By Aroosa Hafeez

Since the independence, India and Pakistan have bitter relations and had been at loggerheads. History of both countries is interlinked and Jammu and Kashmir has remained the center of dispute between both the countries for more than 73 years. Since independence, both the countries fought four wars including one undeclared war and have been involved in number of military standoffs, border clashes and conflicts. The Kashmir issue is the major cause of conflict because it has been disputed since the partition and both claim its ownership. The present ceasefire of February 2021 is a ray of hope for better relations between the two countries and a step forward towards resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

The state of Jammu and Kashmir has pre-dominantly Muslim population but at the time of partition it had a Hindu leader Maharaja Hari Singh who signed the instrument of accession and handed over Kashmir to Indian government. Both the countries share border with Kashmir and lays a claim that Kashmir is their integral part, the argument which led to the first Indo-Pakistan war in 1947-48. After the first Indo-Pakistan war, on January 1^st, 1949 both the countries signed the Karachi agreement establishing a ceasefire line to be supervised by the military observers, now called the Line of Control (LoC). These observers formed the nucleus of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).

The second war between both the countries broke out in 1965 and ended on January 1966, when both the countries signed Tashkent declaration affirming their commitment to peace. There were heavy causalities on both sides in the war which witnessed the largest engagement of armored vehicles and tank battle since World War II. The ceasefire did not solve the Kashmir conflict and both the parties accepted Soviet Union as a third-party mediator. Tashkent negotiations concluded in withdrawing armies and giving up territorial claims albeit, this agreement achieved only short term aims. Peace between both the countries remained for only six years. In 1971 a new military conflict broke out which resulted in splitting eastern part of Pakistan from western, declaring a new state Bangladesh.

A new ceasefire agreement was signed between both the countries in December 1971 but the relations between both remained tensed. Kashmir remained a place of constant cross-border clashes. The Simla agreement signed by both countries declared Line of Control (LoC), which was to be respected by both sides but remained ineffective. Kashmir conflict reignited after 1971 and a new wave of insurgency started in the valley. Armed resistance against Indian rule began in Kashmir, the insurgency has continued until present day. Both the countries signed the Lahore Declaration, the first major agreement between the two countries since the 1972 Simla Agreement in which both the countries reiterated to remain committed to the previous Simla agreement but the relations between both countries continued to be worsened.

Resistance by freedom fighters against Indian rule in Kashmir gained rise. India on the other hand started blaming Pakistan for Pakistani-backed attacks in Kashmir by freedom fighters. This led to massive buildup of troops by India on the Line of Control (LoC). After the revocation of Article 370 and 35a, the fight for right to self-determination has been increased in IIOJK. Since day one people of Kashmir resisted against Indian forces and rejected their illegitimate occupation. However, none of the ceasefire agreement have been respected and observed properly till now; situation along the Line of Control (LoC) remained tensed regardless of all these agreements. Unfortunately violation of ceasefire agreements has become a norm for Indian troops. The gross massacre of Kashmiris and civilians alongside border areas has been continued from ages.

Pakistan and India declared a ceasefire along the LoC, the de facto border between both countries in the disputed region of Kashmir and the working boundary in 2003 but both sides exchange fires almost regularly. The 2003 ceasefire agreement brought peace along the LoC until 2006 but has increased clashes after that. Despite the 2018 agreement to adhere 2003 agreement, recent years has seen increased ceasefire violations. According to official statements, there have been 13,500 ceasefire violations since 2003 which have claimed the lives of 310 citizens and injured 1,600. Only in 2020, Indian forces have carried out 3,003 ceasefire violations, resulting in 27 deaths and serious injuries to 250 innocent civilians. Two years ago both the countries were on brink of a catastrophic conflict. Cross border firing between the forces of both countries has intensified since 2019. According to residents of the area, these regular clashes have destroyed their livelihood and have restrained them to their homes. They are not even safe in their own homes due to these intensified cross-border shelling. Civilians across border area continue to live in fear.

India and Pakistan again have agreed to strictly observe all existing ceasefire agreements along the Line of Control (LoC) and other sectors in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The agreement was reached on February 22^nd but a joint statement was issued on February 25^th. Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two countries held discussions over hotline and reviewed the situation along the border. India and Pakistan have not agreed on ceasefire for the first time, previously both the countries gave chance to peace alongside border but failed every time. However, it will be important to see that for how long both the countries are not violating the agreement. Continuous observance of the agreements by both sides could solve the unsettled disputes nevertheless border conflicts and violence helps no one.

The path India has chosen does not lead to peace but will only increase the violence that has only disturbed the peaceful atmosphere of the areas near the border line. Unprovoked and indiscriminate firing along the border line has taken lives of many. Civilian population has been a continuous target of Indian troops. Artillery fire, heavy-caliber mortars and automatic weapons are used which result in heavy causalities and injuries. However, with the strict observance of agreement, tensions are likely to decrease on border but the Kashmir issue will not be resolved unless and until people of Kashmir are not given their right of self-determination. One could only hope that may the better sense prevails for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially after the recent ceasefire agreement.