United Nations in Kashmir
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The United Nations has played an important role in maintaining peace and order in Jammu and Kashmir since the transfer of Power to India and independence to Pakistan in 1947. Immediately after the freedom a dispute erupted between India and the successor nation-state of Pakistan on the question of the very basis of accession of Jammu and Kashmir by the tyranny ruler. New Delhi took this matter to the United Nation and the Security Council passed resolution 39(1948) and established the United Nations Commission on India and Pakistan (UNCIP) to investigate and mediate the issue.
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[edit] The democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite
The Security Council of United Nations on the complaint of Government of India concerning the dispute over the State of Jammu and Kashmir passed resolution 47(1948), “that both India and Pakistan desire that the question of the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India or Pakistan should be decided through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite”
It recommended to the Governments of India and Pakistan to restore peace and order in Jammu and Kashmir and provide full freedom to all subjects of the state, to vote on the question of accession.
Furthermore, it recommended to the Government of India to establish Plebiscite Administration to hold fair and impartial plebiscite as soon as possible, a nominee of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to be appointed as the Plebiscite Administrator, release all political prisoners, invite the major political groups to share the administration at the ministerial level while the plebiscite is being prepared and carried out.
[edit] United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan
The Security Council passed another resolution 47(1948) to enlarge the membership of the UNCIP and its role to observe ceasefire. India and Pakistan signed Karachi Agreement in March 1951 and established a ceasefire line to be supervised by observers. After the termination of UNICP, the Security Council passed another resolution 91(1951) and established United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to observe and report violations of ceasefire.
A war broke out between India and Pakistan in 1971 and the two countries signed another agreement in 1972 to define the Line of Control in Kashmir. India and Pakistan disagree on UNMOGIP’s mandate in Kashmir because India argued that the mandate of UNMOGIP has lapsed because it was specifically established to observe ceasefire according to Karachi Agreement.
However, The Secretary General of the United Nations maintained that the UNMOGIP should continue to function because no resolution has been passed to terminate it. India has restricted the activities of the UNMOGIP in its territory. However, Pakistan has continued to cooperate with UNMOGIP.
[edit] References
- UN Security Council Resolution 39 and 47
- United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan
- BBC Timeline on Kashmir conflict
