The voltage between the nuclear neighbors, India and Pakistan, is increasing again after a long time. On Wednesday morning, India has an attack on nine goals in Pakistan, claiming to be terrorist bases and devices with links to Pakistan. Islamabad responded by a statement of retaliation.
Indian aircraft attacked the Pakistani territory on Wednesday. Pakistan confirmed that 26 people died in the attack. At the same time, India reported nine victims on its side of Kashmir in connection with the recent terrorist attack.
Learn the questions and answers whether there is a war between the old rivals.
What actually happened?
The Pakistani government claims that its forces have shot down five Indian aircraft, while India talks only about three shot down machines. Reports also talk about Pakistan’s sharpening of the Indian part of Kashmir.
Nai Delhi states that Pakistan planned to attack India, and claims that Indian action is a retaliation for a terrorist attack of 22 April in the Phalgam region of Kashmir, where 26 Indian citizens were killed, mostly tourists.
India claims that this attack was directed against Hinduists and that the militant groups that committed him have ties to the Pakistani government.
How was the tension between India and Pakistan?
The roots of the tension between India and Pakistan date back to 1947, when two independent states formed after the collapse of British India: India with the predominance of the Hindu population and Pakistan, designed for the Muslim minority.
This division was accompanied by extensive religious violence between Hindues and Muslims, while Muslims were worried about their rights in future India. The movement for Pakistan, whose name means “net country”, resulted in the establishment of an independent state.
The boundaries between the newly formed states were quickly stuck, often regardless of existing demographic and geographical reality. This led to massive migration waves and bloody clashes when millions of people tried to move to the “right” side of the newly created border.
Already in this chaotic period, a deep mutual distrust has been born, which persists and forms complicated relationships between the two countries.
Why cashmere?
Kashmir, a picturesque region in the Himalayas, has become a source of tension between India and Pakistan since their inception. The main reason for the conflict is the demographic structure of Kashmir and Jammia, where the Muslim population prevails (more than 60 %). The conflict has both ethnic and religious causes.
In 1947, the local ruler (Maharaja) Hari Singh wanted initially for Kashmir independence. Shortly after India’s independence, however, he decided to join India, despite the Muslim majority of the population that tended to Pakistan.
India subsequently asked the UN for intervention. The UN called for a referendum about the future of cashmere, but India and Pakistan were not willing to demilitarize the area before it was held. After years of negotiations and armed conflicts, a ceasefire was agreed in 1949 and a de facto border was created that distributed Kashmir between Pakistan and India. This is how the “control line” was created.
Why are water and minerals another source of tension between Kashmir?
Kashmir is not only a disputed territory, but also a key water source for India and Pakistan, which significantly contributes to their long -term tension. The rivers stem vital for the irrigation of large agricultural areas in both countries.
Control of these water resources is a matter of national security and economic stability for both states. Any one -sided steps in water management could be perceived as a threat.
After the terrorist attack on Indian tourists from April 22 this year, India suspended an important contract on the water between Pakistan and India from 1960.
In addition, cashmere is rich in minerals such as coal or lithium, which represents a significant economic potential. These mineral riches add another dimension to the dispute over control of the region. Thus, the economic and strategic importance of cashmere in terms of water and raw materials is undoubtedly worsened by the already fragile relationships between India and Pakistan.
Who supports India and who Pakistan?
China has long been openly supported by Pakistan in this conflict about Kashmir. Other countries that supported Pakistan are Azerbaijan or Turkey. Israel and Italy strongly expressed the support of India, after the last attack in Phalgam. Emanuel Macron also expressed support for India for France.
The situation can be even more escalated by Pakistan retaliation in the coming hours.
Conflicts between India and Pakistan about Kashmir
- 1965: The first extensive conflict took place in 1965 and was again focused on the disputed region of Kashmir. The fighting lasted for several weeks and ended up in a stalemate and I will be anticipated by the UN.
- 1999: Kargilská war. This war has so far been the biggest conflict between India and Pakistan, when the nuclear war threatened when Pakistanian militants penetrated the Indian side of Kashmir, which led to intense struggles. India finally pushed Pakistani soldiers.
- 2001: Attack on the Indian Parliament.In December 2001, militants attacked the Indian Parliament in Delhi. India accused Pakistani militant groups of the attack, leading to massive military mobilization on both sides of the border.
- 2008: Attacks in Mumbai. In November 2008, the Indian city of Mumbai hit a series of coordinated terrorist attacks. India accused the Pakistani militant group Laškar-E-Taiba, which seriously disrupted mutual relations.
- 2016: Attack on a military base in Uri. In 2016, militants attacked the Indian military base in Uri in Kashmir. India responded by retaliatory strokes to militant camps on the Pakistani side “Line of Control”
- 2019: Suicide attack on the Indian convoy in Pulwam. This attack killed dozens of soldiers. India subsequently carried out raids on the Pakistani territory, which Pakistan answered by shooting out an Indian plane. It was a similar conflict -like grease as we see the last hours.
