Attack on tourists in Kashmir: 24 dead and international dismay

Attack on tourists in Kashmir: 24 dead and international dismay

In the Indian Kashmir, there was a devastating attack in which at least 24 people were killed. This incident occurred in the Tourist region of Pahalgam when a tour guide from Schüssen reported and saw several injuries and dead. A group of tourists who were immediately taken to a hospital was injured. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the crime as "hideous act" and demanded that the perpetrators be held accountable. Mohammed Mufti, the opposition politician and former head of government in the region, spoke of a "fig attack on tourists" and sympathized with the victims. The head of government of the region, Omar Abdullah, described the attackers as "animals, inhumane and contemptible" and emphasized the conviction in all sharpness.

In the region, increasingly insurgents who work for the independence of Kashmir or a connection to Pakistan. These unrest are the result of a lengthy conflict that has been taking place around the area between India and Pakistan since 1947. Both countries claim cashmere completely and have already waged several wars. The cashmere conflict has its roots in the division of India, which led to the expulsion of 20 million people and at least one million dead.

The Kashmir conflict

The northern Himalayan region of Kashmir is extremely militarized, with an estimated 500,000 Indian soldiers who are stationed in the region. India has been pursuing a hard line against rebel groups since 1989, which has led to countless victims, including civilians and military people. To date, the battles in Kashmir have demanded an estimated 70,000 lives. The Indian government had lifted the partial autonomy of the area in 2019, which further tightened the tensions. In August of the same year, the Union state of Kashmir was divided into the Union territories Jammu and Kashmir as well as Ladakh, which are now subordinate to the central government.

The political tensions in Kashmir are characterized by the recurring military conflicts between India and Pakistan. In recent years, Pakistan has carried out military attacks on Indian security forces and undertook military interventions as part of the Kargil and Kasmir conflict. Indian air strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan were a significant reaction to such attacks. Despite these measures, the conflict is difficult to solve. A referendum planned by the United Nations about 70 years ago on the future of the region never took place and has led to continuous uncertainty and a deeply rooted conflict.

Current developments and effects on the region

The economic situation in Kashmir is tense. In the budget year 2023/24, economic growth was 7.4 %, but unemployment among young people in April 2023 with 23.1 % is high. The dissatisfaction in the region has grown and the central government is increasingly using repressive means, including internet switching. Local politicians are often detained or excluded from political activities, which further fueled the tensions. Separatist groups have become more active in recent years, and there have also been several attacks on Indian security forces and immigrants.

India handling of the Kashmir conflict and the subsequent escalation shows how deep the trenches run between the two countries. Historically, the political decisions, military interventions and the failure to promote a constructive dialogue have led to a continuing conflict that has a lasting impact on both the quality of life of the people in Kashmir as well as the diplomatic relationships between India and Pakistan.