Kashmir

Kashmir Northernmost region of the Indian Subcontinent Includes the Indian-administered territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Pakistani-administered territories of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan

Kashmir When the region was divided in 1947 it was split between Pakistan, India and China India controls approximately 55% of the land area of the region and 70% of its population, Pakistan controls approximately 30% of the land, while China controls the remaining 15%

Kashmir The region had a majority Muslim population but in the division Pakistan was given underpopulated and underdeveloped lands India was given the most populous and developed lands of Jammu and the Kashmir Valley

Indian View The last ruling Maharajah of Jammu signed the land over to India in the Instrument of Accession in 1947 India uses this as the basis of their claim to the territory

Pakistani View Pakistan's claims to the disputed region are based on the rejection of Indian claims to Kashmir and the Instrument of Accession They claim the Maharajah was a tyrant who did not represent the interests of his people in signing over the land They also cite the Two Nation Theory that would have made Kashmir part of Pakistan based on the Muslim majority

Kashmiri View The Kashmiri people have expressed a wish to gain independence They argue that their rule by India is conditional and provisional based on the wishes of the people They allege that elections in Kashmir have not been fair and India has ruled with military might