Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The state of Jammu and Kashmir (often called simply Kashmir), located in the highlands between India and Pakistan, was claimed by both nations when they became independent of Great Britain in 1947. A 1947–1948 war left Kashmir divided along a so-called Line of Control between India and Pakistan—a division that remains to this day. In the following viewpoint, the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents its version of Kashmir’s history since 1947. It argues that the people of Kashmir (the majority of whom are Muslim) wanted to join Pakistan in 1947, but were prevented from doing so by the Indian government. India prevented a vote by Kashmir’s people, called for by the United Nations, from ever taking place. The Pakistan ministry asserts that after...