Why is Kashmir such an emotional issue for Pakistanis?

[Abingdonboy]

Because as long as Kashmir (in any part) is part of India it undermines the entire theology that Pakistan was founded on (two-nation) and adds to the already widespread identity crisis within Pakistan.

 

[NeutralCitizen]

Pakistani's are a highly emotional people.

 

[rubyjackass]

The answer in one word is ..Water.

A lot of other reasons can be added to this and various justifications can be ascribed to them but the central theme remains water.

Almost all water that flows into Pakistan is from rivers that originate ( less Indus) form J&K.

No, water has nothing to do with Pakistan's policy. Water came into the picture only in the last decade. The main turning point in Pakistan's commitment to regain Kashmir came in 1965. Till then Kashmir was on their minds but only as a distant memory(Junagadh and Hyderabad were too). People used to travel between the countries rather freely. In fact, in the late fifties the predominant tensions between both countries were postures over useless pieces of land in the Rann of Kutch. It was in 1965 when Ayub thought he can deliver Kashmir to Pakistan and become a hero(there were allegations that the elections which validated his rule were rigged). Pakistan also believed that India was vulnerable after the humiliation suffered at the hands of the Chinese in 1962.
That is how Pakistan went all-in into the game for Kashmir. There was no turning back. Then came Bangladesh war, which gave all the reasons to believe that the destiny of Pakistan is to take back Kashmir(either as a right, or as a means to take revenge, or as an offensive defence against further Indian designs ). Everything that followed(Siachen, J&K election, the popular uprising, Kargil) served to keep the issue alive and burning.

 

[NeutralCitizen]

Pakistan is really in no position to do anything about kashmir you got half of it be happy with that , Pakistan is in a weak state, weak economy, internal battles, Radicalism, as well as Pakistani should to look to their people first Baluchs come in Mind Largest and Mineral rich region yet poorest and insurgency going , Pakistan should be happy India doesn't try to take all of Kashmir in pakistan weak state. fix yourself internally first.

 

[Bhairava]

He's a relative of mine and he said something about Kashmir, next day he got death threats.

Did you expect he will get laddus and garlands for his seditious speech ?

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PAKISTAN.

Here K Stands for Kashmir. .

You can change it to Kybher Pakthunkwa nowadays...

---------- Post added at 08:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:19 AM ----------

I am a Kashmiri and my acceptors were the first ones to start the Kashmiri liberation movement. It is emotional for me to see that my ancestors were hanged and at the end of the day their dreams were not fulfilled.

Dude if someone tries to violate the territorial sovereignty, then it is natural that they will be given death penalty as in any democratic country governed by law. I don't know what is so emotional in it.

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Because as long as Kashmir (in any part) is part of India it undermines the entire theology that Pakistan was founded on (two-nation) and adds to the already widespread identity crisis within Pakistan.

A'boy - that theory was destroyed the day East Pakistanis said goodbye to West Pakistanis and became Bangladeshis.

 

[Spitfighter]

I had this question popped up this afternoon when I saw there was a thread opened on atrocities faced by kashimiri pundits and immediately got deleted. and then someone opened another thread on Kashmiri students harassed by Indian police.

At the end of the day we're talking about an internet forum here so it hardly matters. India won't cede an inch in Kashmir, come what may. We have over half a million troops in the region and strike corps along the border for a reason. Time and world opinion is on our side so Kashmir will remain a part of India for the foreseeable future. Basically Kashmir is a pretty sensitive topic across the border for a number of reasons, fortunately we just have to focus on defending it.

 

[Areesh]

Pakistanis have every reason to be concerned about Kashmir issue. And those reasons have been discussed a lot on this forum I guess.

 

[EjazR]

I am a Kashmiri and my acceptors were the first ones to start the Kashmiri liberation movement. It is emotional for me to see that my ancestors were hanged and at the end of the day their dreams were not fulfilled.

Can you name the people you are talking about. AFAIK, no one in India has been hanged for just propagating sepratism. Syed Ali Shah Geelani is a case in point.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Just part of Pakistan , taken by force because after partition , our army and airforce or man power was less so Indians took it by force , just like how I believe Goa was taken from Portuguese etc

Indians did what most people do when they have the weapons advantage they used it

There is no justification for it , and fact that elections are not undertaken to allow people to decide which is a rational decision by United Nations

 

[rockstarIN]

^^^ old words listening from 1950s...

move on, this is 21st century.

 

[T90TankGuy]

i feel its more of different things at different times,

in 47 it was a matter of principle . for the Pakistanis they wanted Kashmir because it was Muslim dominated . (they couldn't believe that Muslims could be safe or even flourish in India) for India it was the fact that Kashmir had acceded into India . so it was theirs

now its more about ego , to both .
somewhere the ordinary Kashmirs-es voice was lost in the politics being played out.

 

[rubyjackass]

Can you name the people you are talking about. AFAIK, no one in India has been hanged for just propagating sepratism. Syed Ali Shah Geelani is a case in point.

Geelani is not a separatist. He advocates joining Pakistan. Separatist means every other Kashmir politico who comes in news - Yasin Malik, Ghulam Muhammad Butt, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Sajjad Lone(and his late father) and even Mehbooba Mufti(whether it is out of sheer populism or not. listen to her interviews and you can tell). The pro-Union guys are basically dismissed as stooges and the mikes are stuffed into the ***es of Indian PM, home minister and Sonia Gandhi instead. If anti-India politicos get hanged, then half of Kashmir's political class would be wiped off by now. But from time to time street protesters do die of bullet injuries. 'Forced Disappearances' were a serious concern, but are rare now.