Kashmir Region Summary
Conflict History
India and Pakistan have vied over control of Kashmir since both countries gained independence in 1947. The partition plan that divided Pakistan and India gave Kashmir the choice of country to which to accede. The maharaja governing Kashmir at the time was Hindu and battling a Muslim insurgency in the territory. He decided to accede to India, although the majority of people in Kashmir were Muslim.
Pakistan disputed the accession sparking a war between the two
countries lasting from 1947 to 1948.
In 1949, India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire line in Kashmir. Although the two countries agreed to a referendum on accession, the referendum never took place.
India and Pakistan fought wars over Kashmir in 1965 and 1971. At the conclusion of the most recent war in 1972, India and Pakistan agreed to the Line of Control (LOC) in Kashmir.
The LOC divides Kashmir today. Approximately 3 million people live in
the territory administered by Pakistan, known as the Northern Areas.
Approximately 10 million people live in the territory administered by
India, known as Jammu and Kashmir.
( "Kashmir Dispute,” Reuters AlertNetl, June 13, 2006. )
The division of Kashmir by the LOC did not end the conflict over the territory. In 1989, an armed insurgency began in Indian-controlled Kashmir. The insurgency was an indigenous national, secularist movement at its inception, but has since become a militant Islamic movement backed by Pakistan. The insurgency is divided between those who would like Kashmir to be independent and those who would like Kashmir to join with Pakistan.
An attack on India’s parliament in New Delhi in 2001 exacerbated tensions over Kashmir. India blamed Islamic insurgents in Kashmir for the attack and stationed hundreds of thousands of troops along its side of the LOC. Pakistan responded by deploying similar numbers of troops along the LOC. The fact that both countries possessed nuclear weapons heightened tensions and brought the Kashmir conflict into the world spotlight, although nuclear weapons were not employed.
India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire in 2003, and the two countries have been engaged in a “composite dialogue” since 2004. This negotiation process has resulted in diplomatic as well as transportation ties across the LOC. However, India and Pakistan have yet to come to terms on the issues at the root of the conflict and violence continues.
International Role
The United Nations has had a role in mediating the conflict over Kashmir since 1948. Security Council resolution 39 of January 1948 established the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP). The purpose of this body was to investigate the dispute in Kashmir and assist the parties in finding a resolution to the conflict.
UNCIP was dissolved in 1951 and was replaced with the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) in order to better address the situation on the ground. Through its mandate, UNMOGIP is tasked with observing the 1949 ceasefire agreed to by India and Pakistan as well as investigating and reporting ceasefire violations to the parties and the Secretary General.
The LOC established at the conclusion of the 1972 war over Kashmir slightly altered the 1949 ceasefire line. India claimed that the mandate of UNMOGIP lapsed at this time, but Pakistan disagreed. The Secretary-General intervened in the dispute and has taken the position that only a Security Council resolution can dissolve UNMOGIP. Pakistan continues to report ceasefire violations to UNMOGIP. India has not reported to UNMOGIP since 1972 and restricts some activities of the mission, yet continues to provide accommodation, transportation, and facilities to UNMOGIP. (“India and Pakistan—UNMOGIP—Background,” United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations)
While the international community has had no direct involvement in Kashmir beyond UNMOGIP, there continues to be deep concern about the dispute between India and Pakistan as the international community considers issues of nuclear proliferation and terrorism.
Continuing Issue
India and Pakistan both retain their territorial claims to Kashmir, however there have been signs that both sides are open to negotiation. Recently, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, “Borders cannot be redrawn but we can make them irrelevant.” (H.K. Dua, “An offer well meant,” The Tribune, March 26, 2006. ) This statement seems to indicate that while India will not renounce its territorial claim to Kashmir, India believes that there is room for negotiation on the issue. Pakistan also has shown willingness to negotiate over Kashmir. President Pervez Musharraf has suggested alternatives to a referendum in Kashmir, reframing the conflict slightly but not changing any of Pakistan’s core positions. (“India, Pakistan and Kashmir: Stabilizing a Cold Peace,” International Crisis Group, Crisis Group Asia Briefing No. 51, June 15, 2006. ) Conflict over Kashmir will continue as long as India and Pakistan claim the territory, however there appear to be signs of diplomatic prospects between the countries to address this dispute.
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