World

India and Pakistan Reignite Conflict

Editor Jessie Starcher

Recently, multiple attacks have occurred in India’s highly disputed Jammu and Kashmir province. This territory has been disputed and fought over by the two nations ever since their creation and split, due to Pakistan believing that the Muslim-majority state was wrongfully given to India.

As of late, many have become concerned that the two nuclear armed states may go to war again, following a suicide bombing in Pulwama, Kashmir. Including the bomber, 41 have been killed, and many others have been injured. This has sparked both anger and mourning across the nation.

On the more political side of things, however, this attack has reinforced India’s belief that Pakistan is sponsoring and backing protests and militant uprisings in Kashmir. Pakistan of course denies this, and tensions have only risen following another attack, where nine were killed following a gun battle between Indian Police and militants. Jaish-e-Mohammad, a militant group based in Pakistan has claimed responsibility. A civilian and 4 officers were killed. Again, India puts the blame on Pakistan and still holds them responsible for the attacks.

Following these attacks, both nations have recalled their diplomats and have cut relations from one another. Many Indians were outraged by these attacks, and have began to attack and harass Kashmiris. This has only helped to worsen relations between Indians and Kashmiris.

So why is there so much unrest in the region? For one, the state isn't even whole, it has been split into three parts, with India, Pakistan, and even China holding parts of the state. This has further caused tension because many Kashmiris are tired of being split and used by these bigger powers, and wish to either become independent, or united with Pakistan fully.

India did not take kindly to this new mindset in Kashmir, and it lead to India enacting many rules against the Kashmiri people, including curfews and internet shutdowns, which the Kashmiris defied last year by celebrating the funeral of popular militant, Burhan Wani. The curfew was later lifted following over 50 days of protests and violence which led to thousands of injuries and many deaths.

Both nations have been hinting at a possible war with one another, and the possibility of this is more concerning than it might seem. As I have mentioned before, both India and Pakistan are nuclear nations, and both have massive amounts of support behind them. Once again, it seems that a smaller state is being pulled into the politics of larger and more powerful nations.