Why Kashmir Remains the Biggest Flashpoint Between India and Pakistan | TDG Explainer

When British Raj ended in 1947, it left a divided subcontinent behind. India and Pakistan came into existence along with the Partition, and it resulted in widespread communal riots, mass migration, and the displacement of millions. One of the most disputed legacies of the division was the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Princely states were, at the time of Partition, offered a choice to accede to India or Pakistan. Maharaja Hari Singh, who ruled Jammu and Kashmir, first wished to keep his state independent. Later, in October 1947, Pakistani tribal militias invaded Kashmir, when Hari Singh requested the assistance of India. In exchange, he agreed to the Instrument of Accession, under which Indian forces were flown into Kashmir. This act triggered the Kashmir dispute.

The First War and the UN Intervention

The First Indo-Pak War broke out in 1947-48 regarding control over Kashmir. The war ended in 1949 with a ceasefire brokered by the United Nations, leading to the region being partitioned along the Line of Control (LoC). India had control over about two-thirds of the region, while Pakistan had one-third, which it calls “Azad Jammu and Kashmir.”

The UN also advocated a plebiscite to decide the fate of Kashmir, but it never took place as there were disagreements regarding the conditions.

The Second, Third Wars Effecting Jammu and Kashmir

Kashmir was still at the focus of the 1965 Indo-Pak War when Pakistan had initiated Operation Gibraltar with the goal of infiltrating troops into Kashmir to foment rebellion. India responded with extensive military action. The war ended with the Tashkent Agreement, mediated by the Soviet Union.

India and Pakistan clashed again in 1971, primarily for East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Although the conflict was not specifically about Kashmir, its consequences resulted in the Shimla Agreement, where both countries mutually agreed to settle their problems bilaterally, including Kashmir.

Kargil Conflict: The 1999 Flashpoint

In 1999, Pakistani troops and militants overran strategic heights in the Kargil sector. India launched Operation Vijay, pushing the intruders back. The war was a risky escalation since it came on the heels of nuclear tests in 1998 by both nations.

Kargil reaffirmed Kashmir’s place as an international hotbed and brought to light the nuclear danger.

Terrorism and the Emergence of Proxy War

From the late 1980s, Pakistan-sponsored militants and terror organizations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) stepped up attacks in Indian-occupied Kashmir. Such significant events include the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament and the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of employing terrorism as a strategic instrument in Kashmir. Pakistan denies this, though international observers have attested to the existence of terror infrastructure across the line of control.

Article 370 Abrogation: A New Chapter in Jammu and Kashmir

In August 2019, India revoked Article 370, canceling Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and dividing it into two Union Territories. Pakistan condemned the action and reduced diplomatic ties.

India referred to it as a domestic integration process. The decision re-ignited tensions, escalated LoC hostilities, and concentrated international attention on the region.

Pahalgam Terror Attack Triggers Operation Sindoor

The battle raged again in 2025 when terrorists launched a brutal attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killing 26 civilians. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy for Lashkar-e-Taiba, owned the attack. The attack fanned national indignation in India and demanded prompt military reprisal.

India initiated Operation Sindoor on 7th May 2025 against terror camps in Pakistan and PoK. Nine locations were identified and targeted by drone attacks and precision missiles. It was a quick and organized operation to destroy the command hubs responsible for the Pahalgam attack.

India and Pakistan traded heavy cross-border fire, including artillery and air support, for four days. The situation reached a dangerous level before a ceasefire was negotiated on May 10 through desperate diplomatic interventions.

After the ceasefire, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif indicated a willingness to talk. But Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar made it clear: India would talk only if Pakistan demonstrated visible and verifiable action against terror outfits and surrendered wanted terrorists.

Strategic Importance of Kashmir

Kashmir’s geography provides it with unparalleled strategic importance. It shares borders with China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, and dominates water sources critical to Pakistan’s agriculture, particularly the Indus River.

Dominion over Kashmir also carries symbolic importance. To India, it confirms sovereignty and integrity. To Pakistan, it is a cause linked to national identity and past claims.

The Road Ahead: Peace or Perpetual Conflict?

In spite of historical peace gestures such as trade and bus communications, trust still eludes. Any terror attack or military move negates tentative diplomatic gains.

Recent words, though, on both sides do provide a ray of hope. If Pakistan cracks down on terror organizations and India remains receptive to positive dialogue, then there can be a possibility of meaningful advancement.

Until then, Kashmir will continue to be the most tense flashpoint between two nuclear-armed neighbors, a place where history, politics, and ideology continue to clash with cataclysmic results.