Introduction To Kashmir

Violence in Kashmir is not a new topic. Pakistan and India have fought three wars over Kashmir since 1947, when Muslim-majority Kashmir became part of mostly Hindu India over Pakistn's objections. The two countries negotiated a Line of Control in 1971 dividing Indian and Pakistani Kahmir but the unofficial boder has always been restive. Then in 1989, Kashmiri rebels, fighting either for independence from India or for union with Pakistan, rose up against New Delhi. Islamabad even supported some of them, as well as cross border militants. India sent in some 700,000 and paramilitaries into Kashmir to tame the rebellion and they are still there to this day. Now, things are staring to heat up in Kashmir, once again. The people of Kashmir are starting to feel lots of anger towards the Indian military who occupy their streets. Recently, Kashmiri protestors have been banding together through Facebook and Twitter to protest the Indian military. They have been dubbed “stone-pelters” because they use stones as weapons and throw them at the Indian military. Over the past two months, about 60 people died including an 8 year old boy who was beaten by Indian soldiers on Aug. 12. These incidents just keep the anger rising in the Kashmiri people. On Aug. 10, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressed the nation over Kashmir. In the address, Singh promised a solution to the people of Kashmir and the violonce and conflicts that occurred on the streets. But he offered only one proposal: the formation of a committee to figure out how to create jobs for the 600,000 unemployed Kashmiris. The offer was widely criticized by Kashmir and considered insultingly inadequate. Religion has also become a conflict between the Kashmiri people and the Indian military. The military hadn’t been allowing the Kashmir’s to pray in a special mosque in Sinagar, Kashmir until finally on Aug. 13, the first Friday of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, worshippers were finally allowed into Srinagar's 600-year-old Jamia Masjid to pray. For now though, protesting is rising in Kashmir against the Indian military and their violent crimes against the people. The Kashmiri people are craving for freedom and hoping they can somehow break away from India and from union with Pakistan.