What are the biggest misconceptions Pakistanis have about India?

1. “Kashmir” is that complete area on the Eastern side of LoC
Reality:

Kashmir is just a small part of the state of J&K (red boundary in the picture below)

2. “Kashmir” is a Muslim majority “State”
Reality:

Only Kashmir valley (in red boundary above) is Muslim majority while the bigger parts Jammu and Ladakh are actually Hindu and Buddhist population respectively

3. Kashmir wants to join Pakistan but India has deployed forces to suppress Kashmiris
Reality:

Indian forces were sent to Kashmir only in 1990s after Pakistan sponsored Muslim radicals inflicted violence and drove out 500,000 Hindus out of Kashmir
The objective of Indian forces is to suppress militancy not to suppress common Kashmiris
The militants do not carry a placard declaring themselves, and they look like any other normal citizens. Hence AFSPA was approved for Indian forces to carry out search operations and eliminate militants
Presence of Indian forces is a disruption in the normal life of Kashmiris and over a period of years, they have developed resentment against Indian forces (which shows up in stone pelting incidents)
Some Kashmiri groups are demanding Independence, but there’s no demand for joining Pakistan

4. India is not conducting plebiscite in J&K because it fears that Kashmiris will vote to leave India
Reality:

Scope of Plebiscite covers entire state of J&K and not just Kashmir valley
Plebiscite, even if done, will be indecisivebecause Pakistan administered areas may vote to go with Pakistan, Kashmir valley for independence but Jammu and Ladakh will vote for India. This makes plebiscite an impractical solution
Most factors which make plebiscite impossible are actually driven by Pakistan.

5. BJP has imposed beef ban across India
Reality:

There is no central law banning beef consumption in India
Beef ban is a state policy. It is imposed by some “states” in India but in other states, beef consumption is permissible
In most of the states where beef ban exists, it has been in place since 1955 –even before BJP was formed

6. India wants Pakistan’s territory
Reality:

India has no territorial ambitions. India did not annex East Pakistan even after the decisive victory in 1971. There is no logical reason to believe that India is ever a threat to Pakistan’s sovereignty
“Akhand Bharat” is not an official India policy. It has the significance of a useless meme floating around on Internet

7. It was ok to cross LoC and occupy Kargil when Indian forces retreat in winter because LoC is not International Border
Reality:

LoC is an interim solution till a permanent political solution for borders is agreed
The difference between LoC and International border is only from the perspective of drawing maps when depicting disputed areas
Crossing LoC is still an act of aggression and is considered provocation
That is the reason why Kargil intrusion resulted in Pakistan’s PM receiving flak from the US President and international pressure to withdraw forces

8. Mumbai attacks were “inside job” by India
Reality:

Tariq Khosa has already investigated and confirmed that Mumbai attacks were planned and executed from Pakistan. This was published in Dawn.

Pakistan sending terrorists to India on other occasions is also being reported by Pakistani media itself.

9. Banning Indian movies impacts India’s economy
Reality:

There are more cinema theatres in India’s one city (Pune) than in the whole of Pakistan. Revenue from Pakistan is a drop in the ocean
Compared to 385 screens in Pakistan, India has almost 13,000 screens which generate revenue for Indian movies. Overseas business from USA, UK, Canada and Australia contributes significant incremental revenue
When a movie is banned in Pakistan, the only loss is for the Pakistani distributors and cinema owners who depend on content from India for generating business.

10. Indians hate Pakistan
Reality:

Pakistani Army is obsessed with Kashmir and is running a proxy war with India through its “strategic assets”. Pakistani Politicians are powerless against Army and even public perception in Pakistan is stronger for Army than for it’s politicians. But when it comes to common citizens, many people on both sides want peace and amicable relations

The issues faced by common citizens on both sides are not very different either.

Yes, lynching of Mohammed Akhlaq over beef consumption was deplorable. But merciless mob killing of Ahmadis is a problem for Pakistan too.
Yes, people in parts of rural Indiadefecate in the open, but 25 million Pakistanis defecate in the open too.
Yes, 21% Indians are still living inpoverty, but that also means that India has already pulled 79% (a billion people) out of poverty. Pakistan with a total population of only 200 million, still has 39% people living in poverty too.

70 years of hostilities have been exchanged over an area that represents only 0.2% of India’s population and less than 0.5% of India’s area

Hopefully, someday, sense will prevail, priorities will be realigned, misconceptions will be cleared and peace will flourish.

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