ABSTRACT
Kashmir had for ages been seen and accepted as a part of the broad Indian frame. A shared language, a shared history, shared customs, shared food, dress and art, music and culture – these are all essentials of what constitutes nationhood. Could Kashmir be different just because at some time in its history people had converted or were forced to convert their faith. Pakistan’s case in its most basic form has rested thus on the ground that a Hindu ruler did not enjoy the right to decide the future of his Muslim subjects. From this followed the view that the Maharaja did not have the right to sign the Instrument of Accession and merge his state with India. This claim has obviously also rested on the understanding that all Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir if given a choice would have chosen to merge with Pakistan and that if they were not able to do so it was only because India was not allowing this to happen.
