brief history.......contd

The 1965 war ends in a cease fire and the Tashkent declaration is signed in 1966 asking the two countries to revert to pre 1965 position. The same year Amanullah Khan and Maqbool Bhat form the Jammu and Kashmir National liberation front. In 1968 Maqbool Bhat is arrested and sentenced to death, but manages to escape and flees to Azad Kashmir. 3 years later in 1971 an indian passenger plane en route from srinagar to delhi is hijacked and take to lahore. The plane is blown up after the passengers are disembarked. The same year India sends its troops to East Pakistan to help rebels in a popular uprising against Pakistan and Bangladesh is born. After the cease fire, Simla agreement is signed in 1972 which states that India and Pakistan would settle all pending issues through bilateral dialogue. In 1974 Mirza Afzal Beg on behalf of Abdullah signs the Kashmir accord with the government of India which reiterates Kashmir's special status inside Indian union. Maqbool Bhat is arrested in 1976 on his return from Azad Kashmir and Ammanulah Khan moves to UK. Jammu kashmir National Liberation Front becomes JKLF. Sporadic clashes take place between the Indian And Pakistani armies at siachen glacier in 1984. 3 years later in 1987 elections take place in kashmir. It is the birth year of Muslim United Front, an amalgam of different anti indian political parties. MUF challenged the puppet government of NC in the polls. Kashmiris young and old are seen throwing enthusiasm and support behind the MUF. The Indian Government is worried and NC is declared winner after massive rigging during polls. This has been the turning point in the history of Kashmir, from their peaceful struggle from 1947 to the elections in 1987. It was after these elections that a common kashmiri realised that his wishes and aspirations had no respect for the ruling NC and the Government of India. This was the year Kashmiri youth after feeling betrayed by the peaceful and constitutional means opted for armed struggle........to be contd

brief history.......contd

India had plans to take Kashmir from the beginning, how can one forget the last minute inclusion of Gurdaspur, a muslim majority district supposed to go to Pakistan, to the Indian union by the Radcliffe boundary commission. Following its designs for Kashmir, the Indian Government went against the UN resolutions and in 1951 carried out the first elections in kashmir. UN passed another resolution the same year to the effect that such elections could not substitute the plebiscite and reiterated that a free and fair plebiscite be held in Jammu and Kashmir. A year after elections Sheikh Abdullah defected from his position of endorsing the accession to India and insisted on the plebiscite in Kashmir. In 1953 India and Pakistan agreed on appointing a plebiscite administrator by the end of April 1954. But as I mentioned earlier India had other plans from the beginning and in August 1953 the Indian Government dismissed and detained Sheikh Abdullah. And yet again India appoints a puppet government this time headed by Bakshi Ghulam Muhammad who officially ratifies the accession to India, for which he was actually appointed. In 1956 the puppet state government adopts a constitution of the state and declares it to be an integral part of the India without any mandate from the Public. UN passed another resolution in 1957 stating such actions could not constitute a final disposition of Kashmir and reiterated a free and fair plebiscite be held. In 1964 the ailing Nehru probably realised his misdeeds released Abdullah from prison and sent him to Pakistan to solve the Kashmir issue in accordance with the wishes of kashmiris but unfortunately he passed away a month later and the talks got stalled. Sheikh Abdullah is again arrested in May 1965 after he arrives in India from Makkah. And in 1965 India and Pakistan go to their second war over Kashmir.......to be contd