Indo-Pak - Articles

The Anglo-American Block has started showing renewed interest in the solution of the Kashmir dispute. Robert Blake, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Central and South Asian Affairs, revealed to the media that there already exists a “Blue Print” for the solution of the Kashmir dispute. According to him this “Blue Print” had been discussed and an agreement was reached between the contending parties but it still had to be endorsed. However, he did not disclose the exact details of the “Blue Print.” According to him Kashmir figures prominently in every discussion. He rejected the often quoted premise that it is impossible for India and Pakistan to make progress. He stated that both countries had made significant progress towards resolving the issue during the period of 2004 to 2007.

Most probably, Robert Blake was referring to General Musharraf’s four-point formula. The formula itself may have originated in the west?  In fact, the famous journalist Kuldip Nayar also mentioned the “Blue Print” in an article in The Tribune in November 2004, after a meeting with General Musharraf. The Western Powers especially the Anglo-American Block have been preparing “Blue Prints” for the Kashmir solution right from 1948. Based on some documents de-classified after 60 years, Rakesh Ankit published a research paper last year, “The Cold War and its Impact on the Evolution of the Kashmir Crisis, 1947-48” in the Journal of the Oxford University History Society. According to him, ‘Power Politics’ made a large contribution to the evolution of the Kashmir crisis. He states that while the dispute emerged for local, regional and religious reasons; its evolution and eventual ‘internationalization’ bears the stamp of concerns which had nothing to do with the individuality of the crisis and the merits of the cases of the two protagonists. He concludes that once the crisis erupted it was manipulated by the British-led Western Block, as far as possible, in the pursuit of its own vital interests stretching from the Middle East to Central Asia to the Far East. These vital interests are categorized by him as defensive, strategic and geo-political (aimed at the former Communist USSR) and ideological or religious (aimed at the Islamic Middle East). In fact, Rakesh has quoted an extract from Bevin’s letter to Marshall which states, “Kashmir was on the Soviet frontier. Russia might well intervene as she had in Greece and China, playing on the tribes and on communal feeling. Whoever controlled the valley of Kashmir controlled the strategic and commercial communications between India, Pakistan and Central Asia.”

The main western interest was the access to Central Asia and containment of Communist Russia. A number of American and British strategists opined that Pakistan would be more useful to them than India as they could manipulate its rulers easily. In fact, it was decided in a meeting held in Paris between Bevin and Marshall that the Anglo-American interests would best be served by keeping the Kashmir corridor passing through Gilgit with Pakistan as India could create problems. The ceasefire and the extent of areas under each country were also decided by Western powers as both armies at that time were controlled by the British Officers. The American and British strategists advised their respective Governments that Pakistan would be a better choice for them to back. They were also apprehensive that India would wipe out Pakistan unless the West came to its assistance in a big way.

The global strategic priorities have changed now. Russia is no longer a threat it used to be for the West. However, new centres of power and alliances have developed which have made the famous Kashmir corridor more important now, such as the emergence of China as a super power and an economic giant. The break up of the Soviet Union and the emergence of a number of independent Central Asian countries with extensive energy resources have made the Anglo-American block shift their focus towards this area. This has prompted them to design newer “Blue Prints” to safeguard their primary interests. Their aim now is to contain China and have a grip over Central Asian energy. One fails to understand why we always look toward the West to give us a “nudge” in settling our disputes? The best initiative is for the inhabitants of the sub-continent, the Indians, Pakistanis, and the Kashmiris to work out a “Blue Print” which can bring peace to the area. It is a pity that in spite of our past experience we continue to look westward for a solution. Unless we sincerely realize this and take our own initiative, we will put future generations in perpetual bondage of the West.