October 23, 2019 | Written by - Reema Gupta '22
Pakistan and India have been rivals ever since partition occurred in 1947, which made them both independent, autonomous, and internationally recognized nations. Caught in the middle of this conflict is Kashmir, a region surrounded by India, Pakistan and China (all three now have respective control over parts of this region, although India has the largest area). As a peace offering to end the fight over this land, India and Pakistan decided to let the people of Kashmir choose which nation they wanted to be a part of. The region chose India because of its promise of protection from Pakistani invaders. In October of 1949, India gave Kashmir and Jammu, two states in the northern region, a “special status” defined as being exempt from the rule of the larger Indian Government and the right to make its own state constitution. This is detailed in Article 370 of India’s constitution.
However, on August 5, Narendra Modi, the current Prime Minister of India, repealed this Article and Amit Shah, speaker of the house, notably expressed support for another bill that would split the Kashmir-Jammu region (the India-controlled region) into two individual nations. Even before the article was officially revoked, India administered a nation-wide blackout to Kashmir, cutting off all internet access and communication systems, arresting innocent Kashmiris and activists, banning public gatherings, moving Indian military soldiers into the region, and going to the extent of putting two former chief ministers of Kashmir and Jammu, Mehooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah, under house arrest.
The issues taking place in Kashmir are not far from home. Last September, the Texas India Forum (TIF) hosted “Howdy Modi,” a community summit, for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President of the United States, Donald Trump, in Houston, Texas. Over 50,000 attended the sold-out event. When asked about the India-instigated blackout at the “Howdy Modi” Texas event, Modi claimed these actions were targeted at reducing terrorism in the Kashmir region, which holds some truth as the number of attacks by terrorist organizations there was the highest in 2018. Additionally, there were also deadly airstrikes, killing up to 38 people, leading to the India-controlled region being known as “one of the world's’ most militarized zones.”
Still, video footage shows horrid evidence of violence conducted by the troops against the innocent citizens held in Kashmir, as well as another explanation for the government’s motive: anti-Muslim ideals. Kashmir is the only Muslim-dominated state in India and many Kashmiris, including ex-minister Mufti, have theorized that India wants to “cleanse” the land of Muslims and replace them with Hindus, which is another Anti-Islam ideal dubbed “Indianizing.” In addition, a surge in hate crimes towards Muslims occurred at the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018. Modi did nothing to address this discrimination, let alone stop it. Whereas the Pakistani President, Imran Khan, has been a strong advocate for the people of Kashmir and has taken to the UN to call Modi out on his Anti-Islamic hate.
Overall, Kashmir is still in it’s “lock-down” state as it’s autonomy has been revoked by the Modi-controlled BJP (The current party controlling India’s government). Khan recently met with Chinese president, Xi Jinping, on the topic of Kashmir. The Chinese president stated that all actions involving China will be peaceful and mediated through bilateral agreement in coalition with the UN. However, Jinping mentioned that Pakistan has a “rock-solid friendship” with China. The fate of Kashmir now lies in the hands of the international community.
Sources
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/decision-to-remove-article-370-has-irked-one-nation-pm-narendra-modi/articleshow/71251978.cms (Modi’s explanations at “Howdy Modi”)
https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/abrogation-article370-will-help-curb-terrorism-says-european-parliament-1594303-2019-09-02 (Terrorism in kashmir before 370; highest in 2018)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/08/05/india-revoked-kashmirs-special-status-heres-what-you-need-know-about-contested-province/ (Air strikes, house arrest)
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/society/article/2124474/india-no-country-muslims (Anti-Muslim attacks)
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/What-is-Article-370Article-370/articleshow/35678708.cms (What is Article 370)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/08/06/this-is-modi-governments-darkest-moment/ (“Indianization”, Modi’s Anti-Islamic actions)
https://www.news18.com/news/india/facts-are-clear-china-cites-un-charter-as-kashmir-in-focus-at-imran-khan-xi-jinping-meet-india-objects-2339873.html (rock-solid friendship and current sitch in Kashmir)
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