India and Pakistan have struggled over Kashmir since 1947.

The divisions did not satisfy South Asians at the time, and some land is still disputed to this day.

Kashmir, in particular, is the subject of continued disagreement. Since 1989, 34,000 people have been killed as the Pakistani government, and the Indian government fight over the area.

It is no wonder that the two countries bicker over who owns Kashmir, situated right on India's northern border. Beautiful and fertile, the region has housed wealthy and powerful rulers in its thousands of years of history.

Comprising the rich Jammu and Poonch plains and the fertile and breathtakingly beautiful Vale of Kashmir, the modern region of Kashmir has long been a tourist paradise. It has attracted visitors from all over South Asia, and even from other parts of the world.

Historical Background

Kashmir is a major producer of saffron, a flavorful (and expensive) spice used for cooking and medicinal purposes.

During this period, the people of the tiny Poonch Province in the Kashmir region revolted against the Maharaja. Pakistan tried to play both sides of this conflict by supplying the rebels with military equipment while encouraging the Maharaja to join Pakistan instead of India. India was more overt in its support of the Maharaja, doing everything but give arms to help quell the rebellion.

Finally, Maharaja Singh decided to join with India. Pakistan objected, of course, and border wars began immediately. A cease-fire negotiated by the United Nations put a temporary end to the violence and left each country with parts of the Kashmir region. India got the more beautiful and popular Vale of Kashmir, while Pakistan was stuck with underpopulated and less fertile lands.

Pakistan and India have continued to fight over the region — sometimes in outright battle, and sometimes just in border skirmishes. Many Kashmiri still long for independence, while others wish to unite with Pakistan.

Enter the Chinese

Preserving Kashmir's Dal Lake is a prime concern of environmentalists.

When India found out about the road, it discovered it had a new enemy to fight. Pretty soon, a small war erupted between India and China, and mistrust lingered between the two countries for more than two decades.

To this day, China occupies the northernmost part of the Kashmir province.

The fine fabric known as cashmere is named after the Kashmir goats that live in the Himalayas. Their coats provide the raw material for cashmere.

India wants Kashmir. So does Pakistan. While they long for the right to choose sides or to choose to be entirely independent, the people of Kashmir must suffer as both India and Pakistan use the province as a battleground for their continuing differences.

The Kashmir Situation Who should control the region of Kashmir? India Pakistan China It should be independent. No opinion

In fact, internal disagreement is one of the biggest problems Kashmir faces. The residents of the region cannot agree about their hopes for the future. Numerous political movements — sometimes resulting in bloody conflict — have turned Kashmir from a dream-vacation spot to a dangerous region in which violence can erupt at any moment.

And yet, there is hope for peace. In the beginning of 2001, democratic elections were held in Kashmir for the first time in over a decade. A recent cease-fire in the area, observed by both Pakistan and India, may herald an end to the seemingly constant conflict.

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