Belle OHara

Honors World Regional Geography

Mr. Sebestyen

December 5, 2016

Exam 3 Essay: India and Pakistan Contention

Since the partition of India, Pakistan and India have failed to develop positive political,

social, and economic relations. However, there is one main reason that Pakistan and India do not

get along. Since 1947 India and Pakistan have been in dispute over the Kashmir territory. Indian

and Pakistani troops have been attacking the borders and killing many innocent people in an

attempt to rule over the territory of Kashmir. The countries have been at war for the territory for

years, many peace treaties, cease fires, and agreements have been made, but nothing seems to

resolve this long disputed war.

In August of 1947 India and Pakistan are partitioned British India as part of the

independence process. The British allowed the rulers of princely states, who were tax

collectors and served the British to choose who they wanted to join, Pakistan or India. Kashmir

was one of the several hundred princely states, and Pakistan demands Kashmir to admit to them.

Pakistani troops attack Kashmir in 1948 and the leader of Kashmir turns to India for help, India

helps them block off the attack, after Kashmir agrees to admit to India. Kashmir is then divided

into two parts, one controlled by Pakistan, the other controlled by India. This dividing line is still

known as the Line of Control.

 In 1965 India and Pakistan fight a border war along the India-West border and the Line of

Control in Kashmir. In the 1970s violence between the two countries is slowly growing stronger

as about ten million refugees from East Pakistan travel to India to escape brutal oppression by

the Pakistani military after an attempt for East Pakistan independence from West Pakistan. The

thought of nuclear bombs becomes a possibility when in 1974 India tests a nuclear bomb and

Pakistan accelerates their nuclear bomb program. By the 1990s violence increases, Islamic

militants terrorize non-Muslims, Pakistan starts agreeing with cross border infiltration while

India disagrees, and human rights are being strongly abused on both sides. There are many more

terrorist attacks and many people killed and injured in all the violence.

The battles of Kashmir are happening because of the lack of communication between

India and Pakistan. Neither side is willing to negotiate the disputed borders of Kashmir and

instead turn to violence. The contention all started when Pakistan invaded Kashmir in attempt to

have them join Pakistan. After that invasion Pakistan and India began fighting border wars,

killing many civilians and destroying villages. Along with the lack of communication the fights

also occurred because of difference in religion. Kashmir was led by a Hindu leader and taken

over by Pakistan which had a majority of Muslims. The two sides religions caused many tensions

which later caused many terrorist attacks.

Religion can be such a large problem because it causes many differences between what

people can believe is right. Each religion is going to think that their religion is the only religion

that is right and all the others are wrong. Kashmir had three main ethnic areas, Ladakh which is

mainly Buddhist, Kashmir Valley which is mainly Muslim, and Jammu which is mainly Hindu.

All of Kashmir was led by a Hindu leader, and Pakistan, a predominantly Muslim country was
trying to control it. There are so many religions in Kashmir, that it makes it difficult to rule over

it because one religion will always disagree with the others.

I think that in order for the Conflict of Kashmir to be solved Pakistan and India need to

find a way to compromise what they both want. They need to think of a peaceful solution that

will be best for their people and not result in war. There have been to many lives lost because if

this conflict, we do not need to lose any more. The solution to this problem wont be easy and

will take many years to resolve, but if people are willing to put in the hard work and effort it will

take to make the solution, it could be possible.

In conclusion, the Kashmir Conflict has caused many tensions between India and

Pakistan, which has led to many wars. Innocent lives have been lost due to the fighting, and

many more are wounded or abused. Both countries need to settle their differences to try to find a

way to resolve the conflict peacefully. Even though it will take many years, the resolution will be

worth waiting for.