Much of the rivalry between India and Pakistan revolves around the Himalayan region of Kashmir, which triggered three wars, caused thousands of deaths, disappearances and displacements, and has drained huge amounts of government funds in both countries.
Last month it brought the two countries to the brink of another conflict when terrorists attacked an Indian military position in Uri, prompting a retaliatory “surgical” strike by India inside Pakistan-held Kashmir. A major conflict was averted, only for further warnings to be issued earlier this week when Pakistan accused Indian troops of firing on its soldiers. The drums of war appear to be beating a little louder.
Many wonder why it proves to be so hard for the two countries to find a solution to the Kashmir problem.
The answer lies in history. The story begins at the end of British rule in 1947, when the Indian subcontinent split into mainly Muslim Pakistan and Hindu-majority India, which were left to deal with more than 600 princely states within them. While many princes wanted to be independent, they had to succumb to their people’s protests that turned violent in many provinces. Jammu and Kashmir was one of these princely states.
Its Hindu ruler wanted to stay independent but, faced with an invasion by Muslim tribesmen from Pakistan, Kashmir acceded to India in return for military help.
After the ensuing war, a United Nations-enforced ceasefire line left India holding the east and south and Pakistan the north and west. The UN adopted resolutions calling for a referendum in Kashmir, but none has ever been held. War erupted again in 1965. It was the Simla agreement of 1972 that established the current Line of Control, based on the ceasefire line. However, to this day, it does not constitute a legally recognised international boundary, which is why the dispute seems to rumble along without resolution.
India insists Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of it and that Pakistan is illegally occupying part of the country, while Pakistan says India has no legal or moral right to the territory. It says Kashmiris should be allowed to vote in a referendum on their future. None agrees to it becoming independent. More importantly, the state is a rich source of water and has strategic advantage. This explains why both nations want it so desperately and why it has turned out to be a long running conflict.
As India and Pakistan bicker over Kashmir – with no end in sight – it’s the people who are having to pay a heavy price.
