12.02.2005
Clippings about Kashmir
I had a foot-in-mouth moment the other night over coffee, when I made a flip statement about Kashmir and the "Oh no, you can't publish that map" stories. I realized I really didn't know much about where the conflict came from.
Reading over the last half-hour, I've learned:
1. When people speak of Kashmir, they may be including any or all of the following territories: Kashmir, Jammu, Ladakh, and Aksai Chin (aka the White Desert).
2. The region is disputed by three countries: Pakistan, India, and China. Parts of the region are controlled by each of the three countries.
3. At the time of Indian independence, Kashmir was a principality bordering India - as were Sikkim, Bhutan and Nepal. Like Sikkim, unlike Bhutan and Nepal, Kashmir became a protectorate of the Republic of India for reasons which are summed up by this impatient and semi-ignorant observer as "for it's own good."
4. We (we earthlings) are locked into a standoff between India and Pakistan but no one seems to imagine that Kashmir could rule itself as it did a century ago. Hmph.
Today in The Hindu (newspaper):
The Invention of Pakistan and Pakistan is an acronym!
Reading over the last half-hour, I've learned:
1. When people speak of Kashmir, they may be including any or all of the following territories: Kashmir, Jammu, Ladakh, and Aksai Chin (aka the White Desert).
2. The region is disputed by three countries: Pakistan, India, and China. Parts of the region are controlled by each of the three countries.
3. At the time of Indian independence, Kashmir was a principality bordering India - as were Sikkim, Bhutan and Nepal. Like Sikkim, unlike Bhutan and Nepal, Kashmir became a protectorate of the Republic of India for reasons which are summed up by this impatient and semi-ignorant observer as "for it's own good."
4. We (we earthlings) are locked into a standoff between India and Pakistan but no one seems to imagine that Kashmir could rule itself as it did a century ago. Hmph.
Today in The Hindu (newspaper):
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has urged the United States to lend its support to efforts aimed at resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, 'which is at the root of tension in South Asia.'Suketa Mehta: Too beautiful for death
The Invention of Pakistan and Pakistan is an acronym!
