What is happening in Kashmir?
Kashmir has been at pivot of Indo-Pak conflict since it was made an integral part of India in 1947 through Instrument of Accession. India and Pakistan have fought in numerous armed conflicts since their independence. Three major wars have taken place between the two states, in 1947, 1965 and the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971; also the Kargil War in 1999 and incessant border skirmishes and trespassing. We have already discussed this topic frequently in our documents and you may refer to read here about Insurgency and players; here about article 370 and here about government approach to J&K insurgency.
Currently, India administers around 43% of original territories of Kashmir, while Pakistan administers around 37% of the same which includes PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan. Further, China currently administers Demchok district, the Shaksgam Valley, and the Aksai Chin region. China’s claim over these territories has been disputed by India since China took Aksai Chin during the Sino-Indian War of 1962.
Recent Incidences
Uri attack conducted by four heavily armed terrorists on 18 September 2016, near the town of Uri in Jammu and Kashmir. The attack followed by civil unrest in Kashmir Valley following the killing of Burhan Wani, a rebel commander who frequently appeared on social sites, by Indian security forces on July 8 2016.
It sparked the largest ever anti-India protest in recent years. It caused loss of about 84 civilians, 18 security force personnel and left many maimed. It is dubbed as the deadliest attack on security forces in Kashmir in two decades
New Delhi maintained strategic silence over the Uri attack; insisted on peaceful solution by asserting ‘all options are open’ and the Indian Army had declared it ‘reserves the right to respond to any act of the adversary at a time.
Apart from the world’s condemnation of Uri attack with statements from France, UK, US, and even China, Russia has called off the joint military exercises with Islamabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
India vehemently condemned the Uri attack and accused Pakistan for its unceasing support to terrorism and terrorist groups and called for isolation of Pakistan. India has also called upon the United Nations Human Rights Council to urge Pakistan to put an end to cross-border infiltration and dismantle the terrorism infrastructure.
It is reported that Indian government summoned the Pakistani envoy and handed him evidence of Pakistani involvement as well as a warning that Pakistan needs to rein in the terrorists.
On the other hand, Pakistani military rejected the allegation that it was involved in the attack, and asked the Indian military to provide any actionable intelligence it may have. Pakistan Army has accused India of propagating a hostile narrative to Uri attack and stated that the armed forces of Pakistan are well-prepared to respond to the entire spectrum of direct and indirect threat.
