Kashmir and Jammu crisis
While the crisis of Kashmir and Jammu may be unknown to the world, it has a significant impact on very many people. It affects our social, political, cultural, and religious lives. It creates challenges and becomes a challenging issue, especially for people like me who come from families characterized different cultures and religions. My mom is from India, and my dad is from Pakistan, and I am a first-generation Muslim American. The divide between India, Pakistan, and China makes many people from cross-cultural families to question the relationship between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan. I aim to live a life where I do not need to choose ethic sides. however, this is becoming challenging as my parents come from different cultural backgrounds; the issue is challenging because the government has failed to transparent and sustainable systems. Kashmir and Jammu crisis is confusing because it makes it difficult for one to have a defined identity. I do not know whether to identify myself as legally or politically Kashmiris or Pakistani Kashmiri or just Pakistani or Indian.
Kashmir and Jammu crisis has existed since 1947. Kashmir, which has a dominant Muslim religion, exists in Pakistan, India, and China. Kashmir region has been a source of tension between India, China, and Pakistan because of issues control and war has already happened. The countries have administration roles with China controlling Aksai Chin and the Trans-Karakoram Tract, Pakistan administers Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan while India has the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The crises arise because both India and Pakistan claim to have the entire Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir under the Constitution Article 370 are allowed to govern itself. Under Article 370, Kashmiris are allowed to hold government jobs, buy the property, or win education scholarships. Indians from outside Kashmir and Jammu prohibited from settling or buying property in the area. Recently the crisis at Kashmir and Jammu arose because India’s Hindu nationalist-led government begun the process of revoking Kashmir’s special status. There was outrage because Kashmiris feared that this would demographically transform the area to majority Hindu from the dominant Muslim religion.
These factors affect me because being a first-generation Muslim American my religion is threatened. Becoming the minority in this area subject me and my family and other Muslim families to discrimination and lack of identity. The move to revoke the governance by Article 370 sends a strong message to America that India is unwilling to participate in external mediation. This is dangerous for individuals living in America because of our Pakistani and Indian origin. There will be decreased acceptance in the United States of people from this region hence denial of jobs and social seclusion. Kashmiris and others associated with the Muslim religion, therefore, face restrictions on freedom of expression and movement. The issue becomes more challenging when Muslim American’s are at constant risk of rough treatment from security personnel. Restrictions and increased insecurity in the USA are therefore increasing. In combination with the held perspective that Muslims are terrorist, diverse families associated with this religion become crippled economically and socially. While President Donald Trump’s offered to mediate and resolve the Kashmir dispute, revoking Article 370 affects not only Kashmiris and the Indian and Pakistan nations but also people of these origins living in America.