2013 Kashmir Conflict Primary Sources Activity:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
BBC Report on the shooting of protesters by Indian forces
Indian Government memos on Hizbul Mujahideen
Reuters News Agency interview with Kashmir Police Director
Photographs of protests in Kashmir
Chinese Foreign Ministry Memo on conflict and United Nation’s Report on Kashmir
Four political cartoons on Kashmir
Introduction: The ongoing dispute and violence taking place in Kashmir roots back to the end of World War Two,
when the departure of the English in 1947 made India independent. However, due to religious reasons, two
different nations were formed from this former English colony: India and Pakistan. India was a Hindu-majority
nation, while Pakistan was a Muslim-majority nation. India does not want to give up Kashmir, while the Muslim
majority in the area would prefer to be a part of Pakistan. The violence from the Kashmir conflict has resulted
in thousands of deaths. The violence still taking place in the area is clearly a major issue which needs to be dealt
with and the parties involved have stated their positions in the primary sources below.
a) BBC Report on the shooting of protesters by the Indian forces
“Police have shot dead 18 civilians in the deadliest day in the Indian-administered Kashmir since protests
erupted three months ago. A policeman was also killed, when he was run over by a truck. Scores of Kashmiris
have now died since June, when anti-India protests broke out after police shot dead a teenager. In Monday’s
protest, thousands have defied curfews and took to the streets, chanting anti-India and anti-US slogans and
burning effigies of the United States President Barak Obama, our correspondents says. An angry mob set fire to
several government buildings and a Christian-run school, as well as attacking a police station, he adds. Police
fired live ammunition to break up the demonstrations, and confirmed that 18 civilians have been killed.”
Question: Argue why you believe the Kashmiri protestors would burn a Christian school and be angry with
America. Use the primary source and your notes.
b) Indian Government Documents on the Kashmir Conflict:
“The largest Kashmiri “terrorist” group, the Hizbul Mujahideen, has been “almost” wiped out now and if the
militant leadership based in Pakistani Kashmir wants to join the peace process, they can, says India’s Home
Secretary G. K. Pillai. The top official, responsible for managing the country’s internal security related issues,
said the government won’t invite militant leaders for talks ‘unless and until they give up their arms.’ ‘Militancy
is down in Kashmir, every day you must be reading reports that some militant leader or the other has been
killed. I think Hizbul Mujahideen has literally, almost been wiped out, especially since the Pakistan element of
it has been wiped out,’ Pillai said in an interview to IANS in his North Block office. ‘If Hizbul leader Salahudin
wants to come and talk, he is welcome, if he gives up the violence. We are not going to say no to anybody. He
has to come here and talk. Nobody is going there to talk to him’, Pillai said. Asked why the government was
reluctant to take militant leaders onboard the peace process, Pillai said, ‘There are less than a hundred local
militants in Kashmir. Nobody would even talk to them. They don’t represent anybody.”
AND
“To a question regarding the third-party involvement (of a mediator), the Prime Minister said, Pakistan and
India can and should resolve their issues through their own dialogue, adding, ‘We have to take ownership of our
issues.’
Questions:
1) What does the Indian government say the Hizbul Mujahideen must do to be invited to the peace talks?
Explain why with evidence from your notes.
2) Argue why you believe India would want to solve its own problems with Pakistan without outside
intervention. Explain and give evidence form the primary sources and notes.
c) Reuters News Agency Interview of the Kashmir Police Director:
“A two-decade-old Muslim insurgency may not end in Indian Kashmir, unless Pakistan stops arming, training,
and sending militants to the disputed region, Kashmir’s police chief said Saturday. ‘Infiltration from across the
border is on, the training camps across for terrorists are still functional, and launching pads are on,’ Director
General of Kashmir Police Kuldeep Khuda told Reuters in an interview. ‘The perpetrators of terrorist violence in
India and particularly in Kashmir are still openly supporting terrorism from Pakistan land. In this situation, we
should not expect that terrorism can be finished.’”
Question: What is the relationship between Pakistan and the violence in Kashmir? Explain with evidence from
the primary source and from your notes.
d) Photos of Kashmiri people burning an Indian flag, while hoisting the Pakistani flag and other images:
Question: Argue why you believe the people in the pictures are burning an Indian flag and what their slogans
say about the Kashmir conflict. Use evidence from the photos and from your notes.
e) Chines Foreign Ministry on Kashmir:
“China Tuesday, expressed hope that India and Pakistan could resolve the Kashmir issue through dialogue and
negotiations. ‘China has a consistent stance on the Kashmir issue. The Kashmir issue is an issue between India
and Pakistan left over by history. We hope the two sides could properly resolve the issue through dialogues
and negotiations,’ said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang at a regular news briefing.”
AND
United Nations Memo in Kashmir:
“Given the disagreement between the two parties over the roles of the United Nations Military and Observer
Group in India and Pakistan (UNIMOGIP), the UN Secretary-General’s position has been that UNMOGIP could be
terminated only by a decision of the UN Security Council. In the absence of such an agreement, UNMOGIP had
been maintained with the same arrangements as following the December 1971 ceasefire. The tasks of
UNMOGIP have been to observe, to the extent possible, developments pertaining to the strict observance of the
ceasefire of 17 December 1971 and to report thereon to the Secretary-General.
Questions:
1) Argue why you believe several countries, including China, try not to get too involved with the Kashmir issue.
Explain with evidence from the primary source and your notes.
2) Argue why you believe the United Nations and the rest of the world would be interested in conflicts between
India and Pakistan based upon your notes. Explain with evidence.
f)Political Cartoons on Kashmir Conflict:
Question: What is the overall message of the four political cartoons on the Kashmir Conflict? Explain with
evidence from the cartoons and your notes.