I thought we could talk about this here. The whole crazy terrorist attack was a full front a assault, nothing like anything we've seen before, and almost something out of a Rainbow Six game. Basically, armed young men invaded and took over some massive hotels in the hotspots of India, and have been holed up inside for the past few days wreaking havoc.
Obviously, what they have done is terribly wrong, but I thought you guys might like some info on the issue. I will try to keep it short, but would appreciate it if you guys would read everything... also it is late, so I won't proof read till tomorrow.
Quick history lesson:
It is basically all about Kashmir, a disputed territory located between India and Pakistan. It is an issue which Barack Obama said he would like to solve, because he believes it to be the key to all the instability in the region:
http://www.apakistannews.com/barack-obama-kashmir-talk-88397Basically, the British empire was sucking the Indian subcontinent dry in the 1900s, and treating Indian citizens as second class people in their own country (like it was doing with the citizens of every country).
An Indian solider in the late 1900s named Mangal Pandey upset over what was happening, took on his superior British officers. He was hanged weeks later for his actions, which resulted in the first riots against the British rule. Then came a man named Gandhi, who struggled for years and eventually helped India achieve independence in the late 1940s.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohandas_Karamchand_GandhiAt the time when India achieved independence, the Muslims of the country demanded their own country. They had been long discriminated against by The British as well as the Hindus -- as well documented by British and Indian historians. Apparently the Muslims were robbed of their wealth, land, status etc.
So basically it was decided that all the regions of India populated mostly by Muslims would go to Pakistan, while those populated by Sikhs and Hindus would go to India. While all the areas were divided as agreed, a crucial piece of land, Kashmir which held many resources and strategic value was forcibly kept by India, despite the fact that it has a 83% Muslim population. Unfortunately, all calls from the United Nations (which was just as useless back then) for India to hold a referendum in Kashmir were ignored, despite being part of the agreement.
In the last days of 1948, a ceasefire was agreed under UN auspices; however, since the plebiscite demanded by the UN was never conducted, relations between India and Pakistan soured
(plebiscite is another word for referendum)
That was in the 1950s, and the two countries have fought three wars over the territory since.
You can read more about Kashmir on the encyclopedia Britannica online:
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/312908/KashmirAlthough there was a clear Muslim majority in Kashmir before the 1947 partition and its economic, cultural, and geographic contiguity with the Muslim-majority area of the Punjab could be convincingly demonstrated, the political developments during and after the partition resulted in a division of the region. Pakistan was left with territory that, although basically Muslim in character, was thinly populated, relatively inaccessible, and economically underdeveloped. The largest Muslim group, situated in the Vale of Kashmir and estimated to number more than half the population of the entire region, lay in Indian-administered territory, with its former outlets via the Jhelum valley route blocked.
Kashmir even now is considered disputed territory by the United Nations.
Unfortunately, the Indian portion of Kashmir is treated like jail cell. It is kept under control worse than North Korea, and the atrocities there are constantly reported by the United Nations -- yet it does nothing
Some disturbing stuff:
http://www.ummah.net/kashmir/atroc/index.htmBasically, Kashmirs are deprived of basic rights. India says it is because they wish to flush out the militant elements, but there are constant reports of rape, torture, mutilation etc.
Unfortunately, the Kashmiri "freedom fighters" can be just as barbaric, as evidenced by the events of the past 48 hours.
