What Is Happening In Kashmir?

Jammu and Kashmir makes up around half of the geographical area of Kashmir, and it’s this state that is the subject of the latest conflict.

Jammu and Kashmir has a special constitutional status, under Article 370, which allows it to govern itself in many ways, and allows Kashmiris to buy property, hold government jobs or win education scholarships. It also meant that Indians from outside the state could be prohibitedfrom purchasing property or settling there.The rules largely safeguard the future of the majority-Muslim population who live there. 

However the government has said the special status was only a temporary measure.

President Modi Has Revoked It

This is where the conflict has arisen. On August 5, India’s Hindu nationalist-led government initiated the revocation of Kashmir’s special status – a move which immediately sparked outrage and even the threat of war. Kashmiris now fear this will lead to a demographic transformation of the region from majority Muslim to majority Hindu.

The government has also decided to split the state into two union territories – Jammu and Kashmir, which will have a legislature, and Ladakh, which will be ruled directly by the central government without a legislature of its own.

India Then Placed Kashmir On Indefinite Lockdown

Pre-empting the furious reaction its announcement would be met with, the Indian government deployed at least 10,000 extra troops to Kashmir, which was already one of the world’s most militarised regions.

India also ordered thousands of tourists and Hindu pilgrims to leave the region and shut off most communication with the area, including the internet, mobile phones and landline networks.