The maps show a small portion of Kashmir under Chinese control. Are these Chinese controlled portions also disputed by India and Pakistan? Are the people living in these Chinese portions ethnically (language, religion) Kashmiris? No one seems to include them in the discussion. Is this just because neither Pakistan nor India has any hope that the Chinese would agree to having their parts of Kashmir become part of a final settlement of the issue?
The only ethnically and linguistically Kashmiris, who follow Kashmiri traditions, culture, and speak the Kashmiri language, are found in Kashmir valley and a few are in Azad Kashmir. Majority Muslim areas are Northern Areas, Azad Kashmir, and Kashmir Valley. The people of Northern areas are culturally and linguistically different from everyone and dont even call themselves Kashmiris or their land Kashmir. The people of Azad Kashmir mostly speak pahari and are similar culturally and linguistically to the people of Northern Punjab of Pakistan.
Jammu is a majority Hindu area and Ladakh are majority Buddhists.
The Chinese controlled are mainly Buddhists.
As of now, Pakistan has Northern Areas and Azad Kashmir..no one from these areas are demanding independence from Pakistan and they see themselves as Pakistanis.
As of now, India has Kashmir valley, Jammu, and Ladakh..no one from Jammu and Ladakh are demanding independence from India and they see themselves as Indians. Kashmir valley, however, is demanding for independence from India and dont see themselves as Indians.
Pakistan and India are basically fighting for Kashmir valley. Pakistan knows it cant handle an indian jammu and ladakh and India knows it cant handle a pakistani northern areas and azad kashmir.
So in my opinion, either scenario 7 or scenario 6 can be a perfect solution.
Kashmir valley can be an independent country its very small but Swizerland is also very small and an independent country.
BTW there's another dispute between India and Pakistan and that is Sir Creek, believed to be rich in natural gas and oil on Pakistan's Sindh and India's Gujrat border.
Another solution to the Kashmir dispute can be whoever gets Kashmir valley should give up Sir Creek...so one country gets Kashmir and the other gets Sir Creek.