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Kashmir: The Unwritten History
A radical new look at the largely forgotten four million people of Azad Kashmir the part of Kashmir occupied by Pakistan, and separated by a Line of Control from Indian territory
In Kashmir: The Unwritten History, politico-strategic analyst Christopher Snedden contends that in October 1947, pro- Pakistan Muslims in southwestern J&K instigated the Kashmir dispute not Pashtun tribesmen invading from Pakistan, as India has consistently claimed. Later called Azad Kashmiris, these people, Snedden argues, are legitimate stakeholders in an unresolved dispute. He provides comprehensive new information that critically examines Azad Kashmirs administration, economy, political system and its subordinate relationship with Pakistan. Azad Kashmiris considered their administration to be the only legitimate government in J&K and expected that it would rule after J&K was re-unified by a UNsupervised plebiscite. This poll has never been conducted and Azad Kashmir has effectively, if not yet legally, become a (dependent) part of Pakistan.
Long disenchanted with Islamabad, some Azad Kashmiris now favour independence for J&K, hoping that they may survive and prosper without recourse to either of their bigger neighbours. Snedden concludes by assessing the various proposals that have been mooted to resolve Azad Kashmirs international status and the broader Kashmir dispute.
About the Author
Christopher Snedden is an Australian politico-strategic analyst, author, and academic specializing in South Asia. His consultancy, Asia Calling, works with governments, businesses and universities. He frequently visits Jammu and Kashmir to conduct research, and has interviewed many elder statesmen involved in the Kashmir dispute.
In Kashmir: The Unwritten History, politico-strategic analyst Christopher Snedden contends that in October 1947, pro- Pakistan Muslims in southwestern J&K instigated the Kashmir dispute not Pashtun tribesmen invading from Pakistan, as India has consistently claimed. Later called Azad Kashmiris, these people, Snedden argues, are legitimate stakeholders in an unresolved dispute. He provides comprehensive new information that critically examines Azad Kashmirs administration, economy, political system and its subordinate relationship with Pakistan. Azad Kashmiris considered their administration to be the only legitimate government in J&K and expected that it would rule after J&K was re-unified by a UNsupervised plebiscite. This poll has never been conducted and Azad Kashmir has effectively, if not yet legally, become a (dependent) part of Pakistan.
Long disenchanted with Islamabad, some Azad Kashmiris now favour independence for J&K, hoping that they may survive and prosper without recourse to either of their bigger neighbours. Snedden concludes by assessing the various proposals that have been mooted to resolve Azad Kashmirs international status and the broader Kashmir dispute.
About the Author
Christopher Snedden is an Australian politico-strategic analyst, author, and academic specializing in South Asia. His consultancy, Asia Calling, works with governments, businesses and universities. He frequently visits Jammu and Kashmir to conduct research, and has interviewed many elder statesmen involved in the Kashmir dispute.
460 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2013
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484 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Snedden
6 books13 followersDr Christopher Snedden is a politico-strategic analyst specialising in South Asia. Currently, he works as a consultant in his own consultancy (ASIA CALLING), which specialises in providing information about South Asia, and for Deakin University as the Director of the Master of Arts (Strategic Studies) program offered by the university at the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies, Canberra.
Dr Snedden also teaches a postgraduate unit, 'Strategic Issues in South Asia', for Deakin and an undergraduate history unit, 'Modern India', at the University of New South Wales, Sydney. He has a Bachelor of Arts (Russian and Politics) and a PhD from La Trobe University, Melbourne, and has worked on South Asian matters for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Joint (now Defence) Intelligence Organisation. His research interests include India-Pakistan relations, Pakistan politics, and Jammu and Kashmir, particularly Azad Kashmir.
Courtsey : http://www.aii.unimelb.edu.au/christo...
Dr Snedden also teaches a postgraduate unit, 'Strategic Issues in South Asia', for Deakin and an undergraduate history unit, 'Modern India', at the University of New South Wales, Sydney. He has a Bachelor of Arts (Russian and Politics) and a PhD from La Trobe University, Melbourne, and has worked on South Asian matters for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Joint (now Defence) Intelligence Organisation. His research interests include India-Pakistan relations, Pakistan politics, and Jammu and Kashmir, particularly Azad Kashmir.
Courtsey : http://www.aii.unimelb.edu.au/christo...
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 19, 2015
I have for long been wanting to read this book, since Kashmir issue has intrigued me.
While many divisive problems around the world have either been resolved or are slowly inching towards a solution, this has defied one. Every time someone makes an attempt, ironically, it only seems to get worse.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is not sure of what the Kashmir problem is all about, especially its genesis.
The author, an Australian politico-socio researcher, provides an alternative history of the region.
For example, what is popularly known in India and Pakistan is that it's the raid of Kashmir by Pashtoon tribesmen from Pakistan, immediately after Independence, that forced the Maharaja to join India. But Snedden, with extensive documentation, says there was already widespread discontent in Poonch and Mirpur against the Maharaja.
He also talks about the communal polarisation in areas like Jammu and Poonch.
Besides the anti-British struggle for India's Independence, there was a parallel anti-Maharaja agitation for Kashmir's independence spurred by the sense of Kashmiriyat (Kashmiri pride).
Add to these, the creation of Azad Kashmir.
Given these and many other complex ground realities across the province (a lot of them, not widely known, which the author elucidates very clearly and elaborately), the decision for the Hindu ruler of the Muslim-majority province (to join India or Pakistan) wasn't an easy one. He dithered and dithered; until he had to take a decision, to join India, in October 1947.
This book probably has the most number of appendixes: the entire second half of the book.
While many divisive problems around the world have either been resolved or are slowly inching towards a solution, this has defied one. Every time someone makes an attempt, ironically, it only seems to get worse.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is not sure of what the Kashmir problem is all about, especially its genesis.
The author, an Australian politico-socio researcher, provides an alternative history of the region.
For example, what is popularly known in India and Pakistan is that it's the raid of Kashmir by Pashtoon tribesmen from Pakistan, immediately after Independence, that forced the Maharaja to join India. But Snedden, with extensive documentation, says there was already widespread discontent in Poonch and Mirpur against the Maharaja.
He also talks about the communal polarisation in areas like Jammu and Poonch.
Besides the anti-British struggle for India's Independence, there was a parallel anti-Maharaja agitation for Kashmir's independence spurred by the sense of Kashmiriyat (Kashmiri pride).
Add to these, the creation of Azad Kashmir.
Given these and many other complex ground realities across the province (a lot of them, not widely known, which the author elucidates very clearly and elaborately), the decision for the Hindu ruler of the Muslim-majority province (to join India or Pakistan) wasn't an easy one. He dithered and dithered; until he had to take a decision, to join India, in October 1947.
This book probably has the most number of appendixes: the entire second half of the book.
February 17, 2017
An important contribution to Kashmir Studies. While most works have focused on Indian-occupied Kashmir, this book brings perspective on Azad Kashmir. It begins with the pre-1947 period and argues that it was not the Pashtun tribesmen from Pakistan that instigated the Kashmir dispute, but rather Muslims from the Jammu province who led an uprising against the Dogra rulers. Many of them were subsequently massacred or displaced. Those who left created a state of "Azad Kashmir" in the are of Western Jammu. This later became part of Pakistan.
Snedden goes into the political history of Azad Kashmir and it's relationship with Pakistan.
Snedden goes into the political history of Azad Kashmir and it's relationship with Pakistan.
August 31, 2013
A very well researched book that provides interesting insights into what is happening in Pak Occupied Kashmir (POK). The author even suggests a way forward to resolve the Kashmir impasse. One could disagree with some of the analyses and conclusions about the events in 1947 but thereafter the book is replete with facts, facts and facts.
August 14, 2017
Snedden is an excellent researcher but his extremely pro pakistan approach hampers the objectivity of the work.
August 1, 2021
The author has extensively dwelled into the issues of Azad Kashmir and her relations with Pakistan. Indeed the complex history has its own biasness of narrations. The book has only marginally discussed the role.of people of Azad kashmir is supporting armed militancy in Kashmir sice 1989 and has just put the onus on Pakistan.
