Jammu and Kashmir Conflict

The Jammu and Kashmir conflict is the conflict that has existed between Pakistan and India for the Jammu and Kashmir region since their partition in 1947.

This Conflict started when British rule in India ended with the creation of a new state: the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India. Britain had to end its suzerainty rule over the princely states and so the states were left to choose whether to join India or Pakistan or to remain independent. Jammu and Kashmir, the largest of the princely states, had a predominantly Muslim population, while having a Hindu ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh. On partition Pakistan expected Kashmir to be annexed to it. In October 1947, Muslim revolutionaries in western Kashmir and Pakistani tribals entered Kashmir, Unable to withstand the invasion, the Maharaja acceded India on 27 October 1947.

After rumors that the Maharajah supported the annexation of Kashmir by India, militant Muslim revolutionaries from western Kashmir and Pakistani tribesmen made rapid advances into Kashmir. Maharajah Hari Singh asked the Indian army to intervene, however they refused as Pakistan and India has signed a non-intervention agreement. there was no way to prove that Pakistan was officially behind this, and it would be illegal for Indian military forces to be present in Kashmir unless Kashmir had officially joined India.

Maharajah Hari Singh desperately needed support so The agreement which ceded Jammu and Kashmir to India was signed by the Maharaja and Lord Mountbatten of Burma. The Indian army could now push out the Pakistanis from Kashmir.

The Kashmir Region and its Occupants

this led to the first Kashmir war which lasted until 1948. In total there have been 4 wars between India and Pakistan, all of which has been won by India. Although India still own Kashmir, the popular Kashmiri insurgency demonstrates that the Kashmiri people no longer wish to remain within India. Pakistan suggests that this means that Kashmir either wants to be with Pakistan or independent.

Live fight between Indian Police and Kashmiri Citizens

Credit to

This Issue is yet to be resolved.



Israel - Palestine

The Israeli - Palestinian conflict is the conflict that began in the mid 20th Century. Lets start in 1947 when Britain still had about a fifth of the world colonised, the UN decided that Britain colonisation of Palestine should end and that two independent states should be created: Israel - a sovereign homeland for the Jewish people and an Independent Palestine. The disputed holy city of Jerusalem which would be surrounded by Palestine would be run by the UN. Many people still agree that this is the only solution.

an independent Palestine, an independent Israel and a shared Jerusalem.

Sixty years and several wars later Israel has dramatically expanded its borders as a defense against further attacks and Palestine, which is still not an independent country, has been split up into two disconnected areas.

The West Bank and the Gaza Strip

In 2006 the Palestinians had their first fairly free elections and the Fatah Party, which had been the most powerful political party in Palestine for Decades loses to an internationally recognized terrorist organisation, Hamas, The Palestinian arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, they are very radical and have inspired such organisations such as Al Qaeda and The Taliban. One of the reasons Egypt Hates Hamas is because the Muslim Brotherhood is banned is Egypt, Hamas is responsible for many rocket attacks and suicide bombing in Israel that target civilians, however they are also responsible for the infrastructure built in the Gaza Strip over the last 20 years, they built schools and hospitals and orphanages Analysts think about 90% of Hamas' budget goes into social welfare programs and the other 10% into weapons. Attacks from both sides had culminated in Israel invading the Gaza Strip and occupying it. The Issue has still not been solved.

Introduction

Look at this map of the world, looks perfectly defined, but in fact, many countries claim territories over other countries. Disputes between recognized sovereign states or disputes between recognized sovereign states and other states have been happening for decades. I will be talking about some of the most controversial territorial disputes in the world and exploring why they are happening. I'll be posting soon so look forward to it!