Heaven on Earth by Laiba Sehar

Heaven on Earth
by Laiba Sehar
Since the partition of subcontinent in 1947 into two independent states, Pakistan and India the political situation in the region has been unstable. The real bone of conflict between two countries is Kashmir. The people of Kashmir have expressed their desire to accede to Pakistan but India creates hurdles in the fulfillments of their desire.
The state of Jammu and Kashmir came into existence in 1848. Gulab Singh, Dogra Raj pot bought it for Rs 7,500,000, from Lord Lawrence. The state has an area of 84,471 square miles. It has 902 miles long border with Pakistan and with India 317 miles only. Three main rivers of Pakistan, namely, the Indus, the Jhelum and the Chenab are their sources in Kashmir. The two roads link Kashmir with the rest of the world also lie through Pakistan. More than 80% of peoples of Jammu and Kashmir are Muslims. Thus geographically, culturally, economically and religiously Kashmir is an integral part of Pakistan. But India has never accepted this fact. The result is that Kashmir has become an apple of discord between Pakistan and India.
The Kashmiris ware leading a depressed life. They were treated as slaves. They had no status in society. They were always at the mercy of the dogras and the Hindus of the state. The result of this control and domination was that the people of Jammu and Kashmir stood against the maharaja’s rule in 1930. The maharaja tries to suppress this movement. He succeeded in crushing the rebellions for the time being, but he could not succeed in sowing the seed of love in the hearts of the Kashmiris for the Hindus.
According to the partition plan of June 3, 1947, it was decided that on the withdrawal of British power the Indian states would be free to join either India or Pakistan or remain independent. Lord Mountbatten advised the princes of those states to accede to India or to Pakistan bearing in mind three main points:
1) The geographical position of the state.
2) The composition...