Topic for GA

Topic A: Humanitarian Crisis in Kashmir

In 1947, both India and Pakistan formally declared war against another, mobilizing some 1,000,000 and 300,000 combat forces respectively. While the numbers of casualties are still unclear, approximately 1,500 soldiers lay dead on each side with 3,000 additional civilian casualties until the UN- mediated ceasefire in 1949.

Reenacting the military and humanitarian concerns during the first Indo-Pakistan War of 1947, the UNCIP Member States are called upon to devise ways to protect civilians in Jammu and Kashmir in amidst a virtual civil war within the region. Given the state of war, Member States would have to devise creative methods to provide protection from conflict, along with food, shelter, and medical supplies for the affected families. Issues that must be addressed include ensuring basic sanitary condi- tions and access to freshwater resources, especially for those who reside in the mountainous regions. A catalyst to the escalation in violence is the presence of militarized Islamic tribal groups that aim to overthrow Indian rule.

These tribal groups have stirred tensions and division among religious lines—Hindu versus Muslim— in a region where the two groups have mingled over hundreds of years. In some areas, villages and towns have formed around religious communi- ties, while in other areas, through years of resettlement and intermarriage, populations have integrated into a single com- munity. The ignited enmity among religious minority groups, have spurred fear of discrimination and violence. Suppressing militancy of these tribal groups that instill fear in civilians is a key to quelling the conflict and mitigating humanitarian viola- tions. The UNCIP has few options in dealing with the militancy of tribal groups—holding diplomatic talks with leaders of the tribal groups, exercising power to mobilize MOGIP to quell the tribal groups as a third party, or backing the operations of one country to stop the violence.

At the end of the day, India and Pakistan must come to an agreement on ceasefire in order to bring an end to the humanitar- ian crisis. Holding talks with the two opposing parties, as well as other international actors and regional leaders would help facilitate communication among the different interest groups that are fueling the conflict and hold the key to resolving the conflict. The MOGIP also has the authority to intervene in conflicts when necessary, thus it is up to the discretion of the committee to exercise its power to intervene if utmost necessary.

Topic B: Territorial Settlement in Kashmir

Drawing the territorial boundary for Kashmir has been the root cause of the conflict in the region. Apart from the ethnic division in Kashmir, the political motive that is driving both countries is geopolitical importance of the Kashmir region. The Jammu and Kashmir region has contiguous boundaries with China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Russia, rendering it a politi- cally, economically, and militarily strategic region. Furthermore, the endowment of physical resources in the region, such as lignite, a poorer quality of coal found in the Kashmir valley, limestone in all three states of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, iron ore and copper ore deposits, could be utilized to fuel growth of industrial power. Consequently, the accession of this region is deemed important to determining the relative strength and status of the new-born state.

Given strong national interests in the Kashmir region, how could India and Pakistan agree on a territorial boundary while re- specting the opinion of the residents of Kashmir? The UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan holds the author- ity to mobilize its troops to legitimize a territorial boundary that could eventually become permanent. Settling on which parts would be acceded to India or Pakistan, or even gain independence, would be the first step towards a viable solution.

The UNCIP would attempt to actually examine a map and draft a resolution that identifies the territorial boundaries. The Member States would have to take into consideration the population and politics of specific provinces, such as Udhampur, Jammu, and Kampur, the interests of India and Pakistan, and other surrounding neighbors to reach a consensus. In the real course of history, the UN drafted a resolution that ordered the Pakistani troops to withdraw and determine accession to In- dia or Pakistan based on a UN-monitored plebiscite. The success of the plebiscite is arguable as a permanent solution to the conflict as the issue persists till today. Whether self-determination is the most practical, morally, and politically sound solution will probably become the core of the debate for this topic.