The Line of Control

Dividing Kashmir into Azad and Occupied

The Line of control (LoC) is also known as Asia’s Berlin wall, separating Indian-Held Kashmir (IHK) from Azad Kashmir. It is originally known as cease-fire line. After Simla Agreement in 1972, it was titled as LoC and in this agreement it was agreed that both the states will solve their issues bilaterally. That’s why India considers that Kashmir dispute is a bilateral issue and should be solved through bilateral negotiations and does not want any third party to intervene but Pakistan seeks for United Nation’s intervention.

It is a de-facto disputed border not a de-jure i.e., it is not an internationally recognized border because both India and Pakistan don’t want to give it international recognition as both of them claim whole territory of Kashmir. Pakistan and India have fought three wars since 1947, two of which are over Kashmir-war of 1948 and 1965 for independence of Kashmir but Kashmir issue could not be resolved until now. Although territory of Kashmir is divided between both India and Pakistan but both of them claim to have complete control over it.

In 1948 India took the Kashmir issue to United Nations (UN) Security Council and a ceasefire between both the rival states was established and India got hold over most of the valley including areas of Jammu and Ladakh as well while Pakistan gained those areas of Kashmir which it calls as Azad Kashmir and Northern areas of Gilgit-Baltistan. India calls this territory as Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK).

Since 1948, skirmishes between Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) and Chenab Rangers over LoC have continued. Both the sides accuse each other for violating ceasefire. Director General Operations (DGOs) of both India and Pakistan negotiate via hotline and agree to lessen the tension but after some time again cross-border firing is initiated by either of the sides. There are many conspiracy theories about these firings some consider this as an act of deterrence while others say that it is to divert the attention from sit-ins going on in Indian-Held Kashmir, another one says that it is to interrupt the Operation Zarb-e-Azb but whatever the reason may be the ones who suffer from these firings are those innocent civilians living near the border area who daily lose their lives and become victim of an unwanted war.

The number of civilian casualties (either dead or injured) is very high than military casualties on both the sides of border. These firings also affect the daily routine of inhabitants and create panic and pester them. The educational institutions are kept closed during heavy firing which badly affects studies of students. Other routine works of inhabitants residing near border are also affected. They cannot get out of their houses to earn their livelihood.

Both India and Pakistan are fighting for their own incentives. Neither India wants to lose the Kashmir territory which is under its control nor Pakistan. None of them is actually in favour of conducting a referendum because there is a possibility of any state to lose the Kashmir territory or most probably both will have to give away the territory in case the Kashmiris want to establish a sovereign state of their own. That’s why both the states do not ask for the will of Kashmiris but Kashmiris should be given their right of self-determination which India had agreed to in 1948. Kashmiris should be given the right of choice that they can either join secular state of India or the Muslim majority Pakistan or should be given the liberty of even establishing an independent, sovereign state of their own. But if they establish their own state they will have to face many challenges so a better option for them would be to join any of the two states.

Withdrawal of Indian troops from Kashmir should be ensured and international organisations like UN and other human rights (HR) organisations should also play their effective roles. The UN should intervene in this matter and should play a role of mediator for arbitration in the settlement of the Kashmir issue. The HR organisations should also play their part to stop brutalities going on in Kashmir and should take notice of civilian casualties occurring either along the border line or inside Kashmir and raise this issue internationally. If there is going to be a referendum in Kashmir, as it has been conducted in Scotland, then it should only be conducted under the supervision of UN. This Berlin wall of LoC should be smashed now and both IHK and POK should be reunified to give Kashmiris their own identity.