Over the last two decades, there has been so much violence in Kashmir, that it is no longer bearable to watch, hear or read about it. There seems to be no end in sight to the cauldron of strife between the triumvirate of India, Pakistan and the Kashmiris (not including Jammu and Leh/Ladakh here).
I don't know if this impasse will ever be resolved, but I might have a solution. 2 points really.
1. Hold the (god-damn) plebiscite / referendum
Having promised this since 1947, a referendum to decide the future of the region should be held. Ask Kashmiris (on both sides) what would they like to do - a) Join Pakistan, b) Join India or c) Get independence.
No matter what the result is, it should be respected and followed through peacefully. How long will we (I mean both) go on spending heavy money in protecting a territory that may not belong to us? And lose lives for no logical reason? Someone's missing out on a ton of money to be made from tourism and forestry; but first peace needs to be restored. How? See point 1. And see Point 2 as well.
2. Trade like there's no tomorrow
Which movie has the line, 'Money talks and bullshit walks'? Build such a strong trading relationship between India and Pakistan, that no one will ever think of disturbing the equilibrium. Why can China never go to war with India? Trade. Why is the US overtly friendly with India? Trade. Look around the world. Bigger the trade relationship, lower the chance of war, or war mongering.
Trade between the two countries stands at $3bn today (official). There's talk that the potential is $30bn or maybe even higher than that. And imagine the possibilities in manpower - we get lower wage skills and they get high tech skills. Also, we get a large market to sell our stuff. They get access to education and healthcare.
No more bullshit then.
So. The good news is that, at least theoretically, it's possible to have a better future with the 2-point solution. The bad news is that there's no one in sight who can implement it.
But future generations reading this in 2050 - if the situation is still like in 2019, try and implement my 2-point formula! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
I don't know if this impasse will ever be resolved, but I might have a solution. 2 points really.
1. Hold the (god-damn) plebiscite / referendum
Having promised this since 1947, a referendum to decide the future of the region should be held. Ask Kashmiris (on both sides) what would they like to do - a) Join Pakistan, b) Join India or c) Get independence.
No matter what the result is, it should be respected and followed through peacefully. How long will we (I mean both) go on spending heavy money in protecting a territory that may not belong to us? And lose lives for no logical reason? Someone's missing out on a ton of money to be made from tourism and forestry; but first peace needs to be restored. How? See point 1. And see Point 2 as well.
2. Trade like there's no tomorrow
Which movie has the line, 'Money talks and bullshit walks'? Build such a strong trading relationship between India and Pakistan, that no one will ever think of disturbing the equilibrium. Why can China never go to war with India? Trade. Why is the US overtly friendly with India? Trade. Look around the world. Bigger the trade relationship, lower the chance of war, or war mongering.
Trade between the two countries stands at $3bn today (official). There's talk that the potential is $30bn or maybe even higher than that. And imagine the possibilities in manpower - we get lower wage skills and they get high tech skills. Also, we get a large market to sell our stuff. They get access to education and healthcare.
No more bullshit then.
So. The good news is that, at least theoretically, it's possible to have a better future with the 2-point solution. The bad news is that there's no one in sight who can implement it.
But future generations reading this in 2050 - if the situation is still like in 2019, try and implement my 2-point formula! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
