Current Events: India and Pakistan: Nuclear Neighbors

Though a topic more commonly found in history textbooks, colonialism, and its consequences are still being felt in today’s global affairs. At the end of World War II the world saw new borders being drawn by declining colonial empires and nation states. Partition on a map did not ensure clear boundaries in the real world. When Pakistan was formed out of the northern and eastern territories of the British colony of India, nearly 2 million people were killed in the conflict and the migration that resulted. A longstanding tension point between India and Pakistan is the dispute over the Kashmir region, claimed by both Pakistanis and Indians. In 1949, both countries reluctantly agreed to establish a ceasefire line (Line of Control) through Kashmir, as recommended by the United Nations. Since that ceasefire, flashpoints and escalations between the two nations have been common place. Now on the brink of a possible hot war over this issue, the stakes have been elevated. Both Pakistan and India are nuclear powers, armed with weaponry that could have devastating effects for humanity.

What has sparked the latest conflict? In April, an attack at a popular tourist spot killed 26 people. Following the attack both nations have exchanged attacks and gunfire. Indian Prime Minister Modi gave a speech promising “India will identify, trace and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth.” India claimed Pakistan sponsored terrorism and India’s actions, military strikes and interrupting flow of river water to Pakistan, were motivated by retaliation. Pakistan interpreted Indian air strikes as an act of war. After a few days of exchange of fire, both countries have agreed to a ceasefire so negotiations could take place. Citizens of India and Pakistan, as well as the global community, look on to see what resolution, if any, are borne from these most recent negotiations.

This week’s Current Event resources explore the history of the partition of India, the proliferation and current danger of nuclear armament, as well as multiple perspectives on recent events. The CLP lesson plan invites students to consider foreign policy tools that could be employed to resolve the situation.

Essential Questions:

Essential Question #1 – What are the long-term consequences of colonialism?
Essential Questions #2 – What strains the relationship between the countries of India and Pakistan?
Essential Questions #3 – How have recent events been characterized by each side?
Essential Question #4 – Do you think nuclear deterrence theory is working in the case of India/Pakistan relationship?

Vocabulary:

mandate: a legal system for administering territories that were formerly part of defeated empires, created by the League of Nations as a compromise between outright colonialism and full independence for former territories.
partition: to divide a place into two or more territorial units having separate political status.
ceasefire: an arrangement in which countries at war agree to stop fighting for a time.
nuclear deterrence: a theory that nuclear-armed countries will not attack one another because of fear of massive retaliation with nuclear weapons

Videos: