After British India split into India and Pakistan in 1947, the Muslim-majority region of Kashmir was given the chance to either join one of the new countries or opt for independence. The Hindu ruler of Kashmir initially sought independence but joined India after a tribal invasion supported by Pakistan. A conflict ensued, leading to the United Nations’ recommendation for a referendum on Kashmir’s future, which never materialized due to disagreements between India and Pakistan.
In 1949, a ceasefire line was established, separating the region into Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir plus Gilgit-Baltistan, and a Chinese-controlled area, Aksai Chin. Both India and Pakistan assert claims of full sovereignty over the entire region, which has been a source of intermittent conflict and sporadic tensions, especially after India’s Hindu-nationalist BJP party gained power in 2014. These tensions further escalated in 2019 when the BJP government abolished Jammu and Kashmir’s self-rule, leading to internal unrest and subsequent government crackdowns.
There was then a period of relative peace, during which tourism in the region began to flourish. However, this was shattered by an attack on tourists in the Pahalgam area on April 22, 2025.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/kashmir-updates-india-pakistan-exchange-fire-overnight/live-72469458?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
