How can the conflicts in and around Kashmir be solved?

 

One way to reduce the conflict in Kashmir would be to make it an independent country. A lot of people in Kashmir want to become independent so they don’t have to follow rules and cultural differences they don’t agree with. For instance, the majority of citizens in Kashmir are Muslim, as is Pakistan, but India’s main religion is Hinduism. This means that the Islam population of Kashmir in Indian territory feel like they should belong with Pakistan for religious reasons. The majority of Kashmir feels they belong with Pakistan more than with India but Kashmir also wants to respect the terms on which it acceeded to India. So if Kashmir were to become independent they could choose their national religion and culture. They wouldn’t be divided across two countries that are battling for the land or its products and resources. Trade could be started so that both countries can still benefit as long as they are willing to pay.

Other ways to solve the conflict would be to divide Kashmir between India and Pakistan definitively but then there would be issues with who gets which section of Kashmir so that would be a difficult solution. Kashmir could also be made a part of either India or Pakistan but then only one country would be satisfied and the other would still be angry.

The only thing that can be said for sure right now is that there is an issue which is hard to solve, and no matter what solution is found, not everyone can be completely satisfied, and perhaps the solution will only temporarily work before someone gets too angry and doesn’t agree with it anymore. The conflict might never be completely solved but it could be put to a stop, and perhaps the best way to do that would be to let the people of Kashmir choose what they want the most; if they want to be independent or with which country they would like to belong.