Kashmir-Blueprint for Peace
Kashmir is a beautifully placed at cross-roads of Civilization with influences of Buddhist, Hinduism, Chinese/Tibetan and Islamic cultural. Yet today, out of a billion Indians. I humbly, propose and offer - a new blueprint and vision for prosperity and peace of Kashmir.
Geographically, Kashmir is located between latitudes 32°17′ N and 37°05′ N and longitudes 72°31′ E and 80°20′ E in Central Asia. It’s a rich source of rivers, Indus, Jhelum, Chenab filled with beautiful mountains, valleys and lakes, where you’d find yourself in awe. Indus River is cradle of ancient Indus civilization, providing water for wheat farming, cotton and sugarcane. These three rivers are central to Indus Waters Treaty (1960), between India and Pakistan sharing water resources.
1. Why Kashmir’s resources is relevant to modern life?
Kashmir is rich with natural resources — filled with sapphire, graphite, gypsum, marbles. All these are highly valuable, as sapphire is known for hardness, clarity used in Luxurious Rolex watches. Beyond watches, sapphire finds itself for use in industrial high end precision tools used in endoscopy, laser surgical tool, optical sensors, aerospace’s high-precision gyroscopes.
Graphite is a major component for lithium-ion batteries powering smartphones to electric vehicles. It forms essential component of traditional pencils — German-Faber-Castell & India’s Nataraja pencils. Gypsum is indispensable in construction industry, forming basis of drywall (sheetrock) and plaster. Marble, prized for beauty and strength is used for flooring, countertops, monuments, and statues. Kashmir stands as India’s leading apple-producing region, providing horticulture jobs to millions.
2. Which powers ruled Kashmir from 1586-1846?
The Mughal Empire, Akbar captured Kashmir in 1586. Known primarily for cool climate, charming gardens and stunning natural beauty filled with vibrant flowers. Kashmir flourished culturally with exquisite royal garden Shalimar Bagh (abode of love), as notable highlight. Kashmir was under Mughals from 1586 - 1752 (170 years).
Mughal rule came to end by Ahmad Shah Durrani, who was part of Afghani Durani empire in 1752. This period of Kashmir, was marked by most of the revenues going to Afghanistan from Kashmir, with little room for local Kashmir development.
In 1819, Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Sikh Empire, conquered Kashmir after defeating Afghans, bringing Kashmir region under Sikh control. Despite changes in political rule, economic conditions of Kashmir remained harsh for Kashmir region, with higher taxes until 1832 famine. Sikhs offered interest free loans to farmers, and Kashmir contributed higher revenues to Sikh empire. During this time, Cashmere wool and Kashmiri shawls became Internationally famous, known for intricate design and artistic craftsmanship.
3. How did the Dogras enter Kashmir’s History?
The British who were in India, expanding politically defeating the Sikhs in Anglo-Sikh wars due to highly disciplined and equipped army. English East India Company gained control of Kashmir as part of war indemnity. English sold Kashmir to Raja Gulab Singh, through Treaty of Amritsar (March 16, 1846) at a sale price of approximately $50-$70 million in 2025 for helping them.
Kashmir came under the rule of the Hindu Dogra dynasty. Raja Gulab Singh was from Dogra clan from Rajput caste. The term Rajput, means, son of King, also popularly referred as Thakur in North India.
Kashmir continued to endure economic hardships under Dogra Kingdom. The local muslim population faced higher taxes and muslim peasants became landless laborers, with no opportunity to become part of civil, military, administrative jobs.
Raja Gulab Singh (1846–1857 ), expanded territory of Jammu & Kashmir annexing Gilgit (now under Pakistan’s control), Ladakh, Baltistan, parts of Western Tibet. His son and grand-son, Ranbir Singh (1857–1885), Hari Singh (1925–1947), followed similar economic, social policies, with not much opportunities for jobs for local muslims.
4. What lead towards border dispute between India & Pakistan?
As the era of British Raj was looming to an end (1858–1947), Maharaja Hari Singh initially wanted to remain independent, rather join newly formed Pakistan or India. He was given a choice to join Pakistan, India or remain independent.
Hari Singh faced crisis, when tribal militias entered from Pakistan invaded Kashmir in October 1947, trying to capture Srinagar. Facing this crisis, Hari Singh appealed to India for military help. Hari Singh signed instrument of accession, formally joining Jammu & Kashmir to India. Jammu and Kashmir came under India’s purview.
This crisis sparked First Indo-Pakistani War, with India controlling about two-thirds, and Pakistan held one-third of Jammu & Kashmir land. Pakistan now controls Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK)….
5. How China entered Kashmir?
Initially, Kashmir’s territorial dispute was between India and Pakistan. To north-east of Kashmir lies, Aksai Chin, remote, uninhabited land. In 1950s, China built a military road in Aksai Chin (now known as G219) to connect Xinjiang and Tibet. A development, which was not discovered by India until 1961.
In 1962, this became a source of tension, culminating in India-China war, with India’s poor defeat, China consolidated Aksai Chin. This marked entry of China into Kashmir’s history, with the road being source of tension between India-China. In 1963, Pakistan ceded parts of northern kashmir (Trans-Karakoram Tract) to China as part of The Shaksgam Valley Agreement.
6. What is shaping modern Kashmir from 1980s-2025?
Discontent with situation in Kashmir, many unrest and protests took place in Kashmir in subsequent decades. In 1980s, Kashmir saw rise of Insurgency and lack of economic opportunities.
