Kashmir
Solution
By Lalit Bagai
Denmark
The Kashmir issue is exhausting the energies
of the two South Asian countries - Pakistan and
India, One needs an innovative situation, which
would please all, including the Kashmiri Muslims.
One solution would be a united Kashmir state-
protected by the UN. Economically, the state could
face some problems, but those would be small considering
that the people of Kashmir would gain freedom.
Both Pakistan and India should be paid by the
international community as a sweetener, with some
money also on the sideline in Swiss banks for
those leaders who can make this possible.
Most Hindus have no emotional attachment to the
valley, especially those in the states of the
south and the east. But the people of Jammu and
Ladakh do want to stay in India.
Way back I advocated this solution in a memo to
the foreign ministry of India. Some of the people
thought it was not a bad idea, but that was all.
Unfortunately the leadership in both countries
is not strong or respected enough by their people.
This type of solution requires people of the stature
of the late General de Gaulle..
I hope nevertheless that a bold and innovative
solution could be found. Most of my family and
friends today would rather travel to Switzerland
or the Nordic countries than risk their lives
in Kashmir.
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