"Kashmir Conflict: History, Challenges, Pros and Cons and Pathways to Peace".
Historical Background: The origins of the Kashmir conflict date back to the partition of British India in 1947. When India and Pakistan were created as separate states, the princely states within the British Raj were given the choice to join either India or Pakistan. The Maharaja of Kashmir, Hari Singh, faced a dilemma. Despite a Muslim-majority population, the Maharaja, a Hindu, initially sought to remain independent. However, following an invasion by tribal militias from Pakistan, he sought military assistance from India, agreeing to accede to India in return. This accession, contested by Pakistan, led to the first Indo-Pak war in 1947-48, resulting in a UN-mediated ceasefire. The ceasefire line, known today as the Line of Control (LoC), effectively divided Kashmir into two parts: one administered by India (Jammu and Kashmir) and the other by Pakistan (Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan). The Conflict Continues: The conflict has not been limited to territorial dispute...