The State of Jammu and Kashmir was a part of the Mughal empire( minus Aksai Chin).  Later it was incorporated in the Sikh empire. After the defeat of the Sikhs in the Anglo -Sikh wars(1846-49), the state of Punjab was annexed by the East India company. The British seperated Jammu and Kashmir from Punjab and handed it over to Raja Gulab Singh as a reward for betraying the Sikhs. Thus Gulab Singh became maharajah of the state of J&K. He was a Hindu, but his subjects were predominantly Muslim.

Everything was going smoothly till 1947, when British power lapsed after midnight 15 August. The state of Jammu and Kashmir was given the choice , like other states to either join India or Pakistan. The maharajah had grandiose dreams of independence and decided to ask for more time to decide. He entered into a "standstill agreement" with both states to respect the status quo, till he could decide.  The maharajah thought he had bought time, but invadors from tribal areas of Pakistan aided by regular elements of Pak army invaded Kashmir.

The forces made swift progress. The maharajah's troops in Gilgit were massacred and the invaders were soon close to Srinager.  The Maharajah panicked and immediately acceded to India. The Indian army was inducted in the valley and a swift ferocious operation launched. The tribals were driven back and it was a matter of time before they were driven out completely.

This is the time when Pandit Jwaharlal Nehru committed some inexplicable blunders. Nobody has yet been able to give a rational explanation for all that happened. But many allude to a romantic association with Edwina Mountbatten, who prevailed on Nehru to take some irrational steps. Firstly, India approached the United Nations and the Security Council ordered a ceasefire. The Indian army which was well on its way to drive the invaders out of kashmir had to call a halt to its operations. In effect 1/3rd of Kashmir including areas like Gilgit and Baltistan were lost forever. By agreeing to a cease fire Nehru internationalised the problem and the UN posted observers on the Line of Control.

Nehru committed a second blunder, a monumental one.He promised that India would hold a plebiscite  in the state of Kashmir to ascertain the wishes of the people, under the aegis of the UN. He made this promise in the Indian parliament as well as in a public speech in Srinagar in the presence of Sheikh abdullah, the prime minister of Kashmir.

Nehru thus effectively tied the hands of his successors. his third blunder was in getting Article 370 passed in the Indian parliament, that granted special status to Kashmir. Kashmir was allowed to have a separate flag and a constitution. In addition all central laws could only be made applicable to Kashmir, if approved by the Kashmir assembly. No Indian from any other part of India could buy land or property or settle down in Kashmir. By this he insulated the people of Kashmir from the rest of india. Article 370 is now cited by foreign countries( mainly Muslim) that Kashmir is not an integral part of the Indian union.

Nehru died in 1964, but he left behind insurmountable problems. There is now a full fledged insurrection on in the valley aided by pakistan. The India army is operating 5 divisions in the valley and the moment these troops are recalled Kashmir will be lost.In addition due to pressure from Muslim countries, the army is not given a free hand in the valley.In the last conference of Muslim states, not a single Muslim country supported India..

The Kashmir issue is now considered disputed territory and Pakistan claims it. The people in the valley support Pakistan. One shudders to think what will happen if the Islamic State turn their attention to Kashmir, the fat will then be in the fire.. The blunders of the Congress and Nehru will haunt the Indian nation for long.. No solution is in sight.