WORLD

Kashmir has been at the center of a long-standing dispute between India and Pakistan. Both countries control part of the Himalayan region, but claim it in its entirely. (Wall Street Journal)

Use today’s MapMaker Interactive map to find Kashmir and identify its human and physical geography.

Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit, including a link to today’s MapMaker Interactive map.

Discussion Ideas

• Why is the Kashmir region, which overlaps northern India and northeastern Pakistan, in such dispute?
  • Territory. When India and Pakistan gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, the region of Kashmir was free to choose which nation to join. The Kashmiri maharaja “wanted to stay independent but eventually decided to accede to India.” Today, each nation controls about half of the territory of Kashmir.
  • Religion. Historically, Kashmir was home to a dazzlingly diverse population of Buddhists, Sikhs, Muslims, and Hindus. During the British colonial period, Kashmir was the only Indian state to have a Hindu maharaja leading a Muslim population. When he decided Kashmir would become a part of India (today, part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir), thousands of Muslim Kashmiris fled or revolted.
  • History. The brutal conflict in Kashmir has been at the center of four 20th century wars between India and Pakistan, in 1947, 1965, 1971, and 1999. Ongoing border skirmishes continue to claim the lives of more than a dozen soldiers and civilians every year.

• Why is the Kashmir conflict in the news now?
  • India is claiming territory on maps of Kashmir. “India drafted legislation earlier this year, seeking to penalize those who depict its borders ‘incorrectly.’ India’s official maps include territory governed by Pakistan and China … If passed, [mapping] technology companies like Alphabet’s Google and Apple will need the permission of India’s government before ‘acquiring, disseminating and publishing or distributing any geospatial information of India.’”
    • Violation of the Indian bill could result in a fine of up to 1 billion rupees ($14 million) and prison time of up to seven years.

• “The elephant in the room” is a metaphorical phrase describing an obvious factor about a situation that is simply not acknowledged. (The idea is that an elephant in a room could not possibly be ignored except on purpose.) What is the “elephant in the room” of the Kashmir conflict? Take a look at today’s MapMaker Interactive for a big red hint.
  • China. China successfully claimed a large part of eastern Kashmir (a region called Aksai Chin) in 1962, and has also claimed other regions along its borders with both India and Pakistan. Like India and Pakistan, China is armed with nuclear weapons.

TEACHERS TOOLKIT

Wall Street Journal blog: Why Pakistan and India Are Trading Blows Over Maps

Nat Geo: Where is Kashmir? MapMaker Interactive map

BBC: Q&A: Kashmir dispute

Insight on Conflict: Kashmir: Conflict Profile