FPSC (Federal Public Service Commission) · CSS (Central Superior Services)
Kashmir Dispute
Foreign Policy of Pakistan
· Pakistan Studies/Affairs
50 MCQs
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of 50 MCQs
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1
Which specific legal document was signed by Maharaja Hari Singh in October 1947 to join the Dominion of India?
Answer:
Instrument of Accession
Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession on October 26, 1947. This occurred following an invasion by tribal irregulars from Pakistan's northwest. While India views this as the legal basis for its claim over the entire state, Pakistan disputes it, arguing that the accession was signed under duress and went against the logic of the partition plan.
2
What was the primary purpose of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 47, passed in 1948?
Answer:
To mandate a three-step process including a plebiscite
Resolution 47 (1948) is a cornerstone of the UN's involvement in Kashmir. it mandated a three-step process: the withdrawal of Pakistani nationals and tribesmen, the reduction of Indian forces to a minimum level, and the holding of a free and fair plebiscite to determine the will of the Kashmiri people. The failure to implement these steps remains the root of the ongoing dispute.
3
The 1949 ceasefire line between Pakistan and India in Kashmir was renamed as the 'Line of Control' (LoC) under which agreement?
Answer:
Simla Agreement
Following the 1971 war, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Indira Gandhi signed the Simla Agreement in 1972. One of its key outcomes was the conversion of the 1949 ceasefire line into the 'Line of Control' (LoC). The agreement also committed both nations to settle their differences through bilateral negotiations, which India frequently cites to discourage international mediation.
4
Which secret military operation was launched by Pakistan in 1965 to spark a rebellion in Indian-administered Kashmir?
Answer:
Operation Gibraltar
Operation Gibraltar was launched in August 1965 with the intent of infiltrating Pakistani-trained irregulars into Jammu and Kashmir to instigate a popular uprising against Indian rule. The failure of this operation and India's subsequent counter-attack across the international border in Punjab led to the full-scale Indo-Pak War of 1965.
5
Which Indian state decision on August 5, 2019, fundamentally altered the constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir?
Answer:
Revocation of Article 370 and 35A
On August 5, 2019, the Indian government revoked Article 370 and Article 35A, which granted Jammu and Kashmir a special semi-autonomous status and exclusive rights for its permanent residents. The state was subsequently bifurcated into two Union Territories: Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Pakistan condemned this move as a violation of UN resolutions and international law.
6
Which international human rights body released two detailed reports in 2018 and 2019 regarding the situation in Kashmir?
Answer:
OHCHR (Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights)
The OHCHR released two landmark reports in 2018 and 2019, highlighting significant human rights concerns on both sides of the Line of Control. The reports focused on excessive use of force, pellet gun injuries, and the lack of judicial accountability. Pakistan welcomed these reports as a form of internationalization of the dispute, while India rejected them as biased.
7
The 'Kartarpur Corridor,' opened in 2019, is a visa-free link for which religious community, often cited as 'faith-based diplomacy' amid the Kashmir tension?
Answer:
Sikh pilgrims
Inaugurated in November 2019, the Kartarpur Corridor connects the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan. Despite the severe diplomatic freeze following the revocation of Article 370, Pakistan completed and opened the corridor as a gesture of goodwill to the Sikh community, promoting religious tourism and 'soft diplomacy'.
8
In February 2021, the military operations heads of Pakistan and India agreed to strictly observe which agreement?
Answer:
The 2003 Ceasefire Understanding
The Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of Pakistan and India issued a joint statement in February 2021, pledging to strictly observe the 2003 ceasefire agreement along the Line of Control. This agreement brought a significant reduction in artillery shelling and civilian casualties in the border regions, although political normalization remains elusive as of 2025.
9
Which high-altitude region in Kashmir became the world's highest battlefield after India launched Operation Meghdoot in 1984?
Answer:
Siachen Glacier
In 1984, India occupied the strategic heights of the Siachen Glacier through Operation Meghdoot, leading to a permanent military standoff in a region previously undemarcated by the 1949 and 1972 agreements. Pakistan maintains its presence on the lower ridges. The conflict is considered exceptionally grueling due to extreme temperatures and avalanches rather than direct combat.
10
The 'Lahore Declaration' was signed in 1999 between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and which Indian leader?
