제 26 호 India-Pakistan Clashes: The Unending Struggle Over Kashmir
Kicker: WORLD
India-Pakistan Clashes:
The Unending Struggle Over Kashmir
By Ji-Won Choi, Reporter
그림1 A Kashmiri resident inspecting a house damaged by shelling.
On May 7, 2025, a new war broke out between India and Pakistan in the Kashmir region, which had been under a ceasefire for 36 years. Kashmir is a strategically important area where the borders of India, Pakistan, and China converge. India was established as a Hindu-majority state, while Pakistan was founded as an Islamic state. Although the majority of Kashmir's population is Muslim, the region was incorporated into India due to the decision of its Hindu ruler. The Kashmir conflict is not merely a territorial dispute but a complex issue intertwined with religious and cultural tensions, and it remains unresolved to this day. This article aims to explore the historical background of the Kashmir conflict and the recent developments surrounding it..
Beginning of the Conflict
In 1947, India gained independence from British colonial rule, emerging as a nation with a diverse mix of ethnicities and religions. At that time, tensions between Hindus and Muslims escalated, ultimately leading to the partition of India into a Hindu-majority India and a Muslim-majority Pakistan. The borders between the two newly formed nations were drawn without sufficient consideration of ethnic and religious demographics. Kashmir, located along the border between India and Pakistan, had a population that was approximately 75% Muslim, but it was ruled by a Hindu monarch. As tensions between India and Pakistan grew, Pakistan claimed Kashmir as its own territory and launched an attack, triggering the First Indo-Pakistani War. However, the conflict was halted in 1949 when a ceasefire was brokered by the United Nations.
Continuation of the Conflict
After the ceasefire, Kashmir was divided between India and Pakistan; however, both nations continued to claim sovereignty over the entire region. Pakistan argued that since the majority of the Kashmiri population was Muslim, the territory rightfully belonged to them. On the other hand, India maintained that Kashmir was lawfully ceded to it by the region’s Hindu monarch. In this tense atmosphere, the Second Indo-Pakistani War broke out in 1965. Pakistan received support from the United States, while India was backed by the Soviet Union, turning the war into a proxy conflict during the Cold War. After five weeks of fighting, the United Nations intervened and brokered another ceasefire. As a result, the borders returned to their pre-war status.
In 1971, the Third Indo-Pakistani War erupted—not in Kashmir, but in East Pakistan. At the time, Pakistan was divided into East and West regions, with West Pakistan dominating politically and economically. East Pakistan demanded independence, but West Pakistan responded with brutal military suppression. As a result, around 10 million refugees fled to India and hundreds of thousands were killed. India intervened in support of the East Pakistani independence movement. Eventually, East Pakistan gained independence and became the present-day Bangladesh.
This defeat intensified Pakistan’s determination to reclaim Kashmir, prompting its efforts to develop nuclear weapons. In 1998, both India and Pakistan officially declared themselves as nuclear-armed states, escalating the Kashmir dispute into a potential nuclear flashpoint.
Conflicts After Nuclear Armament
The first war following nuclear armament was the Fourth Indo-Pakistani War. Taking advantage of the Indian army’s withdrawal, Pakistani forces secretly occupied the highlands of the Kargil region in Kashmir. Once the Indian military discovered the incursion, they launched a counteroffensive, triggering the war. India managed to recapture most of the occupied territory. Under strong pressure from the United States and the international community, Pakistan eventually withdrew, and the conflict ended after two months. However, the underlying tensions remained unresolved and only deepened.
Islamist militant groups based in Pakistan carried out multiple terrorist attacks targeting mainland India. Cycles of terrorism, crackdowns, and retaliations continued, keeping tensions high between the two countries.
Development of the 2025 Kashmir Crisis
The current crisis began with a terrorist attack on April 22. Near Pahalgam, a well-known tourist destination in Kashmir, a militant group killed 26 tourists. Before opening fire, the attackers reportedly demanded that the victims recite an Islamic prayer, and those who failed to do so were executed. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed that Pakistan was behind the attack and vowed a strong retaliation.
The most severe response was India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960. The treaty prohibits India, which controls the upper reaches of the Indus River in Kashmir, from interfering with the river’s flow. Since Pakistan obtains about 80% of its water supply from tributaries of the Indus, halting the treaty would put Pakistan at risk of a severe water crisis. In response, Pakistan denied involvement in the Kashmir attack and declared that the suspension of the treaty was effectively an act of war.
While minor skirmishes occurred during India’s pursuit of the terrorists, no major military clashes initially took place. However, on May 7, India launched “Operation Sindhur,” carrying out 24 airstrikes on militant facilities located in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. In retaliation, Pakistan conducted missile strikes on Indian-administered Kashmir and shot down five Indian fighter jets. On May 10, with the mediation of U.S. President Donald Trump, both sides agreed to a ceasefire.
The Kashmir conflict is more than a mere territorial dispute; it is a complex international security threat intertwined with religious and historical tensions, as well as the presence of nuclear weapons. Although a ceasefire agreement has been reached, the recent terrorist attacks and military clashes suggest that full-scale war could erupt at any moment. Therefore, diplomatic solutions and continued mediation by the international community are essential in order to develop a peaceful resolution acceptable to both India and Pakistan.
Sourses:
https://www.imaeil.com/page/view/2025051814482328198
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mwy_vBs3j5A
https://www.chosun.com/kid/kid_history/2025/05/12/DFJOPZATWNHIDOI4A3FU2GLZ3M/
