India and Pakistan

It was the independence of India from the British, and it's separation into two countries (one being India, the other Pakistan) that marked the beginning of what we today know as the world's oldest and most historical enemies. Many wars (including the Kashmir and Bangladesh wars) and peace treaties have passed since that Independence Day in 1947, and today both countries possess nuclear weapons. The probability of an Indo-Pakistani nuclear war is great. Considering a history of conflict, the ineffectiveness of the current peace talks, and the general sentiment of the people in each country, it is likely that we will see a nuclear war in these neighboring countries. Religion, economy and politics(including foreign influence) all play large roles in this world issue, however the history of hatred and conflict would probably be the main cause of this war.

Peace is possible. Although both countries are responsible for repeatedly breaking peace treaties, they have none the less been signed in the past, and attempts were and are being made to maintain and encourage peace. Both countries also signed agreements to limit the use of their nuclear weapons, and to disallow attacks against each other. As long as it truly is the will of the people, peace can be attained and maintained.

The Indian culture that we know today derived from an invasion of the Indus Valley civilization (one of world's oldest, at least 5000yrs) by the Aryan tribes in 1500 B.C.E. Two main religions existed, the Hindu (Indian's) and the Muslim (Pakistani's); Pakistan originated from a students suggestion (in 1933) that Muslim-majority provinces, including Kashmir, should become an independent homeland for Muslims. Following the Aryan incursion, the Arabs invaded in the eighth century, and then it was the Turks in the twelfth. The Europeans had great influence in the region by the late fifteenth century, and finally in the nineteenth century the British took control and held on until the final Independence Day. Not only were all of the Indian people beginning to get tired of the various peoples invading, but animosity was beginning to build between the two groups as well; different religious beliefs and the will for freedom fueled the fire. In 1947, the nonviolent resistance lead by Mohandas Gandhi, paved the way for India's independence from Britain and for the creation of a Muslim country, Pakistan. On July 18 1947, the Indian Independence Act was passed by the British parliament. India became an independent country, and Pakistan joined the British Commonwealth of nations. The division of the country would seemingly be an easy task; however the actual division would displace millions, this being the major cause of the 1947 war. At the time of the actual separation, it is estimated that due to severe rioting and rebellion half a million people were killed. The Legacy Project (a global exchange on the lasting consequences of the tragedies of the twentieth century) states that 3.5 million Hindus and Sikhs had to migrate from Pakistan to India and 5 million Muslims had to migrate the opposite way. These people found themselves on the wrong side of the partitioned provinces of Bengal and Punjab. Opinions do vary on the number of people that were displaced and/or killed. The Indian's and Pakistani's have blamed each other for the upset of their own people ever since and the hatred grew from there.

Jammu and Kashmir has been and will continue to be an ongoing battle between both countries. When Britain allowed India independence, all princely states (all 560 of them) were advised to join one of the two newly created countries according to their geographical placement and religion of the population's majority. Kashmir's leader could not make a choice, he wanted independence for his state; a year later however, citizens were ready to make the decision clear for him. The Muslims in the region had become frustrated by this time and they were beginning to show it. India agreed to send military support if Kashmir would become a part of India, which it did in October 1948; Maharaja Hari Singh placed Kashmir under the dominion of India, in exchange for their aid, he signed an Instrument of Accession. Pakistan, by this time, was giving assistance to the 80% Muslim population. And so the first Indo-Pakistani war began and lasted approximately one year. It is estimated that almost one million died, and millions were displaced. In 1949 a cease-fire was arranged by the U.N. and the territory was divided: Jammu and Kashmir, the central and eastern areas of Kashmir, became Indian Territory, and Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas, the northwestern quarter, became Pakistani territory. The cease-fire agreement included that there would be a referendum to confirm the accession of Kashmir to India; it was never held. In 1954, following India's example, Kashmir's State Constitution Assembly approved the accession to India and formed its own constitution in 1957. India also fought a border war with China (Pakistan's supporter) in 1962. Almost 10yrs later in 1966, a full-scale war, started by Pakistan to get attention back on the issue, began and lasted approximately a month. Once again the U.N. arranged an agreement that both sides would return to their positions prior to the war. The Kashmir and Jammu issue was beginning to settle; just as another was beginning to grow.

The 1971 genocide in Bangladesh was a tragedy that should never be forgotten; the East Pakistani people did not have freedom, it was now Pakistan that wanted control while they wanted independence. After the 1970's election (in which the East Pakistan separatist party was favored) Pakistan refused to acknowledge their wish for autonomy. In March of 1971, the independent state of Bangladesh was formed anyway; Pakistan thought it would suppress the problem if it sent troops in. Instead, they murdered over 1 million Bengalis (largest ethnic group in Bangladesh) and over 10 million had to flee to India. This was one of the largest genocides of the twentieth century, it only took a few months for the issue to be settled, but over a million lives were taken, and over ten million traumatized. On December 3rd India ordered a large attack to support the Bengalis, and thanks to the U.N. once again, on the 17th 100,000 Pakistani troops surrendered and became Indian prisoners of war. Minimized activity from both sides followed the genocide; and then came the celebration of 50years of independence. Politicians and leaders increased peace-talks as armies increased number of troops. Then in 1974 India tested its first nuclear device; at this point the focus began to change.

It wasn't until India's underground test and Pakistan's six tests in 1998, that foreign "investors" really started to worry. The possibilities