(One Paragraph) What is the history of the conflict in Kashmir?

The conflict in Kashmir involves three countries – India, Pakistan, China as well as the Kashmiri people. During the India-Pakistan partition in 1947, there was an interesting dynamic in Kashmir. It was ruled by Hindu kings, but the majority of the population was Muslim (except in Jammu). Pakistan expected that Kashmir will join it, but the Hindu king chose India. Militant Muslim revolutionaries and the Indian Army fought. In total, India and Pakistan have fought three wars over Kashmir. Similarly, India and China have fought over Aksai Chin, a disputed territory. India claims all of Kashmir as an integral part of India. Pakistan says that the Kashmiri people must decide. Certain Kashmiri groups want to be independent of both India and Pakistan. In recent years, the nature of the conflict has changed due to the influx of foreign Afghan militants.

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This paragraph by Ram

To Learn More

• The site Insight On Conflict.org has a great page on the Kashmir conflict.

• UK’s Telegraph Newspaper’s History of Kashmir