Description

At the beginning of 2002, Pakistan and India appeared to be on the
verge of a nuclear war. This was the latest stage in over fifty years of
conflict between the two nations. The greatest issue in their
relationship has been the disputed province of Kashmir. The
hostilities began in October 1947, when the Hindu ruler of Kashmir
signed a treaty giving his Muslim province to India, which is
predominantly Hindu. Pakistan’s rejection of this agreement would
lead to a war with India shortly thereafter. The province would be
partitioned between India and Pakistan in 1949, and the established
border remains today. Both nations still claim all of Kashmir. The
situation has been complicated by the religious differences in the
region between Muslims and Hindus. Further exemplifying the
problem are the various versions of history that both sides present in
their arguments for ownership of Kashmir. When the previous and
current situations are analyzed, it is clear that it is Pakistan that has
the legitimate claim to Kashmir, as India’s claim is based on fraud
and violence.