Kashmiri Conflict and Mumbai Terror

The present conflict between India and Pakistan revolves around the territory called Kashmir. Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Territory of Kashmir shares borders with India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and China. The Kashmir Region is about 85,000 sq. miles in size. This region is predominantly mountainous, with deep, narrow valleys and high, barren plateaus. Today, Kashmir region administered by three countries: India (Jammu and Kashmir state), Pakistan (Azad Kashmir), and the People's Republic of China (Aksai region). According to Partition Plan in 1947, Kashmir were free to join either India or Pakistan or remain independent. But, the ruler of Kashmir, the Maharaja, agreed to make Kashmir a part of India. The Maharaja was Hindu while the majority of the population was Muslims.

As we know, Jammu and Kashmir state consist of three regions: Jammu, the Kashmir valley and Ladakh. In Jammu, Hindus constitute 67% of the population and Muslims 27% and Sikhs, 5%. While in Kashmir valley, the Muslim population was 93.6% of the population, and the Hindus constituted 4%. Then, In Ladakh, Buddhists constitute about 51% of the population. Azad Kashmir is part of the Pakistani -administered section of the Kashmir region. Azad Kashmir means "free or freed Kashmir". This province covers an area of 13,297 km² (5,134 mi²). Azad Kashmir is predominantly Muslim.

In the Kashmir conflict, there are claims of human rights abuses. A 2005 study conducted by Médecins Sans Frontières found that Kashmiri women are among the worst sufferers of sexual violence in the world. Then, Kashmiri armed militants have been responsible for inhumane atrocities against the Kashmiri Pandit community. There have been numerous incidents of rapes, extortion, torture, threats to Kashmiri Pandits in the region. This violations pushing many young Kashmiris to join resistance groups such as the "Mujahideen."

One of the terrorist group here was Lashkar-e-Taiba ("Army of the Pure").This group is dedicated to freeing the Kashmir region. Lashkar-e-Taiba was active since 1993, and there is a speculation that this terrorist group was responsible for the bombings on Mumbai's commuter railroad at July 11, 2006. Then, at terror attack several days ago, although the terrorist calling themselves as Deccan Mujahideen, but the surviving terrorist says he belonged to Pakistan militant group (Lashkar-e-Taiba) and was trained at a camp in Pakistan. The terrorist also asked if Indians knew how many Muslims had been killed in Kashmir? Thats why, there is a speculation that this act has it roots in Kashmiri conflict.