom after British left. Being a landlocked nation, it depended on India or Pakistan for supplies. While Pakistan blocked the supplies to coerce J&K into becoming a park of Pakistan, India airlifted supplies to provide necessary food and ration. This was followed by Pak attack on J&K in October 1948.
Going back to your comment - neither India nor Pakistan can go back to the position of accepting the terms of free and fair plebiscite, so that's out of question.
8
I see some similarities to Hong Kong and the Tibetan region here.
Sovereignty is becoming rare.
Please don’t let the US be coaxed into this.
5
Many folks below welcoming this move might be rather premature in its celebrations.
I have been to Kashmir 3 times in the past 4 years but not the last year - as acts of violence and terrorists have made a visit there next to impossible.
I stay at the Lalit - an erstwhile palace of Maharajah of Kashmir - situated steps from the iconic Lake Dal. Mr. Gandhi stayed there and theygave preserved a tree under which he sat negotiating status of Kashmir.
One of my most favorite hotels in the world. Extraordinarily safe with its vast property - but getting there from the airport some 15 plus Mile's away is the challenge.
At the same time, surrounding areas despite natural beauty reminds you of India - filth and poor infrastructure.
And someone has commented below - the whole area is a military camp.
India - having just launched a moon mission - now, with this move, aggressively develops this area - something akin to the best of Switzerland - this move is long merited.
But if it ends up as a more entrenched military garrison - nothing will come out of it.
16
@Neil
Your pity won't help . Calling out what's wrong would help. Isn't this American policy to interfere and force in a solution?
Why should India suffer ? Why should Kashmiris take up arms, go to Pakistan for weapons training and kill our soldiers ?
They have some kind of autonomy, art 36A , Art 370 . What's more needed ?
Unnecessarily indulging in fight , taking Pak help , would only egg on India .
14
@Neil
The British left India as little pieces to whither away. Sardar Patel, a visionary leader also from Gujarat unified the Hindu part of India.
The shortsighted and foolish decision by the then Prime Minister Nehru gave an artificial special status to Kashmir whose ruler had acceded to India with no conditions.
An error was erased today. Crocodile tears will not matter much. Goa, Sikkim and other small areas came to the union with do-gooders predicting the fall of Indian sky. This hasn't happened yet.
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan also has Kashmeri territory that belongs to India. Who knows when that will be assimilated to the mainland by the current government!
13
This is bad news - for Pakistan's armed forces's ability to appropriate a lion's share of discretionary funds available in Pakistan's budget every year while very little is left for education, health and social causes. It'll also challenge their ability to freely appropriate land and business opportunities for the benefit of their retirees while the rest of the country watches helplessly.
20
People saying that Indian Administered Kashmir should fully integrate with India, should note that Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed region. Pakistan administered Kashmir is autonomous and has its own president, India should respect their autonomy as well.
11
@Furqan
It's only Autonomous because we have given it so. It's not birth right that one can demand.
Kashmiris have only used it to create more violence. So they are paying now .
Anyhow not all Kashmiris reject India .
18
@Aditya
This is self-entitlement. Everyone has a right to self determination.
2
@Sam
"Everyone has a right to self determination"
Not really. US, the world oldest democracy didn't quiet like it when some southern states decide to secede from the union.
My son, wife, and I were in Kashmir only once. It was a long time ago - 1984. It is as wonderful as its reputation. We stayed on Lake Dal in a houseboat and rode horses in Ladakh and it the mountains near the Pakistan. It was the only time I felt I was in an occupied country. The military was more than just visible everywhere, it served corruptly as the key middleman in many key areas of the economy. However, the demonstrations and other activities of the population reflected a high level of free speech. A child was killed by a car one day when we traveling west into the mountains. The villagers shut down the road in protest. We had to detour through an orchard.
