PAKISTAN and India celebrated their 54th Independence Day on August 14 and 15 respectively.

In the 54 years since independence from British colonial rule, both countries have made tremendous progress in economic, social, industrial, scientific, agricultural and even political areas.

They are at last trying to establish cordial neighbourly relations, despite the apparent fruitless meeting of the heads of government in Agra, the city of the Taj Mahal in India, just over a month ago. Both countries may be underdeveloped and even underachievers but by some scales such as populations and land areas their importance in world affairs cannot be ignored.

The mutual distrust and animosity between them has nevertheless stopped India and Pakistan from having significant bilateral trade, cultural or political links.

The hostility manifests itself in border skirmishes, artillery exchanges and hostile political propaganda. The root cause of this hostility stems from the unresolved status of Kashmir.

This land-locked mountainous state in the Himalayas of more than ten million people is over 80 per cent Muslim. One third is under Pakistani control and known as Azad (free) Kashmir, two thirds has been under Indian control since 1947.

As British India was partitioned on the basis of religion, between India and Pakistan, the ruler of Kashmir, a Hindu, signed the state over to India, which promised that the people of Kashmir will be allowed to determine their own destiny through an internationally supervised plebiscite.

In the absence of such a plebiscite there has been an armed struggle since the mid 1980s over its future. India accuses Pakistan of helping an uprising.

Kashmir was the main sticking point at the Taj summit, as India now claims Kashmir is an integral part of it which Pakistan does not accept. Pakistan was established to set the Muslims of India free from colonial rule and to ensure they would not become a perpetual minority in India.

The Muslims of India created Pakistan and saw it as nothing short of a miracle, as it was obtained in the face of opposition from the British, (who wished to leave a united India as their legacy) the majority community.

The creation of Pakistan led to the partition of Punjab and Bengal, the two most populace and important provinces of British India. Many communities were on the wrong side of the border and millions migrated and many slaughtered by both sides. One hopes both sides will let democracy prevail.

ELECTIONS for the Mosque Committee are on Sunday, August 19 at Green Street Community Centre between 9am and 5pm, when a board of 25 members will be elected. More than 50 candidates have applied to take part. Potential voters will need proof of identity.