A region at war from colonialism to present day.
Kashmir. - (WIX, 2024)
Very few regions on earth have been so defiantly split and cut into unrecognizable pieces as British India was after the partition. One of these regions is the now controversial and divided Kashmir in Northern India/Pakistan. It has been claimed by China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India and technically under the control of the UNMOGIP since 1949. It was a region divided under colonial rule, and now, it is even in its "freedom." It is an example of one of decolonization's significant failings. The lack of foresight into cultural and geopolitical instability that thrusting many cultures into a small, unrecognized region could do to the local population was a devastating oversight.
Since the fall of the British Raj and the independence of the Muslim-led Pakistan and Hindi-led India, Kashmir has been a region at the forefront of both nations' supremacy over one another. Throughout much of the 20th century, Kashmir was destabilized by conflict. From the Indo-Pakistani wars to terrorist insurgency and even armed occupation, this small region has played out the geopolitics of the region and has been a symbol of the more significant issues of the area.
These issues were exemplified in the late 80s when "A virtual insurrection among Kashmiri Muslims in the Valley, and in Srinagar, the largest city in the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir-created a serious crisis between New Delhi and Islamabad." (Brookings, 1995). This significant upsurge in violence was against the ruling Indian government, which had control of the region since the 40s. As violence spread, it began to strengthen tensions in the area, causing a significant split in international support and national mood towards the people of Kashmir. For India, it was maintaining superiority; for Pakistan, it was for taking what was "theirs"; and for Afghanistan and China, it was to destabilize the region further and take valuable resources. For none of these nations did the peoples' security and well-being come to mind when violence erupted in that fateful year in 1989 (Brookings, 1995, AP, 2024).
The tensions in the region had run so high that threats of nuclear war were often on the horizon. "In a refinement of the scenario, it has been argued that even the suspicion of escalation might lead to a nuclear strike, presumably by the weaker or more vulnerable of the two countries (in this case, Pakistan) since it would not want to risk having its small nuclear forces destroyed in an Indian pre-emptive attack." (Brookings, 1995). This fear of nuclear escalation was carried out throughout the 90s and early 2000s but never came to fruition.
In reality, the region has cost thousands of lives, and the UN mission has had to maintain a delicate balance. "UNMOGIP has remained in the area to observe developments pertaining to the strict observance of the ceasefire of 17 December 1971 and report thereon to the Secretary-General." (UN, 2024). However, this ceasefire, the diplomatic negations since then, and all the region's violence have gone relatively unchecked. Neither Pakistan nor India is seemingly slowing their support for the area under their supremacy and continues to fund and send troops to skirmish and threaten stability.
In the last couple of years, the area has seen a significant resurgence in violence. This is likely due to "... Modi's Hindu-nationalist-led government revoked the region's semi-autonomous status, annulled its separate constitution, split the area into two federal territories — Ladakh and Jammu-Kashmir — and removed inherited protections on land and jobs. The Muslim-majority region is now run by unelected government officials and bureaucrats." (AP, 2024). This move in 2019 caused a massive surge in tensions with Pakistan, which accused India of occupying the region illegally and holding Muslims hostage under this regime. Modi and India believe they are simply protecting their people from outside dangers. Neither side is currently discussing this issue (UN, 2024).
Prime Minister Modi recently visited Kashmir and discussed the grand projects and developments India was bringing to the region (AP, Al Jazeera, 2024). In his eyes, he is bringing prosperity to a region destroyed by conflict. While many nations have supported this move, the UN and various other bodies wonder what cost this development is worth (UN, 2024). India's regional policy change has also allowed China to take a new role in the claims conflict. "But last year's abolition of Article 370, the guarantee of Kashmir's quasi-autonomy, has allowed an old player to take a stronger role: China." (FP, 2020). With so many active participants in this conflict, many wonder where the future lies. As of today, India holds onto the region firmly. Pakistan is losing its supremacy daily, especially as China grows more powerful. Afghanistan has not renewed any claims due to the Taliban's takeover, and former colonial owner Great Britain long gave up any claim to the region, "...with Britain washing its hands of the issue as soon as it could." (FP, 2020).
Kashmir is a relic of a broken colonial era of splitting cultural zones via arbitrary lines that were only exacerbated by abrupt decolonization. India and Pakistan's battle for the region has been relentless, never allowing for development and growth, and China's recent interest means peace is not on the horizon. For over 80 years, Kashmir has been a region at war with itself, at war with identity, and at war with its claimers.
Bibliography
Al Jazeera. “India’s Modi Visits Kashmir: How Has the Region Changed since 2019?” Al Jazeera, March 7, 2024. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/7/indias-modi-visits-kashmir-how-has-the-region-changed-since-2019.
“China’s Kashmir Policies and Crisis Management in South Asia.” United States Institute of Peace, September 17, 2021. https://www.usip.org/publications/2017/02/chinas-kashmir-policies-and-crisis-management-south-asia.
Hamilton, Daniel S., and Ryan Hass. “Kashmir: The Roads Ahead.” Brookings, May 10, 2017. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/kashmir-the-roads-ahead/.
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“U.S. Arms Left in Afghanistan Are Turning up in a Different Conflict.” NBCNews.com, January 30, 2023. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/us-weapons-afghanistan-taliban-kashmir-rcna67134.
“UNMOGIP Peacekeeping.” United Nations. Accessed March 31, 2024. https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/mission/unmogip.
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