7
I, as a normal Indian pays tax and out of which 25% goes on security and some more portion goes on subsidies in J&K. If J&K integrates in general Indian structure then surely costs which world powers takes from us for arms and ammunition will be used to further betterment of peoples in J&K. Article used several objectionable terms which I strongly feel not right. It’s no way a disputed its very much part of India. Perpetrating & Claiming by some bad forces that this area is deprived or disturbed and they are J&K’s so called messiah it will not help them to keep there political vendetta accomplished. This step of Indian Government will definitely bring results in long run. Understand first India paid heavy costs for J&K in terms of lives and resources, it can’t run for generations like that and surely today’s steps will help to stabilise the things. Kashmiris also want freedom from this long standing disputes. For them it’s not Pakistan or India it’s matter of there basic necessities to live. For them respectful life is necessary and for that investment in the area in necessary so that Today’s move by Indian Government is very much inline with the hopes of Kashmiri peoples. Some may not accept this move right now but in long run it’s historical decision which further bring peace in region.
69
@Sushant chavan
You are right in that history will be judge. Which way you can only hope. Equal chances of being seen as blunder akin to demonitization.
@Sushant chavan
I think you have missed the point - more of your tax rupees will now be spent tying down a restive population. There is no peace on the horizon.
1
Undoing the wrongs of the Gandhi family’s rule of India is coming along. Ordinary Indians are not permitted to own land in Kashmir, this has prevented economic growth leading to high unemployment and stagnation fueling terrorism. Time that this stops
46
It's actually the Nehru family. Gandhi as in India should be reserved only for the Father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi.
Kashmiris, welcome to the world's largest democracy, where elected representatives are locked-up and placed under house arrest.
18
"Elected representatives" are the very people instigating the people to throw stones at the Army , deployed to hunt the infiltrators from across the border
And these "Elected " people have demonstrated anti national , anti people policies, they have been power grabbers for decades
Trouble makers need to placed where they belong
34
@The Gray American Indian government are the real trouble makers. How will you like 1000s of troops disrupting your daily life? This is not a step towards peace but the other way around.
10
@The Gray American
Let's just agree that your definition of trouble makers is anyone that doesn't agree with your point of view or that of the ruling party. The fact that they were elected is moot.
Let's also detain all remainer MPs in the UK or Democrats in the US
2
Kashmir and Kashmiris have been used as pawns in the religion based politics that successive pakistani governments play to get aid from US and some middle eastern countries. Kashmiris have a lot to gain from the economic growth of a nation that is democratic and secular. At last census, India has 172 million muslims, second largest (after Indonesia) population, that enjoys opportunities at all levels. There have been 4 occasions when muslims have been president of the country. Muslims and other minorities have succeeded in every aspect of political, social, economical and social life in India.
I reckon that once the dust settles, the Kashmiris will see the truth that education, healthcare, freedom and opportunities that democratic India can provide is what they actually need to preserve their faith and growth. The religious fanaticism and hatred that gets instigated from across the border will make news, result in loss of lives but not growth or freedom.
BJP government has the mandate and the courage to make difficult decisions for the welfare of Kashmiris and Indians as a whole.
PM Khan should do something useful to his own population rather than walking the well worn path of instigating kashmiris against India and hedging his geographical position to get that historical aid from western nations.
Generations of Kashmiris will benefit if only their current generation can see the change for what it really is!!
156
@VP I am not sure if you have recently visited India but India was once the largest democracy and a secular country but is no more since BJP govt has taken over. Their anti-Muslim agendas during the campaign has worked very well . Harassments and lynchings of Muslims in the name of Love Jihad, cows and 'Jai Shri Ram"have become a norm . There are 3-5 military officials for every 5 kashmiris to oppress. These are just few of BJP govt barbarity and brutalities
1
Modi with his big victory in the recent elections, has moved quickly to accomplish the two things that symbolized privileged status for minorities in India. Making triple Talaq illegal so Muslim marriages have to follow the regular divorce laws and to eliminate now the special status for Kashmir where Kashmir legislature alone could determine who is a permanent resident and non-residents are not allowed to buy land. Both have massive support among Indian voters.
How this works out in the relationship between India and Pakistan and whether this will this cause spike in violence will have to be seen in the coming months.
