Kashmir Conflict
The Kashmir conflict is a long-running territorial and political dispute between India and Pakistan—with China also controlling part of the region—centered on Jammu and Kashmir, a Himalayan territory historically located between South and Central Asia.
1. Historical Background
1947 Partition of British India: When British India was divided into India and Pakistan, princely states could choose which dominion to join.
The ruler of Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, a Hindu, initially wanted independence despite his Muslim-majority population.
After tribal militias from Pakistan invaded in October 1947, Hari Singh sought military help from India and signed the Instrument of Accession, giving India control over defense, foreign affairs, and communications.
This triggered the First Indo-Pakistani War (1947–48). The UN-brokered ceasefire in 1949 established the Line of Control (LoC), dividing the region into:
India-administered Jammu & Kashmir
Pakistan-administered Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and the Northern Areas (now Gilgit-Baltistan)
2. Major Wars and Developments
Year Event Outcome
1947-48 First Indo-Pak War LoC established under UN ceasefire
1965 Second Indo-Pak War Status quo maintained
1971 Third Indo-Pak War (mainly over Bangladesh) Led to Simla Agreement (1972) reaffirming LoC
1999 Kargil War Pakistani forces crossed LoC; India recaptured territory
3. Internal Insurgency and Political Shifts
1989: Armed insurgency erupted in Indian-controlled Kashmir, fueled by Pakistan-based groups (e.g., Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed) and local discontent over political repression.
1990s: Period of severe violence and human rights abuses.
2016–2019: New wave of unrest after the killing of militant leader Burhan Wani; widespread protests and shutdowns.
August 5, 2019: India revoked Article 370 and 35A of its Constitution, ending Kashmir’s special autonomous status and reorganizing it into two Union Territories (Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh)—a move strongly opposed by Pakistan and China.
4. Current Status
India controls about 55% of the territory (Jammu, the Kashmir Valley, and Ladakh).
Pakistan controls about 35% (Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan).
China controls about 10% (Aksai Chin, seized after the 1962 Sino-Indian War).
The LoC remains militarized, with periodic ceasefire violations.
Diplomatic deadlock persists; both sides claim the entire region.
5. Broader Implications
Security: One of the world’s most militarized borders; nuclear risk between India and Pakistan.
Human rights: Allegations of torture, disappearances, and repression by all parties.
Geopolitics: The conflict is linked to China-Pakistan cooperation (CPEC runs through Gilgit-Baltistan), India-U.S. partnership, and regional counter-terrorism strategies.
6. Summary
The Kashmir conflict embodies overlapping themes of colonial legacy, religion, nationalism, and strategic geography.
Despite multiple wars and UN resolutions, no final settlement has emerged. The issue remains a flashpoint between two nuclear-armed neighbors and a major source of instability in South Asia.
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