Outbreak of IPC Flashcards
Decolonisation processes led to the outbreak of the IPC as it brought lasting points of contention that would spark immediate conflict
- 1947 Mountbatten found the ideas of the Muslim League and the Congress Party irreconcilable in the near term with real risks of mutiny and came up with the Indian Independence Act of 1947.
- Pakistan was formed on the east and west of India and Kashmir was to join either state but since it was a princely state the Maharaja could decide which one he wanted – he wanted independence instead. Both states laid claim to Kashmir as it was a majority muslim country but with a Hindu ruler. (Lack of territorial contiguity)
- Partition was published 2 days after the creation of the 2 states. Rapid partition led to a huge population transfer of 15M leading to communal violence where 200k killed. Refugee crisis in both states ensued
- Invasion of Kashmir by Pakistan backed tribesmen pushed Hari Singh to sign the instrument of accession to India. Pakistan dismissed this as an Indian ploy that violated the standstill agreement and called Hari out on his failure to ensure the interests of Muslims religious identity in Kashmir. India said the standstill agreement was violated by Pakistan through the invasion and that the instrument was legitimately signed in accordance with the processes established during partition.
Heightened security concerns led to the immediate outbreak of IPC as the disputed territorial demarcation proved to be a threat to national security
Kashmir is close to Afghanistan, China and USSR and was prized as an important buffer zone for both India and Pakistan.
Indian POV – Kashmir intimately connected with security and international contacts of India + intimately related to India economically. Since Pakistan is hostile, a potential takeover is a serious threat to the domestic security of India.
Pakistan POV – Kashmir is close to the long vital road and railway between Lahore and Pindi which poses a threat to important civil and military lines of communication. Threatens internal security and independence if occupied by the enemy.
Issues regarding territorial sovereignty of both states led to the outbreak of the IPC as they were pushed to ensure the territorial integrity at the others expense
Both states laid claim over Kashmir as it was contiguous to both due to its geographical location and predominant faith.
Indian POV – Pakistan violated the standstill agreement that they signed with Kashmir which pushed them to sign the instrument of accession to India legally. Hence this was a legal basis that cannot be contested, they even came in to help Kashmir as their own state, protecting their territorial sovereignty from Kashmir insurgents in the first war.
Pakistan POV – Irredentist claim to the muslim-majority Kashmir belonging to Pakistan because pre-independence it was argued that Muslims and Hindus were different religions and of different nations which led to the formation of Pakistan. If Kashmir fell to India then the basis for independence is redundant.
The role of competing nationalisms on both sides pushed them to warfare to ensure their idea of nationhood was achieved
Indian nationalism – wanted a secular democratic state that protected everyone’s rights. Kashmir is seen as the embodiment of this nationalism because it highlighted the ability to maintain secularity in India despite being ethically, culturally and religiously heterogenous.
Pakistani nationalism – wanted an Islamic state for south asian muslims. A separate independent Islamic state is the only one that could provide effective guarantees for Muslim rights and privileges therefore Kashmir is wanted to complete the set.
Competing nationalism undergirded their conflicts and tensions with each other as they fundamentally differ on aims for their respective countries and ho Kashmir fits into that aim
The role of religion in the IPC served as a flashpoint due to the inherent differences in society that led to hostility and outbreak of war
Hindu v Islam
- antithetical in nature, lack of tolerance for each other, Hindus resented Muslim rule. Misunderstandings between the 2 communities were worsened by hasty departure of the British
Kashmiri makeup
¾ muslims but had significant Hindu minority in Jammu and powerful ones in Central Kashmir Valley among others
Ruled by Hindu maharaja
–> Set the backdrop for continued hostility and conflict in the region
The role of economic interests acted as a flashpoint in the relations between India and Pakistan which motivated them to go to war to ensure their economic interests
Indus River
Partition plan separated the Indus river such that India had control over the upstream barrages which regulated water flow into Pakistan. Pakistan relied on the Indus for farming and food where 65% of employment and 90% of food comes from it
1948 East Punjab Engineers cut off water supplies to an important Pakistani canal that heightened their fears of aggression and of their survivability with hostile neighbours
–> Water security used as political narrative against India as it invoked fear into the lives of the Pakistanis
–>Short-lived because Water Treaty in 1960 allowed for clearer delineation of control of waterways and allowed Pakistan to receive inflow of water using their own dams and barrages to replace those allocated to India
