Patriot Realm

• Following Partition in 1947, the state of Jammu and Kashmir faced the decision to join either India or Pakistan. The Hindu ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh, initially chose to remain independent. However, tribal militias from Pakistan invaded the region, prompting the Maharaja to seek military assistance from India. In exchange, he signed the Instrument of Accession, aligning Jammu and Kashmir with India.
• Indian and Pakistani forces clashed over control of the region. The United Nations intervened, leading to a ceasefire in 1948.
• The Line of Control (LoC) was established, dividing Kashmir into territories administered by India and Pakistan. The issue was left unresolved, with both nations claiming the region in full.

2. The Second Kashmir War (1965)

• Pakistan sought to exploit perceived discontent among Kashmir's Muslim population. It launched Operation Gibraltar, infiltrating forces into Indian-administered Kashmir to incite rebellion.
• The operation failed as locals did not rally to the cause, and India launched a counteroffensive. The conflict escalated into a full-scale war, with battles fought in Kashmir and other regions.
• The war ended with the Tashkent Agreement, brokered by the Soviet Union and the United States. Both sides returned to pre-war positions along the LoC, but the underlying dispute remained unresolved.

3. The Kargil War (1999)

• Following the signing of the Lahore Declaration in early 1999, which aimed to improve India-Pakistan relations, Pakistan's military launched a covert operation to infiltrate Indian territory in the Kargil sector.
• Pakistani forces, disguised as militants, occupied strategic heights in Indian-administered Kashmir. India launched a counteroffensive to reclaim the positions.
• The war ended with India regaining its territory, aided by international diplomatic pressure on Pakistan. The conflict highlighted the volatility of the region and the continuing threat of escalation.

Kashmir’s significance extends beyond its borders, influencing regional and global politics. While Afghanistan may not have direct strategic interests in Kashmir, any escalation of tensions with Pakistan could make things very, very interesting. 

Should this conflict accelerate, I have to wonder if this could be a flashpoint that might see 2025 become a very murky sea of political turmoil. 

The growing interest in India and the tolerance - dare I say favouritism being expressed where India is concerned, seems somehow rather, well, as my alter ego Shaydee would say, spooky. Could there be more going on behind the scenes? 

As India becomes an increasing global superpower, invested in the Space Race and boasting the 4th largest military force in the world, I must ask myself the question: Why India? Why now?  It was only 5 years ago that Prime Minister Modi of India greeted President Trump with great enthusiasm. 

India and Pakistan have been playing silly buggers over Kashmir since 1949. Kashmir is the geographical and political lifeline of Pakistan, flow of trade to China and water to Pakistan.

Without the military might of China, Pakistan would be easily overcome by the Indian military. An economic victory might be a better solution to a nuclear one and be more palatable to the global community.

When former cricketer Imran Khan became Leader of Pakistan, he led his nation to bankruptcy due to the massive indebtedness to China.  

Like the so many of the small Pacific Nations, Pakistan owes its soul to the company store, as the old song goes, and China stands like the drug dealer waving a cheque book full of drugs to desperately addicted Nations.  Money is their drug. 

India, which has such the 5^th largest reserves of coal in the world wants to import Australian coal. The issue is that many of their reserves are under land that is built on and secondly, that it would cost a fortune to install the infrastructure such as rail to transport the coal from the mines to where it is needed. It is simply cheaper to import.

China has a slightly higher population than India - both Nations coming in at around 1.3 billion people. Surely a relationship with India would be better for Australia than that we currently have with China? We are both Commonwealth Nations, both speak English and both are Democracies.

In terms of Military might, one should not forget that India has the 4^th most powerful military in the world, coming in under USA, Russia and China.

An alliance between India and USA would be highly advantageous on so many levels – trade, militarily and geographically. In fact, India could replace China in terms of importation of manufactured goods to America… and to Australia.

Meanwhile, in waters closer to Australia, China has been flexing its muscles in the South China Sea and busily building “ atolls”  – and claiming ownership of them.  On September 2^nd of 2019, the first ASEAN-US Maritime Exercise (AUMX) between the regional bloc and America lasted for five days. The hotly disputed area around the Spratly Islands challenged the central area which is International Waters and open for the passage of ships to and from the area. With China building airfields, troop accommodation, ports and other infrastructure on these man made atolls, they are claiming ownership of this area – which also has VAST oil and natural gas reserves. 

Since then, things have changed dramatically. China now has control of the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Tonga. And others. 

So this brings me back to Australia. A country that is in the middle of a region that is being bought by China and it is in itself in danger of passing the point of no return when it comes to that drug dealers metaphoric cheque book.

With our Universities catering to the needs of Chinese students; our reliance on Chinese trade; our leasing and sale of our agricultural land and strategic infrastructure to China is alarming. Now? We are prioritorising Indian students.  Tell me that is not a coincidence ..... and that something is not going on. 

Australia is the Pacific ally that Trump wants to keep on side. But if AUSTRALIA FALLS. THE PACIFIC FALLS.

Is it possible that India and America, Australia hatched something half a decade ago? 

And maybe, just maybe, we all have no idea what is really happening behind the scenes. And it could all do with a place thousands of miles away that suggests that India will support us if we support them and take back control of Kashmir. A corridor, like the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal. The Land Bridge to counteract the Belt and Road of China. 

But that may have to be another article..... 

Of course I could be completely wrong. But as Shaydee would say, how spooky is that?