Karan where is the 2010 data? I would be interested to see if violence in Kashmir during 2010 has further diminished or whether it is now on the upswing.
I would explain the reduction in violence in Kashmir in recent years to Pakistan's numerous efforts for reconciliation and peace with India. There are many groups in Kashmir which look to Pakistan for moral support and when there is potential for peace, Pakistan has used its diplomatic influence to persuade these groups to a moratorium in the hope of getting to a positive outcome. You have heard numerous statements from Kashmiri leaders concerning their views re India and Pakistan with reference to the latest crisis. To pretend that a situation which is plain as day simply does not exist is simply giving in to the urge to be disingenuous.
All Pakistan's overtures, most notably Musharraf's almost-cemented agreement, have been undermined by right-wingers in India. We are being led to believe that India does not want peace. It simply wants to lay claim to what is not its territory and run off, as I said previously, with a nuclear bomb tucked under its armpit. Forget Pakistan and India's stance - just look at the preponderance of statements, resolutions etc. in support of the recognition of Kashmir as an *international* dispute. When you say Kashmir is an "internal" issue, you lose all credibility.
As for the context within which a resolution can materialize, it is important to first accept that neither the Kashmiri people nor the people of Pakistan will be cowered or threatened. This is the fundamental issue India has had with Pakistan, in fact... that it expects Pakistan to accept India's hegemony over the region. That will never happen. Pakistan might be smaller than India, but as we all know, faced with an existential threat or a threat to its territory, it has more than enough potential (all rhetoric aside) to undo India completely, even if that results in the undoing of the sub continent.
As for Sukhoi's snide reference to Pakistan "losing its territory", you are welcome to bring up the creation of Bangladesh. And I will simply ask you whether you think the goals Indira Gandhi had for East Bengal have come to pass. Was Bangladesh reunited with India? Has it become a serf-state to India? Has it resolved all disputes with India? Has it lost its muslim identity? Does it now have a greater percentage of muslims in its population than it did in 1947? Let's ask some of the Bangladeshi members here to comment. Perhaps they can tell you what they think of India and its policies. With a calm mind, if you look at the net result of the '71 war, you will see that it was no victory for India. In any sense of the word. I am not the only one saying it. Numerous Indian analysts and strategists have opined similarly. But let's leave that aside for another day when we are discussing '71. I am simply responding to the little off-topic barb Sukhoi chose to throw in there...
Finally, let me tell you. Indians and Pakistani participants on this forum are NOT going to see eye to eye on Kashmir. For the love of God, it is a nuclear flashpoint as accepted by all the world's major powers and all the relevant, credible fora. Which "domestic" or "internal" issue is so potentially explosive?
So you can tow the official GoI line but know that while you do so, your own government repeatedly makes statements agreeing to discuss all issues, including Kashmir. Have you agreed to discuss any other "internal" issues with us? Or China? Or any other neighbour? If Kashmir is so "internal" why is your own government, and your own foreign office, on record for discussing a resolution with Pakistan?
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