Recod turn-our in J&K polls..

[nikhil25]

Re: Recod turn-our in J&K polls..

@Med911

The nature of the state if given independence is not the issue. The issue is whether they have a right to decide their own fate. In principle, all people should have right to their own identity.

i agree. i just think a lot people assume the legacy princely state’s borders would be of relevance in a plebiscite. a lot of pro-independence kashmiris are likely under the impression that their new nation would be the existing state re-branded. i wonder how many would still secede knowing that the new nation would be comprised of a handful of tehsils. in other words, even in their best case scenario india would never allow any territory not populated by a secessionist majority to secede even if the overall vote was above 50%.

this isn’t an argument against their right to self-determination, just thoughts on the outcome.

If we can reconcile ourselves with the partition of Punjab, im sure Kashmir wont be such a huge deal. Done tactfully and keeping in mind the mistakes made at partition, this time the division of the state would be far more amicable. Nor should the Kashmirs division mean the destruction of the Kashmir identity. If you can imagine something similar to the EU for Kashmir, and indeed the rest of the Subcontinent, then borders are more state of mind then an actual boundary.

Whether it would be successful state or an utter failure is conjecture at best. I suppose it depends on the nature of its relations. If it can maintain a working relationship with India and Pakistan (and China) it will do fine. i dont know very much about the Kashmir economy or its potential, but its seems like it must have a great deal of it if utilized efficiently.

i don’t think any conceivable outcome would necessitate forcible mass migration. the area that could conceivably comprise a new country was ethnically cleansed decades ago.