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India and Pakistan

May 3, 2001
Web posted at: 6:53 PM EDT (2253 GMT)

Curriculum connections-Social Studies - International relations

Locate Pakistan, India and the Kashmir region on a world map and inform the students that there has been ongoing fighting over Kashmir, a northern region bordering India and Pakistan. India and Pakistan have gone to war over the territory three times, in 1948-49, 1965 and 1971. In 1999-2000 tensions heated up again as "suicide" bombers struck India from Kashmir. After students read the CNNfyi.com story "India war games put Pakistan on edge," ask the following questions:

1. Who is Pervez Musharraf? Why is he concerned about India's five-day military exercises? Do you think countries should notify neighboring countries of their military exercises? Why or why not? What is the relationship between India and Pakistan? What are some situations that have influenced their continued conflicts?

2. Which countries control the Kashmir region? How do you think this impacts the relationships of the countries? Why is India demanding that Pakistan discontinue support of Muslim rebels? Why do Indian, Pakistan and Kashmir representatives need to meet? Approximately how many people have been killed during the revolt?

3. Divide students into three groups and have each group develop a timeline of significant events since 1930 for one of the following: India, Pakistan and the Kashmir region. Direct students to include development of nuclear capabilities. Have the groups discuss problems facing their country. Create three new groups by moving one "expert" from each onto a new group. (So, for instance, one from the India group and one from the Kashmir group would move into the Pakistan group.) Direct the groups to develop ways in which the three regions could resolve their conflicts by listening carefully to the concerns of each region or country.

4. Generate a class discussion about why world leaders are anxious now that both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers and have a long history of conflict.

Extension: Follow HighWired.com's classroom project, What's happening in India and Pakistan to discover more about the conflict between Pakistan and India that has been heightened by the introduction of nuclear capability.

India and Pakistan

India-Pakistan Nuclear Crisis
India and Pakistan Nuclear Tests and the Test Ban Treaty
Nuclear History In India, Pakistan

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