Question

Answer the following.

Explain cross border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

Answer 1

The India Independence Act (1947) provided that princely States (562 existed then) could decide to join either Pakistan or remain independent. Maharaja Hari Singh of the Dogra dynasty delayed such a decision. In 1947, Kashmir's population was 77% Muslim and 20% Hindu. The problem is we region began when Pakistan sent Pashtun tribal raiders in October 1947 to force Hari Singh to join Pakistan. However, the Maharaja appealed to India for help and signed the Instrument of Accession making the State a part of India. The Government of India sent troops to the region to drive away from the infiltrators. This led to the first India-Pakistan conflict (1947-48). In 1965, Pakistan attacked India but the local Kashmiri population did not support Pakistan. In 1965, Amanullah Khan created the Plebiscite Front in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. It's militant wing i.e., National Liberation Front carried out sabotage activities in Jammu and Kashmir. In 1977, the Plebiscite Front was renamed Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). Similarly, Pakistan lent support to guerilla outfits in the region like Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In the 1990s, as instances of militancy increased, the minority Pandit population was forced to flee from Kashmir. At this time, the local insurgency grew into terrorism sponsored by Pakistan and having training camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Pan-Islamic terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul, etc., and several Pakistan based persons like Hafeez Sayed have promoted terror activities and radicalization of the local population. In recent years stone-pelting by young protestors has increased.