The extensive theory that Azad Kashmir part had already declared independence before the instrument of accession was signed by Maharaja Hari Singh is the central point of the book but however it fails to examine if Poonch Jagir got the separation then why vast Muslim majority areas of Rajouri and Poonch of Indian side J&K didn't revolt when Indian army came on 26th Oct 1947 and LOC was established.
Nevertheless the observation regarding the internal politics of Pakistan has deeply influenced politics of Azad Kashmir and it was never vice versa which shows many stakeholders have been there in this Kashmir story.
The extensive theory that Azad Kashmir part had already declared independence before the instrument of accession was signed by Maharaja Hari Singh is the central point of the book but however it fails to examine if Poonch Jagir got the separation then why vast Muslim majority areas of Rajouri and Poonch of Indian side J&K didn't revolt when Indian army came on 26th Oct 1947 and LOC was established.
Nevertheless the observation regarding the internal politics of Pakistan has deeply influenced politics of Azad Kashmir and it was never vice versa which shows many stakeholders have been there in this Kashmir story.
July 6, 2022
Picked this up to get some context to the biggest political issue in India, about which I knew nearly nothing. Part 1 and conclusion were informative, while part 2 was extremely drab with too much detail about each and every event in their political history. Not a very well structured book with lots of repetition of the same pieces. Browse through but skip part2.
December 6, 2025
Snedden does a superb job in deconstructing the prevailing narrative and spotlights the uprising in Kashmir prior to the involvement of both India and Pakistan. Furthermore, it is a good starting point for the political history of Azad Kashmir. Lots of great primary sources.
June 21, 2018
good one
May 29, 2014
A stupendous work of research. A scholarly work. A book written about a region - Azad Kashmir or call it the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir -- for which very limited material / information is available. The author has painstakingly researched the materials, notes, interviews, statistics available for the region and has compiled this book. The book has two parts...The first dealing with the accession issue of J&K with India / Pakistan and the monarch rule of Hari Singh AND the second part dealing with the state of politics, economics, demographics, finance, etc. of Azad Kashmir region. The book ends with a superbly written conclusion which alone could be a guide for politicians on both sides India & Pakistan. Although some stands & opinions given in the book would not be acceptable to an Indian or a Pakistani, but have to say its a pretty much fair assessment of the region's conflict. Also, its not a book giving opinions or solutions, but its more written in an encyclopedia style...which sometimes can bore a reader looking for a crisper narrative. Also the text is 227 pages long and another 200 pages are occupied by notes / materials / publication extracts. All in all a very good book and kudos to the author for going to such an extent for researching a region which on the world map is a very neglected one.
February 15, 2016
2.5/5 This book is like an encyclopedia of Azad Kashmir. But that is also its shortcoming when it comes to readability. Also, it is very repetitive and i skimmed thru the 2nd half dealing with 'Azad' Kashmir.
The first half tells about the story of the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan.
There are a few stunning points that it raises - the Poonch uprising in 1947 and then again in 1955, the communal riots in Jammu in 1947 or the fact that so-called 'Azad (independent)' Kashmiri politicians had to swear alleigance to the cause of accession to Pak.
The book is largely fair but one thing struck me as an Indian - After using 'may' in almost every sentence earlier wrt India, the author says "it is beyond the scope of this book to say whether Pak sent Pakhtoon tribal invaders or not". Strange !
The first half tells about the story of the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan.
There are a few stunning points that it raises - the Poonch uprising in 1947 and then again in 1955, the communal riots in Jammu in 1947 or the fact that so-called 'Azad (independent)' Kashmiri politicians had to swear alleigance to the cause of accession to Pak.
The book is largely fair but one thing struck me as an Indian - After using 'may' in almost every sentence earlier wrt India, the author says "it is beyond the scope of this book to say whether Pak sent Pakhtoon tribal invaders or not". Strange !
July 13, 2013
A solid perspective and enormous dearth of information. But very, very dry. A handful of useful information for students of public policy. The index of governmental agencies took more room than it deserved.
August 2, 2015
Nice book to know about actual problem in Kashmir, which is mixture of people,economical, geographical and politics. After reading this book my view about kashmir problem completely changed. Every body must read book.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews