Jammu and Kashmir is a union territory in northern India. It comprises two major regions: Jammu and the Kashmir Valley. A third region, Ladakh, along with Jammu and Kashmir, was a part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir until 2019. After the abrogation of Article 370, the state was broken into two: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The region is known for breathtaking landscapes with a history going back to the Indus Valley Civilization, with evidence of various empires — Gandhara, Mauryan, Kushan, Gupta, Mughal, and Dogra — ruling the area.
The region has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan since its 1947 accession to India. The two countries fought a war that resulted in the establishment of the Line of Control (LoC) and divided the region into Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Both Pakistan and China lay claims to parts of Indian-administered Kashmir and Ladakh.
The region has faced decades of insurgency, particularly since the 1980s, fueled by political alienation, human rights concerns, and economic disparities, leading to a cycle of violence and counterinsurgency operations.
In 2024, elections were held in the region after nearly a decade, restoring an elected government. Omar Abdullah took office as Chief Minister, while Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha continues to serve as the Centre’s representative, overseeing administrative affairs.
Is this site a NDTV with a new name???
Hi Ketan,
I belong to multi generations Indian Army veteran’s family and I am too aware of the situation there. Ceasefires happen from both sides. Sometimes by mistake, sometimes for personal reasons, sometimes for strategic reasons etc.
After all, on both sides there are human beings, who take decisions on their personal capacities. In an army, just like five fingers in a palm, not everyone is the same.
The article throws a very thoughtful insight about this serious issue, acting on which, soldiers precious lives can be saved from both sides.
These incidents occur in only Kashmir so both the countries should make a deal rather than giving funny threats to each other
One telephone call prevented so many women from being widowed, children from being orphaned, although, among civilian casualties, women and children figure as well. Also saved huge mounds of expensive ammunition. I don’t think local military officers are trigger happy. It is a political decision, to start and to stop. It does not shift the boundary one inch, to the advantage of either nation. Pointless, tragic, as the larger unremitting hostility on both sides is.