India and Pakistan agree to a ceasefire?
In a significant development, India and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire along their disputed border in Kashmir. After years of tensions, cross-border clashes and numerous casualties, the agreement has raised cautious optimism. But the key question remains: Will the ceasefire last, or is it just another temporary pause in a long-running conflict?
The India-Pakistan rivalry dates back to 1947, when the two countries emerged from British colonial rule. Divided along religious lines, the partition of British India created Pakistan, a Muslim-majority state, and India, a Hindu-majority secular nation. However, the partition was accompanied by widespread violence, mass migration and intense hostilities that continue to this day. The Kashmir issue in particular has been a major point of contention. Both India and Pakistan claim the region in its entirety but control parts of it. This territorial dispute has resulted in three major wars (1947–48, 1965 and 1971), numerous border clashes and an arms race, including nuclear weapons.