Answer:
Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Signed in February 1999, the Lahore Declaration followed a historic bus journey by Indian PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Lahore. Both nations committed to a vision of peace and stability, emphasizing the need for nuclear confidence-building measures and a bilateral resolution of the Kashmir dispute. However, the spirit of this declaration was almost immediately shattered by the Kargil conflict.
11
In the 2024-2025 context, Pakistan's official stance on resuming trade with India is conditioned upon:
Answer:
The reversal of India's August 2019 decision on Kashmir
As of late 2025, Pakistan maintains that any normalization of ties, including the resumption of bilateral trade and diplomatic dialogue, is impossible until India revisits its 2019 decision to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Islamabad views this as a prerequisite for a level playing field in any future negotiations.
12
The 'Aman ki Asha' initiative (2010) was a notable civil society effort for peace led by which media groups?
Answer:
The Jang Group and Times of India
Aman ki Asha was a joint campaign launched in 2010 by Pakistan's Jang Group and the Times of India. It focused on promoting people-to-people contact, cultural exchange, and trade as a means to build trust and pressure both governments to resolve the Kashmir issue. It represents the 'Track II' diplomacy efforts that were prominent before the recent diplomatic freeze.
13
Which term does Pakistan use for the boundary between its Punjab province and Indian-administered Kashmir?
Answer:
Working Boundary
Pakistan uses the term 'Working Boundary' for the border between its recognized province of Punjab and the disputed territory of Indian-administered Jammu & Kashmir. In contrast, the border between Pakistani-administered Kashmir and Indian-administered Kashmir is called the 'Line of Control' (LoC).
14
The 1999 Kargil Conflict ended after mediation by which U.S. President in Washington on July 4?
Answer:
Bill Clinton
Following a request from Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, President Bill Clinton mediated a meeting in Washington on July 4, 1999. The resulting joint statement led to the withdrawal of Pakistani-backed forces from the strategic heights in Kargil, preventing a full-scale nuclear war between the two nations.
15
Which Pakistani Prime Minister first introduced the 'Four-Point Formula' as a non-paper solution for the Kashmir dispute in 2006?
Answer:
Pervez Musharraf
President Pervez Musharraf proposed a 'Four-Point Formula' for Kashmir, which included soft borders, phased demilitarization, self-governance, and a joint supervisory mechanism. While it was never formally signed, it is often discussed as the closest the two nations ever came to a framework for a permanent settlement during the 2004-2007 peace process.
16
In 2025, which international body's President visited Pakistan to discuss the 'Sustainable Development Goals' (SDGs) and mentioned regional stability including Kashmir?
Answer:
UN General Assembly (President of the 79th Session)
The President of the UNGA visited Pakistan in early 2025. During the visit, the leadership highlighted the link between regional peace, the resolution of the Kashmir dispute, and the achievement of the SDGs, emphasizing that development in South Asia is contingent upon the resolution of long-standing political conflicts.
17
What is the name of the aerial response by Pakistan in February 2019 following an Indian strike in Balakot?
Answer:
Operation Swift Retort
On February 27, 2019, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) launched 'Operation Swift Retort.' This was a retaliatory strike against several targets in Indian-administered Kashmir, which resulted in a dogfight and the downing of two Indian fighter jets and the capture of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.
18
The 'Chenab Formula' for the division of Kashmir is based on which primary criterion?
Answer:
The religious demographics along the Chenab River
The Chenab Formula is an informal proposal for partitioning Kashmir along the Chenab River. It suggests that areas to the north and west of the river (predominantly Muslim) would go to Pakistan, and areas to the south and east (predominantly Hindu/Sikh) would stay with India. It has been periodically debated since the 1960s but never formally accepted.
19
Which census was officially notified in Pakistan in 2023, impacting the political weight of the provinces and potentially the representation of AJK and GB?
Answer:
2023 Digital Census
The 7th Population and Housing Census (Digital Census) of 2023 provided updated demographic data for Pakistan. While Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) have their own administrative setups, their demographic shifts are crucial for national planning and resource allocation under the NFC, which is linked to the broader federal structure.
20
Which Indian national's case regarding espionage in Balochistan was taken to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2017?
Answer:
Kulbhushan Jadhav
Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian Navy officer, was arrested in Balochistan in 2016 on charges of espionage and terrorism. India challenged his death sentence at the ICJ. In 2019, the ICJ ordered Pakistan to stay the execution and provide consular access, linking the case to the wider bilateral tensions over Kashmir and state-sponsored activities.
