SOLVING KASHMIR-3

General

1.         The State of Jammu and Kashmir, occupies the Northern most latitudes of the Indian Union. The state lies approximately between 32’ 15’ and 37’ 53’ North latitudes and 72’ 35’ and 80’ 20’ East longitudes. The state with a total area of 2, 22, 236.2 square kilometers (which includes 78,114 square kilometers under illegal occupation of Pakistan and 5,180 square kilometers illegally handed over by Pakistan to China and 37,555 square kilometers under illegal occupation of China) constitutes about 7% of the total area of India.

2.         The state is bounded by Sinkiang and Tibet in the North and East respectively; by Afghanistan in the Northwest and Pakistan in the West, and Central Asian Republics are its close neighbours. The states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab are contiguous with its Southern boundaries.

Geographical Overview

3.         The state falls in the great North Western complex of the Himalayan ranges, with marked relief variation, snow capped summits, deeply dissected topography, antecedent drainage, complex geological structure and rich temperate flora and fauna. The state has a strong genetic relationship with the Himalayan complex, which exercises an important influence on its geographical personality.

4.         Conveniently called by the shorter term ‘Kashmir’ the State includes, besides the valley, the areas of Jammu, Ladakh, Baltistan, Gilgit, Hunza and Nagar. After truce was made on 1 January 1949 between India and Pakistan, a cease-fire line was marked. It starts from a few kilometers ahead of Manwar and passing close to Chhamb, Deva Batla, Naushera and Rajouri, leaves Poonch proper at a distance of 3 kilometers and reaches Uri from where it goes along the river Kishanganga towards North and reaches Tithwal. From Tithwal it leaves Trehgam in a by-pass and crosses Gurez and Gulkasba, from where it separates Skardu Tehsil from Ladakh. From Skardu it leaves the whole of Gilgit towards Pakistan side. At present, 83294 square kilometers area of the State is under Pakistan control and is commonly called Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) (Map No 1 & 2). It consists of Mirpur district, Bagh and Polondri, Gilgit, Hunza and Skardu tehsils of Ladakh. The area is administrated by POK government, based at Muzaffarabad and has its own President and Cabinet. POK, however, is governed and financed  by  the  Pakistan  Ministry of  Interior. The POK government officials may, and often do, attend the Civil  Service  Academy  of  Pakistan  

in  Lahore  and  other  Pakistani training centres.  The population of the area is around 23 to

25 lakhs, varying in density with the availability of arable land. It consists predominantly of

Kashmiri Muslims in the Southern POK and tribals in the Kagan, Indus, Gilgit and Hunza valleys. 

Baltistan is mainly peopled by an ethnic composite of Tibetan and Indo-Europeans. The Neelam

and Leepa valleys are inhabited by a mixed stock of Mongoloid, Baltis and Aryan Kashmiris.

In addition, there are a large number of nomadic Gujjars who keep large herds of sheep

and milk cattle.

5.         With its 7.71 crore inhabitants (excluding POK), Kashmir has the lowest density of population in India. Proximity of Afghanistan, Pakistan and China demand constant vigil and as such has made the state very important from the military and strategic point of view. It stands on the old Central Asian trade route and the Kashmir valley has, since ancient times, been the halting place of the caravans travelling between the plains of India and Central Asia. Chinese occupation of Tibet has facilitated positioning of Chinese forces closer to our borders. The improvement and construction of various roads, the most important being Sinkiang highway, enables easy maintenance of those forces and also fast build-up, if required. The Chinese foothold in Aksai Chin can act as a springboard for any venture in our territory and is a constant threat to India. Ladakh region, with its mountain barriers assumes an added importance. Though this region is a vast wasteland, it acts as a cushion to stop any invader from the north thus giving us secure frontiers and time to react. The Karakoram Highway opens a direct link between China and Pakistan. Military hardware, and forces can be moved from one side to another, if required. As such Gilgit and Hunza assume great importance.

6.         The State of Jammu & Kashmir is a composite mix of high mountain ranges, wide valleys, snow capped mountains with numerous glaciers in the North, thickly wooded forests interspersed with rivers, in the centre and flat, fertile plains with fruits towards the South. A mix of relief, the geography shall be described under the     following :-

            (a)        Mountain Ranges.

            (b)        Glaciers.

            (c)        Passes.

            (d)        Valleys.

            (e)        Rivers.

            (f)         Surface Communications.

            (g)        Demography.                                          

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