The former state known as Kashmir has been disputed for over
50 years between India and Pakistan . The conflict started shortly after the
British Empire gave independence to India
and Pakistan
which was around August of 1947.
Immediately following the independence, the Marharaja of Kashmir, Hari
Singh, contemplated which country would be more advantageous for his state to
join. Both, India
and Pakistan were divided by
the British due to their religions and Kashmir
was left to make a decision to transfer their power peacefully. Singh was torn between his religion, Hindu,
and the majority religion of his people who were mostly Muslim. Since there was a larger Muslim population
than Hindu , Pakistan
and the people of Kashmir wished to become part of Pakistan . In addition, Pakistan
feared that India
would cut off their water supply coming from this region. Kashmir has
a diversity of different religions throughout its region. In the 1940’s, the total population was just
over 4 million people, approximately 77% were Muslim, 20% Hindu, 1.5% Sikh, and
1% Buddhist. However, the ruler of Kashmir , Hari Singh, practiced Hindu beliefs; therefore,
creating a religious conflict. This
resulted in extensive violence in the region between Hindus and Muslims. Overall, Singh’s conflicting dream was to
continue ruling Kashmir as an independent
nation.
A few months later, the Pakistani army and Pashtun tribesman
from Pakistan invaded
Kashmir in hopes to seize the land for Pakistan . They pillaged towns, looted, and raped
Kashmiri women. In response, Singh
annexed Kashmir to India in
return for military aid from the Indian army which would defend Kashmir . Shortly
thereafter, the United Nations ordered a ceasefire at the end of the first Kashmir war. As a
result of the invasion, Pakistan
occupied a substantial part of the Kashmir
valley, totaling approximately 36,000 square miles. In 1963, Pakistan
ceded an area known as Trans-Karakoram
Tract to China ;
however, India still claims
this area because they do not recognize Pakistan ’s
region of Kashmir . Since turmoil continued to affect the region
in two more wars, the United Nations has attempted to resolve the conflict by
enacting new resolutions. However, this
region of South Asia has caused much violence
contributing to this conflict, due to its sparse and different cultural
geography. Kashmir is on the brink of a
nuclear war due to this conflict between Pakistan
and India . Moreover, many terrorist groups are being
harbored in this region that is also in support of Al Qaeda, among other
groups. This has created much
indifference between Pakistan
and India
resulting in several wars and instability in the region. As a result of the unstableness in this
geographic region, the international community is extremely concerned of what
the outcome might be.
Separatist
violence in Kashmir has been increasing as time
has progressed. India continues
to blame Pakistan-based militant groups for many deadly attacks against Indian
civilians, in addition to Indian government security forces. Most of these militants have ties to Islamic
terrorist groups as well. In March 2003,
the chief of India ’s
Defense Intelligence Agency reported that “70 Islamic militant camps are
operating in Pakistani Kashmir. In May 2009, the Indian Defense Minister claimed
that about 3,000 “terrorists” were being trained in camps” on the Pakistani-controlled
region of Kashmir . In addition, it is thought that Al Qaeda may
be active in Kashmir as well (Kronstadt
2003). Indian authorities are also
urging that the U.S. and
international community pay closer attention to anti-India terrorism originating
from Pakistan .
Another international concern between
these two countries is the possibility of nuclear war. In 1998, Pakistan
and India
both tested nuclear bombs; thus escalating a minor conflict into a possible
nuclear conflict. Since then, there have
been concerns over if the two countries would resolve the conflict by nuclear
resolution. Both countries also have
their own extensive nuclear policy. Pakistan ’s
nuclear policy is “is to act in a responsible manner and to exercise restraint
in conduct of its deterrence policy.”
Their nuclear policy also does not want their capabilities to affect
non-nuclear weapon countries within in the region; therefore, Pakistan ’s
nuclear policy seems to allow a nuclear attack only on the defensive. On the other hand, India ’s nuclear policy stands on
the offensive. Its policy will have
nuclear involvement only if India
is reacting to a nuclear, biological, or chemical attack that affects their
land or citizens.
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