Kaszmir

This chapter discusses the problems associated with the Kashmir conflict in the ethnic-religious context. It focuses on the determinants of historical and contemporary situation in India's Jammu and Kashmir provinces – especially the Kashmir Valley, inhabited by a Muslim majority. This territory is subject to Pakistani claims, which are based on religious ties. The reference to the extremely rich and diverse cultural heritage of Kashmir, its centuries-old tradition of peaceful coexistence of the followers of different denominations, encourages a reflection that it is not religious differences per se that underlie the contemporary Kashmir conflict, but rather the new geopolitical situation and its politicisation effectuated by the South-Asian political elites since the 1930s. It was the time when, within the framework of the competition between the activists of the Congress and the Muslim League, the idea of division of the subcontinent and creation of a separate state for Muslims from the British India came into being. This division had contributed to the start of the longest international conflict in the postwar history. Values recognized by a particular religious group as uncontested often become the basis for political mobilization , especially if a feeling that they are being threatened is intentionally created. The Indo-Pakistani conflict cannot be described as a religious struggle; religious differences are only used as a political tool for its escalation. The politicisation of identity and emphasis of religious and ethnic differences for this purpose is a tactic with which we have dealt for over six decades in the Kashmir context and the broadly understood relations between India and Pakistan.

Kaszmir jest wskazywany przez ekspertów jako jedno z najniebezpieczniejszych miejsc na świecie. Pozostaje
także jednym z najbardziej zmilitaryzowanych regionów współczesnego świata, z siłami zbrojnymi trzech państw (Indie, Pakistan, Chiny) gotowymi do podjęcia działań zbrojnych, nawet z użyciem broni nuklearnej. Uwarunkowania historyczne, religijne oraz społeczne spowodowały trudności, z którymi boryka się ten region do dnia dzisiejszego. Mimo wielu konfliktów w regionie, także militarnych, wszystkie państwa poszukują pokojowego rozwiązania złożonej sytuacji w Kaszmirze. Między innymi dobrym posunięciem była podjęta w październiku 2008 roku decyzja o otwarciu szlaków handlowych. Nie wszystkim takie rozwiązania odpowiadają, czego przykładem jest przeprowadzony w grudniu 2008 roku zamach w Bombaju.

Kashmir is considered by experts as one of the most dangerous places in the world. It also remains one of the most militarized regions of contemporary world, with the armed forces of three states (India, Pakistan and China) ready to take up military action even with the deployment of nuclear
weapon. The historical, religious and social conditions resulted in difficulties present today in that region.
Despite many conflicts, also military ones, all states seek for some peaceful solution to the situation in Kashmir. A decision of October 2008 on opening trade routes was a good start.
However, not to everybody, the indication of which would be the Bombay attack in December 2008.