44
@Matt
Special laws for religious groups have no place in a secular nation, and that should include any special treatment for Hindus as well.
1
We all Indian considering this a good step and hoping for better future for Kashmir. Crackdown on separatist and terrorists will definitely make common people feel safe and open the region for more tourism. Hope our Kashmir will return to its previous prosperity.
46
Long waited but at last done with courage! Kashmir will flourish like rest of Indian states!
103
@Raj
The kashmiri's are rejoicing so much, they've been banished indoors, and since they are happy happy joy joy, the communication infrastructure has been crippled since the happy new spreading might cause it to collapse......and more soldiers have poured in to help clean up the mess such revelry has caused. kashmir just can't wait to flourish.....
4
@Raj
You mean like the rest of the polluted, impoverished and exploited Subcontinent?
There is good reason to panic. Just a quick little note that the article didn't mention:
Both India and Pakistan have nuclear weapons.
14
@Andreas but none of them in their sane mind will use nuclear option over Kashmir. People in the western world always have this notion that only western civilization is responsible with nuclear weapons and all others are rogue. Yet time and time again it is the western civilization who had used nuclear postures. The first nuclear weapon fired was the US. France did not ratify until it finished with all its nuclear experiments. The US has still not ratified its nuclear deterrence program. The US often threatens using nuclear option anytime it is scared. So @Andreas rest easy, none of the two countries will go nuclear over this. They might keep having their proxy wars but not nuclear.
12
@Andreas US and China too have nuclear weapons. What is your point? US is the only nation to have used nuclear weapons against humans. Not Pakistan, not India.
12
High time the special status for Kashmir was abrogated. India is a union of disparate cultures. The Southern Tamil/Telugu culture is as rich, unique and ancient as the Kashmiri culture, perhaps more so. They do not demand "special status" and live fully as citizens of India. It is only Kashmir, with its Muslim majority, that feels the need to be secluded from the mainstream, fearing their "unique identity" would be compromised (pray how?) if they fully identify themselves as Indian. In doing so, they disallow Indians from buying property, running businesses, and accessing Kashmiri territory freely. Indians cannot settle down in Kashmir, due to its special status. However Kashmir is *entirely sustained* by Indian Federal grants (read Indian taxpayer money), which, in the eyes of the world, is somehow acceptable. It is time for change. Time to consign the special status to the dustbin of history, and move forward with full integration. They can always migrate to Pakistan if full integration with India is not palatable to them.
111
@Harish "The Southern Tamil/Telugu culture"? Really? Is the extent of South Indian cultures?! :-) As for the "special status" on Kashmir, this was not a "demand", but rather a bribe by India - something granted as a quid pro quo to the ruler of a greatly Muslim majority state for agreeing to join India. Kashmiris, in fact, voted to be an independent country at the time of partition. All that said, the status quo was unacceptable; perhaps this move by India may end up being a plus. Time will tell, although I am not hopeful.
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Take away the outrage and the noise, this step is actually good for the people of Kashmir! For too long were they starved of capital and shackled by incestuous poverty of being limited to demand from within the boundaries of the state, because other Indians couldn’t bring new investment into the state! It’s all very well to say Kashmir is for Kashmiri’s only, but unless you open it for growth, it’s people will stay stifled in poverty!
A good long term step, in the right direction! Yes, some barking dogs will persist & protest, but the caravan of progress is finally moving for Kashmiris who will now have a better future!
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How about asking the people of Kashmir what is good for them? I read constantly nauseating comments from Hindutva brigades on how all the oppression heaped on Kashmiris is good for them because the central government gives them so many development sops. People the world over always put dignity and freedom over handouts and can’t be won over by construction projects. The state elected assembly is currently dissolved and even its pro India politicians are under arrest. I am sure Kashmiris are celebrating some bridge that was built somewhere while they face pellet guns, enforced disappearances and daily oppression.
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@Parth Trived As Fz puts it, shouldn’t this be up to the Kashmiris? Very disappointing to me the support given to Modi by Indians living in the U.S. Pakistan has been a unhappy disaster. I hope that India is not going to also be.
This is as contentious as it gets. India is flouting international rules(same as Israel) by effectively absorbing an internationally recognized disputed territory. The reason is obvious, to change the demographics of the region to group more *acceptable* to Delhi. The biggest losers are definitely the people of Kashmir. This is akin to what happened in people of Tibet (diluted by the Han Chinese immigration). This is bound to make Pakistan anxious. however, the speed at which this was done betrays a certain anxiety of the India government of being outmaneuvered by the FO in Pakistan. India, despite spinning a diplomatic iron curtain over Pakistan under the last two governments, seems to be losing the diplomatic battle in regards to Kashmir on the global scale. Delhi is scared as Washington is now leaning towards Pakistan , another victory by the new foreign policy of Pakistan, as opposed to being in the Indian camp (to counter china). India's current government's Hindu centric rhetoric is also not helping Delhi get its message across as victims bodies mount and so do financial losses.
This will end up another diplomatic loss for India and a win for Pakistan if India does not take immediate counter measures.
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Pakistan desires Kashmir , but they can't even manage themselves
They sustain themselves in the generous aid from USA and other countries and don't have any real economy of their own
They could not hold on to their own territory , East Pakistan - now known as Bangladesh & lost it in under 25 years of Independence from the British rule
And let's not forget, they sheltered Osama , within their military city , for years
Somehow they managed to internationalize the Kashmir issue , knowing well that they desired it , out of greed, not need
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@John (if that's your name)
"Delhi is scared as Washington is now leaning towards Pakistan , another victory by the new foreign policy of Pakistan, as opposed to being in the Indian camp (to counter china)"
Really John? How did you come to the conclusion that Washington is now leaning towards Pakistan. Don't tell me you took The Donald literally. Haven't you learnt? You have to take him seriously not literally.
Here's how Trump's mind works: He needs to get out of Afghanistan. If he manages that, it will be a huge victory for him. He needs Pakistan's help to do that. And there is no carrot for Pakistan as powerful as the offer to mediate in Kashmir. Ironically, nobody understands what "mediation" means, even in Pakistan. And Trump figures if "mediation" is what it takes to get Pakistan to get serious about finding a solution to Afghanistan, then sure, he'll throw in the M-word.
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@John
I don't think there is any attempt to change demographics. That hasn't worked anywhere, including Tibet, where the high elevation dissuades Han Chinese immigrants from staying beyond short vacations, as they are not genetically predisposed to the low-oxygen air.
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Modi's Government, fresh from a strong electoral victory, wasted no time in pushing through one of their long standing demands of repealing article 370. It is a big gamble as it risks turning the already alienated people of Kashmir into full fledged revolutionaries.
Modi's previous gambles such as demonetization or the surgical strikes ended up in disasters and embarassments. I suspect this move has the hallmark of another policy blunder from the Modi Government.
Expect more chaos and violence in Kashmir
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@Old Major
Surgical strikes were disasters for Pakistan. Earlier Pakistan used to threaten with Nuclear attack to prevent India's retaliation. Now India doesn't even think twice . It has normalised surgical strikes without any nuclear threat.
Just look at the success .
Pakistan mouths have fallen silent .
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@Old Major
" Expect more chaos and violence in Kashmir". You mean more than what's already ongoing? The existing chaos and violence was because of the ambiguities in the Indian constitution that tied the hands of several Delhi adminstrations that wanted to get the extremists out of Kashmiri politics. This could well be a new beginning for Kashmiris.
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As a Pakistani born person, I believe, Kashmir does not belong to Pakistan. Pakistan has had the chance to develop it's side of Kashmir, but it is nothing but a militarised and no go zone. People of Kashmir on Pakistani side are poor and underfunded. It's nothing but a tool to keep the Pakistani military in power.
Pakistan has no interest in Kashmir coming fully under Pakistan's rule, and the Pakistani military is currently carrying out ethnic cleansing of the Baloch population. Lawyers, reporters, all pay the price in that poor region and across Pakistan.
I wish Pakistan to leave Kashmir alone and let them be.
