Religion and Conflicts: The Future of Kashmir

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The spreading of religion has been the catalyst of numerous conflicts in world history, and in the past several decades it has been occurring in a land known as Kashmir. This territory, located in Central Asia, sits between India, Pakistan and China, and is known for its beauty and strife, all stemming from religious and cultural differences. In 1948, Mahatma Gandhi, a freedom fighter for Indian nationalism, was terrified at the possibility of war, and delivered a famous speech at a prayer meeting, as he said, “Pakistan is being requested to get out of Kashmir and to arrive at a settlement with India over the question through bilateral negotiations. If no settlement can be reached in this way then a war is inevitable.” Unfortunately, to this day, no settlement has been reached, and the predicted war has occurred. Although the tensions in the region have been growing recently, this is not a new problem.
Hindus of India and Muslims of Pakistan have fought for land and power over the centuries, as each culture has attempted to spread their beliefs. This has led to India and Pakistan violently attempting to take control of the Kashmir region to reap the benefits of its vital resources. The conflict between these two countries has been tense since the Partition of British India in 1947, creating an independent India. As borders were determined, the Muslim and Hindu region of Kashmir was an area that India and Pakistan both wanted to control, making it nearly impossible to come to a peaceful solution. The situation has carried over to present day, as people struggle to survive in a war that should not be fought. In modern society, there should be a way to solve the issue, but the situation continues to become more complex with increa...

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Nehru, Jawaharlal. “Speech at Congress Party” 1936. Independence of India and Pakistan. Chicago: World Book, 2010

Reuters. "India revises Kashmir death toll to 47,000." Reuters (London), November 21, 2008. http://in.reuters.com/article/2008/11/21/idINIndia-36624520081121 (accessed December 17, 2013).

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