The recent bombing along the “Line of Control,” one of the most militarized zones globally, which separates Indian-administered Kashmir from Pakistani-administered Kashmir, is not entirely unexpected.
This area has been a contentious point since 1947, following the independence of Pakistan and India, with both nations claiming it as their own.
In 1947, through treaty, the British divided the region into two countries: Muslim-majority Pakistan and Hindu-majority India, granting the regions of Jammu and Kashmir the choice of allegiance to either nation.
The Maharaja of Kashmir, despite initially pursuing autonomy and recognizing the region’s Muslim majority, opted to join India in exchange for military assistance against incursions from Pakistan, a decision that sparked the first Indo-Pakistani war of 1947-1948.
The Karachi Agreement was signed in 1949, bringing a temporary ceasefire and involving the UN as a peacekeeper.
For the following 16 years, despite ongoing conflicts and occasional localized skirmishes, the situation remained relatively stable.
The second Indo-Pakistani war broke out in 1965 over Kashmir, but it did not alter the status quo. By 1971, Indian forces defeated Pakistan on its eastern border, leading to the creation of Bangladesh.
In 1972, the Simla Agreement was signed, which officially established the “Line of Control,” delineating two distinct administrative areas within Kashmir.
In 1974, the nuclear aspect entered the conflict, with India first obtaining nuclear weapons and conducting its inaugural test that same year. Pakistan followed suit, significantly boosting its nuclear capabilities by 1988.
According to recent data from the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), by 2025, India is projected to possess over 180 nuclear warheads, while Pakistan will have around 170 (Anadolu’s graphics show India with 172 and Pakistan with 170).
Since 1989, Pakistan has heavily funded and trained paramilitary groups operating in Indian-controlled Kashmir. The Pakistani government officially denies support for these groups, which India has labeled as terrorist organizations for years.
In 1999, Pakistani soldiers crossed into the Indian Control Zone, igniting the Kargil War. Despite a fragile ceasefire until 2003, both sides continued to provoke and exchange fire.
In 2008, tensions escalated following a Mumbai attack orchestrated by Pakistani paramilitaries, resulting in 166 fatalities, including several American citizens.
The election of Modi in India in 2014 initially raised hopes for diplomatic resolutions with Pakistan. Pakistan’s Prime Minister even attended Modi’s inauguration at his invitation, but those hopes faded within months.
In August 2014, India canceled high-level bilateral talks on Kashmir, and the chapter of diplomatic engagement formally closed in 2016 after 18 Indian soldiers were killed at the Uri military base. The situation in Kashmir remained tense through the end of 2018, without escalating into full-blown military conflict.
The current situation, characterized by heightened aggression, appears to be just another chapter in this prolonged conflict, necessitating immediate intervention from the White House.
China has historically supported Pakistan, with strong military ties, and has labeled India’s recent actions on Pakistani territory as “unacceptable,” indicating potential repercussions.
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