Abstract

The Kashmir dispute originated in 1947 when the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, with a Muslim majority, acceded to India under contentious circumstances following tribal intervention from Pakistan and political pressure from India. This led to the first Indo-Pak war (1947–48) and division of the territory along the UN-mediated Line of Control (LoC).

UN Security Council Resolutions 47 (1948) and 80 (1950) clearly called for a plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir after demilitarization to allow the people to decide whether they want to join India or Pakistan. India accepted these resolutions but later refused to implement them, citing changing ground realities.

The region remains divided into Indian-administered Kashmir (Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh) and Pakistan-administered Kashmir (Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan). China also controls parts of eastern Ladakh