Exactly my point. National pride aside, I don't really care who controls Kashmir. I care more about the rest of India whose development is being dragged down by the ramnifications of Kashmir. ...
That's truly heartfelt sentiments. Thank you.
........ However, I also know that if India accedes Kashmir today someone else will want independence tomorrow and this will never stop. So we cannot let Kashmir go.
That's true. If you let one area go, someone else may follow the lead. However we have to be realistic and extrapolate this a bit. So what other areas in India are likely to ask for separation and what chances do they have in actually achieving their goals.
This is just an effort to somehow "control" the study and consider all possible outcomes.
......... The only option is to maintain status quo, ..
Yes. Status quo is always comfortable zone (at least for many). Status quo means you know where you are. You don't have to worry too much. You don't have to think out of the box. etc., etc.,
The problem is that status quo won't work. As long as there is a swamp, there will be bugs ready to spread the disease. And unfortunately two large powers Pakistan and India have let this swamp alive for 60 years.
Time to resolve this and move on. In fact if we could wrap up the Kashmir issue, there are fantastic opportunities for both countries to capitalize on the fruits of peace. Many of us dream to ride the "peace train" from Kolkata to Peshawar with no passports and no visas. May be that day is not too distant in future.