Jammu and Kashmir, a region located in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, has been the site of significant historical events over the past century. Here are some key moments in the region’s history:
Ancient and Medieval Periods:
- 2500 BCE: The region of Kashmir is believed to have been inhabited by the Dards, an ancient Indo-Aryan tribe.
- 6th-8th century CE: Buddhism flourishes in the region under the rule of the Kashmiri king, Lalitaditya Muktapida.
- 14th century: Islam begins to spread in the Kashmir Valley, notably under the rule of Sultan Shams-ud-din Shah Mir.
The Modern Era:
- 1819: The Sikh Empire, led by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, annexes Kashmir.
- 1846: The Treaty of Amritsar is signed between the British East India Company and Maharaja Gulab Singh of Jammu, ceding Kashmir to the Dogra dynasty ruled by the Singh family.
- 1947: India gains independence from British rule, and the princely states are given the option to join either India or Pakistan. Maharaja Hari Singh, the ruler of Kashmir, hesitates in deciding the state’s fate.
- 1949: The United Nations brokers a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and a Line of Control (LoC) is established to divide the region between the two countries.
- 1950s: The Indian government begins to implement policies aimed at integrating Jammu and Kashmir more closely with the rest of the country. These policies include the extension of Indian laws and the holding of elections.
- 1965: India and Pakistan fight another war over Jammu and Kashmir, which ends in a stalemate and the continuation of the LoC.
- 1989-1990: An armed insurgency against Indian rule breaks out in Jammu and Kashmir. The insurgency is fueled by a sense of disillusionment among the region’s Muslim population, who feel marginalized by the Indian government. The insurgency leads to a significant military crackdown by Indian security forces.
- 2002: India and Pakistan begin a peace process aimed at resolving the dispute over Jammu and Kashmir. The process leads to the establishment of a ceasefire along the LoC and the opening of a bus service between the two parts of Kashmir.
- 2019: The Indian government revokes the special status (Article 370) of Jammu and Kashmir, which had granted the region a significant degree of autonomy. The move triggers protests and unrest in the region, as well as criticism from Pakistan and other countries.
- 2020: The Indian government announces new laws that allow non-residents to buy land and settle in Jammu and Kashmir, a move that is widely criticized by Kashmiris and human rights groups. The government also restores 4G internet services in the region after an 18-month-long ban.
- 2020: India-Pakistan tensions escalate after a suicide bombing in Pulwama, Kashmir, leading to cross-border airstrikes and heightened military activity.
- 2021: Ceasefire violations and incidents of violence continue in the region.
These are just a few of the many historic events that have shaped the history of Jammu and Kashmir.
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