Kashmir disputed territory: USA

WASHINGTON, Dec 23 (PTI) — The USA has said it considers Kashmir to be disputed territory despite New Delhi's assertion that the former Maharaja's 1947 accession pact and subsequent elections there had made it an integral part of India.

"The USA considers all of the former princely state of Kashmir to be disputed territory. India, Pakistan and China each control parts of Kashmir", according to State Department papers circulated among officials for guidance in pursuance of Washington's policy towards India.

Stating that the Indo-Pak relations "are influenced by the centuries-old rivalry between the Hindus and "Muslims", the papers say that "the principal source of contention has been Kashmir, since the Hindu Maharaja chose in 1947 to join India although a majority of his subjects were Muslim".

India maintains that his (Maharaja's) decision and the subsequent elections in Kashmir have made it an integral part of India (while) Pakistan asserts Kashmir's rights to self-determination through a plebiscite in accordance with an earlier Indian pledge and a UN resolution", it adds.

"The dispute over the status of Jammu and Kashmir, an issue since Partition", say the notes, "remains the major stumbling block in their dialogue. The papers, however, make no reference to Pakistan's sponsorship and support for terrorism in Kashmir.