Kashmirs in India should look at what Pakistan does to its minorities and that includes minority sects of Islam. Kashmir aren't not majority sunnis, do they really think in Pakistan they will be suddenly welcomed with open arms and develop - they should look at the Pakistani Kashmir. Imagine if Pakistan had actually developed Kashmir, then it would have a leg to stand on. If they had developed the region and if Kashmirs were free to travel across either country and decide which citizenship they wanted, it would be so wonderful, but that will not happen because with peace, Pakistani military has no cause to be in power.
Kashmiris are better off being part of a secular country. India has its issues, but it is not a military state. Kashmiri youths should not pay attention to the militants coming over from Pakistan. They are not their friends.
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@Khatija Shah and I should have added that I wish I could be an Indian. The more I read about how Pakistan was created and how much murder and mayhem the Muslim League unleashed on Hindus of Punjab, how calculated the attacks were in Calcutta in 1946, the newspaper reports from the time, the looting, the religious chants used to taunt the Hindu residents and how people got away with murder; I feel sickened.
They won't teach us this in the schools. I did not know, growing up, anything about the non violent Independence movement headed by Gandhi, I did not know about how the freedom fighters were actually imprisoned. Jinnah of Pakistan was never imprisoned. He was free to roam around and cause violence, he never condemned the murders and never actually came out to defend the religious minorities.
Pakistan was left poorer in every sense of the way. Growing up, I never met a Hindu, a Sikh or any other religion.The only non Muslims I came across were poor Christians who only did the cleaning jobs. I never set foot inside a church. I watched Bollywood movies, but I was told that Indians were "different".
I never knew about Bangladesh war apart from the fact that "India caused problems for Pakistan and we had no choice but to let go of that region", never mind the fact that Pakistani military carried out ethnic cleansing there, never mind the fact that they surrendered to India when India interfered in the war. Kashmir IS better off with India in every way.
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@Khatija Shah
It's always refreshing to read comments when someone shows independent thinking and doesn't just automatically side with their religion, or with their country of origin.
That being said, I blame all those who profit from maintaining these hostilities between India and Pakistan, two pathetically poor countries in dire need of improved infrastructure, healthcare, education, sanitation, you name it. And who profits from this? Politicians in both countries who stir false patriotism to get more votes, military leaders in both countries (through power and bribes), defense contractors, and countries that sell armaments to them (such as the US, Russia, Sweden, France). If it was left to the ordinary people, India and Pakistan would realize that they have so much in common and would likely become friendly neighbors like the US and Canada.
10
@Khatija Shah you are 100% right. Pakistan (West Pakistan) did not do any development in East Pakistan (now Bangla Desh) either. Atleast India is a democratic country where there is a freedom of speech, freedom of religions etc. People can enjoy more right in India than in Pakistan. Look India went to moon, other states in India are developing very fast under Modi's rule. I am sure it will be beneficial for Kashmiri in near future. I wish best of luck to Kashmire and India.
12
Religion was the driving force behind the partition of India. Back in 1947/1948, all autonomous regions predominantly Muslim were assigned to Pakistan, except where their rulers opted for India.
The article mentions that Kashmir is predominantly Muslim. Therefore it is in the best interest of Kashmir to be either a sovereign and independent nation, or part of Pakistan.
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@marielaveau
Really? And what do you suggest should happen to the 200 million Muslims in India? Should they also move to Pakistan?
Religion was the driving force behind Pakistan and Pakistan only. It was soundly rejected as the basis for anything in the rest of India. Kashmir's accession to India too had nothing to do with religion. But Pakistan of course, in keeping with its own driving force, has strived to make it about religion.
The only losers to this move are the Kashmiri politicians, whose few moments of fame pretending to be the interlocutors for the people are coming to an end.
8
United Kingdom demographics are heading there too.
1
Congratulations to all Indians for such a long overdue historic step. This is a direct result of re-electing Narendra Modi as PM. Hope India becomes increasingly more integrated and united and peaceful and prosperous due to this decision.
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It's for the good nation and Kashmiris, as I see it. Lots and lots of lives have been wasted over the decades of uncertainty and thin democracy. It's good that Kashmir and Kashmiris will have all amenities as the rest of the nation, provided the local embrace this. It's a ray of hope for good fortune in the times to come.
14
This is a welcome and a very bold move. 70 years of appeasement and illogical integration politics has only yielded in confusion, chaos, state-sponsored + cross-border terrorism, loss of life and opportunistic politicians roosting in the chaos.
This will usher in a more integrated India that stands its ground and can finally stop from being an appeasement-driven, impotent state.
India now has the economic, military, technological, political sovereignty and clout to act on correcting a historical blunder and stand her ground and do what is right, despite the short-term pains that are to be expected by such a move.
But 20-30 years from now, this move will be lauded as one of the most strategic, bold ones in the history of this country.
Lastly, whether one likes it or not and whether it bodes well for the country or not, Modi has just secured his 2024 victory with this.
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Kashmir has been a perpetual problem ever since India fought and gained its independence in 1947 from the British and was then divided into 2 countries with Kashmir not being part of the equation because it then belonged to a Hindu Maharaja called Hari Singh who under pressure from intruders, hurriedly gave up his scenic kingdom to India.
I am not sure whether after 72 years India is moving to revoke the special status of Kashmir but if it does for valid reasons and permanent comprehensive peace is restored to the troubled region and poverty and lack of progress is alleviated, I would say reluctantly it may be worth a try only because the alternative has not worked for any extended period of time and blood shed and army presence has been constant.
A forced change in status quo could be the last straw that could bring in investments and with that peace and prosperity and could also end the ethnic cleansing of minority Kashmiri Pandits and prospects of a better life for the majority population, free from the constant need of the Indian army needed to maintain law and order often with an iron hand.
16
Great leadership from the leader of a democratically elected party, called BJP, in India.
Shri Narendra Modi May be the greatest democratically elected leaders who ever lived.
Overall, this development is good for Kashmir. It puts Kashmir on the path to jobs, education, development and prosperity. Through national integration with India.
Special status to Kashmir was unfair to Indians whose soldiers were protecting the state, dying for it, while the state and its politicians were having it both ways: rant against India, but also enjoy the protection given by it.
Now India says: Welcome Kashmir. Lets grow together.
There is nothing wrong with this. And. Deep inequity of history has been righted today.
21
@John
I think the mistake you make is assuming that people from a particular state have a right.
There is no other state in India where the local people have extra rights, because the rights of all the people are the same, and accorded by the constitution. Why Kashmir?
5
@Manjunath you are wrong many states have local rights such as Goa to name one
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@kakorako
Your comment about Goa is patently false.
1
India's hand was forced by a weakened USA and an emboldened Pakistan. Pakistan overstepped the mark and did the Phulwama massacre. India realised the game had to be ended. This is how all doubts are erased and unity is achieved.
17
Kudos to Modi for having the political will to push this through. Lot of short term violence, thanks to Pakistan, but hopefully long term peace.
i hope along with this change, Modi introduces. a massive aid package for Kashmir. Over time, we win their hearts and peace returns.
Other than full integration with India, there's no real choice for Kashmiris. Independence in this volatile region would be short-lived and what's the point of joining Pakistan, a bankrupt sfate?
Pakistan will be unhappy, make a lot of noise, send more terrorists, but then that is expected behavior of a failed state.
23
This will be the best decision, for Kasmirees, by an Indian government.
19
Will be a crucial moment for the citizens of Jammu & Kashmir
According to reports from Times of India, India has revoked special status of Kashmir and leaders of Kashmir who were former chief ministers of Kashmir have been placed under house arrest. It is rather bold move on the part of Modi government and it is hard to predict where the chips will fall and how stable the Kashmir region will be in the next few weeks.
10
@Girish Kotwal I am not sure Modi is looking at the short term. He is looking at the long term to integrate Kashmir into India and its secular governance system.
6
What I don't understand is why Kashmiri students do not apply for higher studies abroad. I hardly see students from Kashmir Universities enrolling in advanced studies programs outside southeast asia. I am sure they are not many and can be easily subsumed. They need to get away from this terminally stressful situation.
This decision was long time coming. Kashmir can't hope to be a part of the country if they are not subject to the same rules and laws as every other citizen.
Article 370 gave Kashmir near autonomy from the Indian Government with the exception of matters of defence and communications. They had their own flag, their own constitution. They had laws preventing other Indians from buying property there. Think about that for a second, people were prohibited from buying land within their own country! This is not including the extremely outdated laws of inheritance, wherein women who married a non-Kashmiri lost the absility to inherit anything from their family.
This move will be a step forward towards the modernization of Kashmir, allowing more cultural integration, thriving commerce as businesses look to set up shop in the region and establish a booming tourist industry, and bring prosperity to its citizens.
There may be short term inconveniences, yes, as is the case with any radical change, particularly with an area and people this unstable. But, in the long run, it should prove to be a beneficial move for Kashmiri people.
To those contending against the supposed snatching of human rights - that is blatantly false. Kashmiri people will not have the exact same rights and facilities available to them as provided to the rest of India.
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@Aayush Gupta Correct, a great wrong is being righted after much too long. The apology due to the Kashimiri Pundits ejected from Kashmir is an untold story which would not have unfolded if they had lasted to see this done earlier. Millions of taxpayer funds spent on this state are now better justifiable to the Indian taxpayer.
24
This decision was long time coming. Kashmir can't hope to be a part of the country if they are not subject to the same rules and laws as every other citizen.
Article 370 gave Kashmir near autonomy from the Indian Government with the exception of matters of defence and communications. They had their own flag, their own constitution. They had laws preventing other Indians from buying property there. Think about that for a second, people were prohibited from buying land within their own country! This is not including the extremely outdated laws of inheritance, wherein women who married a non-Kashmiri lost the absility to inherit anything from their family.
This move will be a step forward towards the modernization of Kashmir, allowing more cultural integration, thriving commerce as businesses look to set up shop in the region and establish a booming tourist industry, and bring prosperity to its citizens.
There may be short term inconveniences, yes, as is the case with any radical change, particularly with an area and people this unstable. But, in the long run, it should prove to be a beneficial move for Kashmiri people.
To those contending against the supposed snatching of human rights - that is blatantly false. Kashmiri people will not have the exact same rights and facilities available to them as provided to the rest of India.
32
@Aayush Gupta "Kashmiri people will NOT have the exact same rights and facilities available to them as provided to the rest of India." Freudian slip??
Modi is product of RSS, Indian version of, SS and is behaving the same way. Creation of another Gaza is not going to end well for the region and India in particular
9
That was the case so far. Now on the same constitution that applies to the rest of the states and union territories will apply to Kashmir.
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@Shipra
'Short term inconveniences'
Wow. I'm pretty sure we're about to witness ethnic re-engineering of an entire state.
1
It’s a tough decision but change was always coming for Kashmir. Probably this may be a good move God willing.Whatever happens I pray for the people of Kashmir to daringly embrace change and work with the Government of India to find further progress and understanding. My prayers are for the people of Kashmir and Government of India.
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@Azan Well said . It is totally intended to do this peacefully.
Symbolic superiority for the citizens of this one state according them privileges that no other Indian can have we a wrong which has existed decades. Financially and culturally things can only get better - to truly be part of a gigantic nation on the move. We pray for peace.
10
@Azan Wow, what an insensitive comment. You do realize the consequences of the move right? It is in no way in favour of the Muslim-majority Kashmiris. Revocation of Article 370 allows non Kashmiris to settle and buy land in Kashmir- it's clear what they want to do: dilute the population of Kashmir so as to increase the force and pressure on its Muslim inhabitants. They want them to submit to Indian authority by force; India's naked atrocities in Kashmir were already before the world, but now it's reaching new heights.
25
The UN’s Office of the High Commission for Human Rights publishes particularly interesting reports on the disproportionate use of force by Indian security forces. The report did not mention God.
11