What led up to the current conflict between India and Pakistan? [Video]

The recent violence between India and Pakistan marks a major resurgence in the fight over the long-disputed region of Kashmir, a popular tourist destination that lies at the foothills of the Himalayas at the northern tip of the Indian subcontinent.

India fired missiles into the Pakistani province of Punjab and Pakistan-run Kashmir in several locations Wednesday, killing at least 26 in what Pakistan’s leader called an act of war. India said it was striking infrastructure used by militants linked to last month’s killing of at least 26 tourists in India-administered Kashmir. 

India has blamed Pakistan for backing the tourist attack, a claim Pakistani officials deny.

Kenneth MacDonald, human geography professor at the University of Toronto, says Kashmir has long been divided by caste, class and religion. 

But the land dispute stems from the 1947 partition, when India and Pakistan gained independence from Britain. 

‘Line of Control’ established in 1940s

During the partition, semi-autonomous states across the region were being granted to India and Pakistan. At the time, …