, I'm starting this thread. Thomas, please keep in mind that the Kashmir issue has nothing to do with the forming of Pakistan. Its history as far as the independence of the nations goes is as follows:

Kashmir was ruled by the Dogras, a Sikh family who had purchased the valley from the British for Rs. 200,000. So, it was one of fifty such "princely states" at 1947 when the sub-continent was handed back to the natives. The princely states wer autonomous bodies possibly completely surrounded by British India that had "puppet leaders" in place in most cases. By the Independence of India ACT of 1947, all princely states were asked to sign over themselves to either India or Pakistan or declare their sovereignity. All except thre signed over to either country. Two due to them exisiting in the midle of India got beseiged by Indian forces and captured. They were Hyderabad and Junagarh. The thrid state was Kashmir. In the case of Kashmir, it shared a border with both the Pakistani and the Indian states. The people were almost entirely Muslim and wanted to join Pakistan while the Sikh rulers had an affinity with the government of the newly formed Union of India. Therefore, going against the wishes of the poeple, the ruler signed the state over to India. As a result Muslim militants poured into the valley to secure it for their "Muslim brothers". Violent attacks reulted in all religious groups. The Indian army was sent into Kashmir and the Pakistani army placed at the borders and thus the war of 1948 was fought between the two countries which resulted in the breaking up of Kashmir between the two countries.

So that's the history of the nation. Now, as far as the nuclear threat goes, India tested its nuclear capacity back in 1998 or 99, I forget which. Pakistan responded in kind. Ths of course resulted in a stalemate on both sides as they did not want massive casualties.

Now, you tell how nuclear power was a direct cause to more deaths in Kashmir. Also, you might wanna remember that the increased death toll was a direct result of Kargil which was in no way a result of the nuclear tests but rather a result of the incursion of Indian territory by Pakistani personnel.

I don't know what else other than the nuclear stalemate would describe the peace talks the two countries have chosen after over fifty years of enmity.

[ 13 August 2004: Message edited by: Zahid Zaman ]