Kashmir: The Flashpoint Fueling India-Pakistan Tensions-History, and High Stakes

Kashmir remains the center of India-Pakistan conflicts due to its disputed status since the 1947 Partition, when both nations claimed the Muslim-majority region after its ruler acceded to India for military support. This resulted in the first Indo-Pakistani war and decades of unresolved sovereignty, with both nations occupying parts of Kashmir and a highly militarized Line of Control dividing them.

The region's strategic significance, religious diversity, and violent history-including the recent Pahalgam assault that murdered 26 tourists-keep tensions high, often spilling over into cross-border skirmishes and diplomatic standoffs. India blames Pakistan for supporting militant groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba to destabilize Kashmir, but Pakistan denies involvement and objects to India's efforts at abolishing Kashmir's autonomy.

Repeated clashes, frustrated political hopes, and the risk of war between two nuclear-powered neighbors make Kashmir a perennial flashpoint in South Asia.

 

Sources: CFR, BBC, Wikipedia, Sky News