- Approx. 6 Min Read
Decades of Disputes: Understanding the Long-standing Conflicts Between India and Pakistan - Decades-long Conflicts Between India and Pakistan: Insights on the Continuous Clash of Interests
Get ready for a rollercoaster ride through tensions, violence, shifting alliances, and good ol' South Asian chaos. We're diving headfirst into the bitter saga of India and Pakistan, two nuclear nations with a love-hate relationship over Kashmir that dates back more than seven decades. So buckle up, and let's see what this ride's all about!
The fought-over Territory: Kashmir - A Pandora's Box in the Himalayas
Three times the size of Bavaria, Kashmir is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious land of 15 million souls, nestled in the heart of the Himalayas and grabbing the attention of three major powers: India, Pakistan, and China. Its strategic location in the tri-border area between these three nations makes it a prized piece of real estate, causing endless squabbles and bloodshed for roughly 80 years. India holds about half of the region, while Pakistan controls the remaining portion. Simultaneously, various Muslim rebel groups have been waging a rebillion for independence or annexation to Pakistan since 1989.
An Unvirtuous Cycle of Violence: A Brief History
Let's take a trip down (bloody) memory lane and follow the timeline of conflicts between these two neighbors:
- 1947: The First Kashmir War kicks off shortly after British colonial rule ends and the Indian subcontinent is divided into predominantly Hindu India and Muslim Pakistan. The Hindu Maharaja of Kashmir seeks help from New Delhi, merging his region with India following attacks from Pakistanis, leading to a two-year war.
- 1962: China occupies the Aksai Chin Plateau, previously controlled by India, in the east.
- 1965: India and Pakistan clash again in a Second War over Kashmir until a ceasefire is declared. The Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front is formed, fighting for an independent Kashmir.
- 1971: In a Third War, India and Pakistan fight over East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. India supports independence fighters and bombs Pakistani territory.
- 1984: Indian troops secure the Siachen Glacier in the Karakoram mountain range, contested by Pakistan. Skirmishes over the remote, uninhabited area continue until 2003.
- 1999: Pakistan-supported fighters capture Indian military posts in Kargil province, leading to the Kargil Conflict, resulting in 1,000 casualties on both sides.
- 2008: India and Pakistan open the first trade route in Kashmir.
- 2010: Protests against the Indian government in Indian-controlled Kashmir result in 100 deaths.
- 2016: India attacks targets in the Pakistani-administered part of Kashmir after a rebel attack against an Indian military base. Pakistan denies Indian claims.
- 2019: The Indian government under Narendra Modi abolishes the autonomy status of "its" part of Kashmir, sparking increased tensions and separatist activities. In June 2024, nine people are killed in an attack on a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims.
Recent Troubles
The conflict has reached boiling point once again. Here's the latest unfolding drama:
- April 22, 2025: Armed attackers kill 26 people and injure 17 more on a mountain meadow in Indian-administered Kashmir, primarily targeting tourists. India blames Pakistan, while Pakistan denies any involvement.
- April 23-24, 2025: India responds with tough retaliatory measures, closing the main border crossing, expelling all Pakistani diplomats, and suspending the vital water-sharing treaty with Pakistan, effectively turning off the neighbor's tap. Pakistan threatens to view this as an act of war and retaliates, with both sides shutting down their airspaces to each other and closing their borders, as well as suspending trade.
- April 24-30, 2025: India expels all Pakistani citizens residing in the country, prompting Pakistan to reciprocate. Indian patrols fire upon Pakistani positions along the Line of Control, while both sides trade periodic artillery shelling.
- May 1-3, 2025: Tensions continue to rise, with Indian warplanes conducting exercises in the Arabian Sea and Pakistan testing new weapons. Fears of a wider conflict grow.
- May 5, 2025: Indian troops capture Pakistani soldiers north of the disputed region, leading to a prisoner exchange.
- May 6, 2025: After a sequence of escalating tensions, Indian forces launch a series of airstrikes inside Pakistan, targeting sites allegedly used for planning attacks. In response, Pakistani forces fire artillery shells into Indian-controlled Kashmir, resulting in civilian casualties.
- May 7, 2025: Pakistan shuts down its airspace for 48 hours, threatening further retaliation if India does not back down. Reports suggest that Pakistani forces have shot down several Indian jets over India during the escalating conflict.
Kashmir: a land of breathtaking beauty and endless suffering, sadly. Stay tuned for updates on this ever-evolving saga!
- The Commission has also been consulted on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between India and Pakistan regarding the integration of Kashmir, given the ongoing war-and-conflicts in politics and general news.
- Despite the intermittent periods of peace, conspirators on both sides have continued to fuel the conflict in Kashmir, leading to numerous acts of violence.
- The general agreement among world powers seems to be that the independent Kashmir option should be pursued, to achieve a just resolution and bring an end to this long-standing, multi-decade war.
- Moreover, it is crucial for the Commission to act swiftly in these times of turmoil, as the consequences of another Kashmir War between India and Pakistan could lead to unforeseen and catastrophic outcomes in the region.