This lead to mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandit (Hindu), with approximately 170,000+ leaving Kashmir. Many of them settling in Indian state of Gujarat and Maharashtra. In 1999, Kargil war was brief conflict between India and Pakistan. In 2000s, India-Pakistan continued several attempts to resolve, ending in stale-mate. In 2019 — Indian government revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special autonomous status (Article 370), allowing Indians from other states to buy property and lifting residency restrictions. Jammu and Kashmir came under direct central government control.
To summarize, Kashmiri families have long been neglected, with lack of economic opportunities and persistent insecurity.
7. Why have attempts for peace failed so far?
To bring peace and economic-prosperity to Kashmir, numerous attempts have been tried, except attempts from broader educated Pakistanis, Indians and including myself.
a. UN Plebiscite and International Mediation:
Multiple United Nations missions for peace failed (Graham, McNaughton, Dixon Plan) as both sides distrusted each other, rejecting proposals. The United Nations called for Plebiscite (vote for Kashmiris to self-determine) in 1948-50s. This was rejected by India and Pakistan could not agree on terms.
India, viewed itself as legal sovereign of Kashmir as Hari Singh signed instrument of accession. Third—party mediation proposed by US, UK to send peacekeeping forces, was rejected by India, as India views it as an internal matter, and opposes outside intervention.
b. Exclusion of local Kashmirs:
What’s most disheartening is both sides distrust each other, negotiations, dialogue is between elites, government officials with ordinary Kashmiris excluded from negotiations. This exclusion is akin to having outsiders decide, without strong political voice, representation from local Kashmiris, undermining peace-talks and legitimacy, effectiveness of prosperity, peace in Kashmir.
c. Independence or Joint Sovereignty claims:
Neither India nor Pakistan supports independence, as both claim the territory in full, which leaves little room for comprise. Domestic politics and nationalism fuels this, leaving no political room for leaders in Pakistan and India to appear flexible in Kashmir.
d. How Culture is stumbling block for Kashmir?
Especially in Honor-Shame cultures of Pakistan-India, conforming to group is essential, it is of high importance to appear strong, vulnerability or flexible is a sign of weakness, not source of Strength.
In honor-shame culture, the primary concern is maintain honor/face at all costs, which is a nation or family, compromise is sign of weakness, leaders might scape-goat, rather than responsibility to avoid shame on them.
In Guilt-Law culture of the West, behavior is governed by rules and laws. Negotiations are focused on fairness, compromise is necessary and part of resolving, showing vulnerability creates trust on the Leaders, rather than weakness. Compromise and Flexibility are seen as responsible, lawful and honorable ways to resolve, progress conflicts….
8. How can Kashmir break free from cycling conflict?
Moving Forward: Practical Steps towards Kashmir’s prosperity
While Indians, Pakistanis might believe religion as major hurdle towards prosperity, I see this as superficial. History shows us otherwise, where completely different worldviews can work together putting shared goals and interests together, such as President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s partnership with Ibn-Saud.
History demonstrates that creative solutions are possible, as seen when Japan suffered profound loss of face, shame and humiliation, defeat by Fat Man and Little Boy signing the San Francisco Peace Treaty after World War II, reconciling with U.S
The real barrier is political will among leaders of India, China and Pakistan. As well as insufficient civic, community engagement of educated Indians, Pakistanis and lack of desire and steps for broader peace, security, economic prosperity for meaningful Kashmiris progress.
Admittedly, territorial are incredibly hard to resolve, as land, resources are tied to national identity and pride. Honor-shame dynamic adds more fuel to this dynamic, which portrays comprise as sign of weakness, prioritization reputation/face, discouraging heartfelt apology as weakness. A Leader who admits weakness will be ridiculed in honor-shame culture, thus recent speech by Pakistani Military leader, who acts in accordance to the cultural norms.
9. What is this New Blueprint for Kashmir’s Peace and Prosperity?
A Call for Kashmir’s Cooperative Council:
This is a path, put forward for Kashmiri families prosperity and peacefulness. A Three layered path towards prosperity and peace.
Part (A):
Goal: Increase trust, through nominating, local voice and representation for ownership (Pakistanis, Indians, Chinese, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Christian, Non-Religious)
Part-(B):
Goal: Consider increasing agriculture, tourism in Kashmir for economic prosperity, Create more security, tax-incentives, trade-centers for allowing businesses to open/close in the region.
Persuading leaders to make this tourist hub, which will allow Kashmir to receive prosperity through tourism, this will increase local economy by four-six folds.
Part-(C):
Goal: Create Grievance, Security commissions, financial incentives with members from Pakistan, India, China and local Kashmirs to help resolve issue
- Put forward common benefits for people of Jammu, Kashmir
- Focus on benefits as shared trade, tourism, water resources
- Establish a committee for sharing grievances of people in Kashmir
- Allow Jammu & Kashmiri families to feel safe, secure and prosperity
- Greater People-People movement across borders
- Ask for Peace-keeping force if stalemate arrives for enforcing security
Incentivize for shared revenues, profits, resources, from this Cooperative Council
Create a strategic economic, trade, financial treaty and agreement between local leaders, Pakistani, Indian and Chinese leaders for creating, “Kashmir Peace Treaty” modeling after Post-War Japan’s San Fransisco Treaty, Post-War Rwanda’s path towards peace.
Thus, As a Tamil, an Indian, earnest student of history, out of urgency and humility have put forward, an actionable path for Kashmir focused towards tangible steps achieving peace, prosperity breaking from current stalemate, blame-game, politics.