India had recently inaugurated a new road project connecting India to Tibet which runs through this disputed region, triggereing the release of a new map from Nepal's government. Multiple attempts of Nepal to negotiate over the matter of disputed regions with India had previously resulted in no response from the Indian counterparts.
This development comes at a time when the Chinese troops have crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) near Pangong Lake in Ladakh and after almost a month long skirmishes between the armies of China and India have taken place. The dispute comes after India started building massive road infrastructure in the area, hoping to increase movements of troops and military equipment.
Historically China has laid its claim over the whole area of Ladakh, and multiple army skirmishes has took place between the two countries over border disputes, one as recent as 2017 over the LAC.
In August 2019, India abrogated the articles 370 and 35A of its constitution, which granted a special status to the disputed state of Indian controlled Jammu and Kashmir. By abrogating this article settlement of non Kashmiris in the valley could be achieved, effectively changing the demographic status of the valley and ultimately suppressing the freedom struggle of the natives of Kashmir.
After lifting of article 370 and 35A India then proceeded to separate Ladakh from Jammu and Kashmir valley and turned it into a separate administrative unit. A long and strict lockdown followed this change of status of Kashmir's administration, with severe restrictions on internet use and almost negligible journalistic coverage of the region for months. Movements to and from the valley were extremely limited and the lives and property of Kashmiris were left at the mercy of 70 lac Indian army personnels.
Many new projects for settlement of non Kashmiris on Kashmiri lands are underway. A new domicile law grants the right to purchase Kashmiri land to all those people who lived in the area briefly or appeared for matriculation level exams in the valley, expanding the franchise of Kashmiri real estate into the hands of non Kashmiris.
Pakistan, being a party to the UN resolutions regarding the seven decade old conflict of Jammu and Kashmir, took the matter to United Nations and brought its allies countries on board regarding unilateral actions of India in this matter. Offer to open dialogue with India on the matter of Kashmir was also made by Pakistan which Indians promptly refused. They even rejected mediation offers by any third party in this matter, declaring the abrogation of article 370 and 35a as well as the whole dispute of Kashmir as India's internal matter.
Over the past one year, multiple statements regarding seizing and occupying the Pakistan controlled areas of Kashmir as well as Gilgit Baltistan have been made by ruling party leaders in India as well as its army chief. Pakistan clearly view such statements as attack on its sovereignty. Repeated violations of ceasefire along Line of Control (LoC) have been reported, resulting in civilian casualities and damage to property of residents of Azad Kashmir.
There is an ever-growing influence of United States over India in order to curb Chinese regional influence and to sabotage China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This is viewed with much speculation in the Chinese high circles and the recent border skirmishes can be a result of India-US close partnership in this regard.
India is currently facing hostilities with three of its neighbours, while Bhuttan and Bangladesh are silent on the matter. China has successfully spread its economic wings in most of India's neighbours as part of its One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative. F
ar right BJP government in India is finding it increasingly difficult to find allies in its presumed race of world domination against China. Tremors of change can be felt along the entire length and breadth of India as all its border disputes are coming to life one by one while the country is struggling to fight Coronavirus pandemic.
It is yet to be seen how the nation who forsake diplomatic line of action when it came to Kashmir and Pakistan, will tackle the giant mission of convincing China to withdraw its troops out of its territory and Nepal to take back its new map, relying on diplomatic tactics and means instead of using force.
Even if this situation improves temporarily after a few rounds of talks between all the parties, there is a growing concern that this region is at a brink of a full scale war, leaving the borders of South Asia with an uncertain and unstable future. The future generations of this region owe it to their leaders to settle all disputes on a table, instead of a battlefield.
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