Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It consists of three main areas: Jammu, the Kashmir Valley (Kashmir), and Ladakh.

Jammu and Kashmir was a princely state with a Muslim majority ruled by a Hindu Maharaja (king) until 1947. Since then, India and Pakistan have disputed control over Jammu and Kashmir, with both countries claiming the entire state. The de facto situation is that Pakistan controls just under half, the People's Republic of China a small portion, and India just over half the state. India and Pakistan have been to war three times in Kashmir (1947 - 1948, 1965, 1971) and clashed there again during the Kargil Conflict of (1999).

Tension appeared again between the two countries in 2001 - 2002, prompted by what India considers to be Pakistani moves to support the separatist movement in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Recent events

This is an incomplete list of recent events

• December 13, 2003: Five "terrorists" were killed in 2 separate shootouts with Indian security forces. [1]

• December 14, 2003: Indian security forces shot dead a militant in the Bemina area of Srinagar in an encounter that also left two civilians dead.

• December 15, 2003: BSF recovered 32 kg of RDX and 11 rifle and hand grenades in Pine forest in frontier district of Kupwara [1]

See also

• Kashmir
• Lashkar-e-Toiba
• BSF