Why Is Kashmir Important to India and Pakistan? Key Reasons Revealed

In early 2024, reports of artillery fire along the Line of Control (LoC) flashed across headlines—briefly, before disappearing into the background noise of global conflict. But behind these fleeting skirmishes lies a region that has outlasted empires, ignited wars, and drawn the world to the brink of nuclear confrontation. Even decades after partition, and years after the revocation of Article 370, the question persists: “Why is Kashmir important to India and Pakistan?” The question seems simple. The answer is anything but.

It’s not just about a line on a map or a legacy of colonial withdrawal. Kashmir is a region where geography dictates power: where the rivers that feed two nations begin, where borders with China add another layer of volatility, and where control over land means control over future leverage. The Indus Waters Treaty, the untapped hydropower in Kashmir, the densely militarized valleys of Jammu and Kashmir, and the contested terrain of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)—each element carries stakes far beyond local politics.

why is kashmir important to india and pakistan

Yet the real tension goes deeper: into questions of national identity, religion, autonomy, and unresolved trauma from partition. It’s a conflict that refuses to be buried, a dispute that shapes not just India-Pakistan relations, but the entire security architecture of South Asia. And understanding it starts with one question: what truly makes Kashmir so vital to both nations?

Historical Background: The Roots of the Kashmir Conflict

To understand why Kashmir is important to India and Pakistan, we must go back to a pivotal moment in South Asian history: the Partition of British India in 1947. When the British colonial empire withdrew, the subcontinent was divided into two nations—India and Pakistan—based primarily on religious demographics. But this partition came with a complication: over 560 princely states, semi-autonomous regions ruled by local monarchs, were given the choice to join either nation or remain independent.

Jammu and Kashmir, a Muslim-majority princely state ruled by a Hindu Maharaja, Hari Singh, found itself at the heart of this decision. Caught between two new nations—one claiming religious alignment and the other territorial integrity—the Maharaja initially chose to stay neutral. However, that decision did not hold for long.

In October 1947, tribal militias backed by Pakistan invaded Kashmir, attempting to force the state’s integration into Pakistan. In response, the Maharaja signed the Instrument of Accession, formally ceding Jammu and Kashmir to India in return for military aid. This act triggered the First Indo-Pak war, a brutal conflict that lasted until 1948. When the United Nations intervened, a ceasefire was brokered—but the land was left divided.

That division still defines the region today. The UN-mediated ceasefire line eventually became the Line of Control (LoC), splitting Kashmir between Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir and what Pakistan calls Azad Kashmir—referred to in India as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

This unresolved division laid the foundation for the India Pakistan Kashmir dispute that continues to destabilize India-Pakistan relations. It wasn’t just a territorial disagreement—it was a clash of national identities, post-colonial insecurity, and competing claims over what each side viewed as its rightful land. The consequences have reverberated through every subsequent war, negotiation, and diplomatic breakdown between the two nations.

Strategic and Military Importance: Why Control Over Kashmir Matters

Beyond its historical and emotional weight, Kashmir holds immense strategic importance—a fact that becomes clear when looking at a map and the realities of military deployment in the region. The territorial dispute is not just about who owns what—it’s about who controls a crucial intersection of geography, power projection, and regional security.

Kashmir’s geographical location is uniquely sensitive. It borders India, Pakistan, and China, placing it at the center of South Asia’s most complex geopolitical triangle. This makes it more than just a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan—it is a zone of strategic concern for three nuclear powers, each with its own interests and territorial claims. In fact, part of the territory known as Aksai Chin is controlled by China but claimed by India, adding another layer of tension.

At the heart of this military sensitivity is the Siachen Glacier, located in the eastern Karakoram range. It is the highest battlefield in the world, where Indian and Pakistani troops are deployed year-round under extreme conditions. The control of Siachen allows India to maintain a strategic vantage point over both Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and the Chinese-controlled Aksai Chin region. Its occupation since 1984 by Indian forces symbolizes the extent to which both countries are willing to go to maintain presence and pressure in the region.

But the importance goes beyond mountain peaks and maps—it ties directly into nuclear deterrence. Both India and Pakistan are nuclear-armed states. The unresolved Kashmir conflict creates a persistent risk of escalation, where a conventional military confrontation could rapidly spiral into a nuclear standoff. This dynamic places Kashmir at the heart of regional security, as any instability or provocation in the area draws global concern.

To manage this tension, both countries have heavily militarized the region. India, for instance, maintains one of its largest troop concentrations in Jammu and Kashmir, with permanent forward deployment of forces along the Line of Control (LoC). Advanced surveillance systems, drones, and electronic monitoring installations are also in place to detect infiltration, militant activity, or cross-border aggression.

This heavy militarization has made Kashmir a strategic buffer zone. For India, holding Kashmir is critical to projecting strength against both Pakistan and China. For Pakistan, Kashmir represents an unfinished chapter of partition and a potential strategic corridor.

Economic and Resource Importance

While Kashmir is often discussed in terms of geopolitics and identity, its economic and resource importance is another critical reason why Kashmir is important to India and Pakistan. Beneath its snow capped peaks and contested borders lies a lifeline—water. And in South Asia, where over a billion people depend on agriculture and freshwater, control over rivers is about survival.

At the heart of this resource tension is the Indus River System, which originates in Tibet and flows through Jammu and Kashmir before reaching Pakistan. This river system includes major tributaries such as the Jhelum, Chenab, and Indus itself—all of which pass through Indian-administered Kashmir. These rivers form the backbone of Pakistan’s agriculture, particularly in Punjab province, which is often referred to as the “breadbasket” of the country. More than 80% of Pakistan’s agricultural irrigation relies on waters that originate in or flow through Indian territory.

Recognizing the critical nature of this issue, India and Pakistan signed the Indus Waters Treaty in 1960, with the help of the World Bank. The treaty allocated the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India and the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan, while permitting India limited non-consumptive uses of the western rivers—such as for hydropower generation.

This carefully balanced agreement has survived multiple wars, but tensions have flared in recent years as India accelerates dam projects in Jammu and Kashmir, including the Kishanganga and Ratle hydroelectric plants. While India insists these projects comply with the treaty, Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns about reduced downstream flow and strategic vulnerability.

Indeed, the hydroelectric potential in Kashmir is enormous. The mountainous terrain and fast-flowing rivers make it ideal for clean energy generation. India sees this as both an economic opportunity and a strategic tool—one that can strengthen energy security and also provide leverage in the broader India Pakistan Kashmir dispute.

What about Tourism?

Kashmir has been a magnet for travelers for centuries, known for its lush valleys, alpine lakes, and snow-capped peaks. Places like Srinagar, famous for its Dal Lake, houseboats, and Mughal gardens, are deeply embedded in the Indian tourism imagination. Similarly, Gulmarg, known for one of the world’s highest gondola rides, and Pahalgam, with its trekking routes and river rafting, attract adventure and leisure tourists alike.

Before the insurgency began in 1989, Jammu and Kashmir saw nearly 1 million tourists annually. Though numbers plummeted during periods of violence, the industry has shown resilience. In 2022, India reported a record 18 million tourists visiting Jammu and Kashmir, driven largely by domestic travel as security conditions slightly improved and promotional campaigns were boosted after the revocation of Article 370.

Tourism not only brings revenue but provides employment in hospitality, transport, food services, and local guiding—supporting tens of thousands of Kashmiris. Even during tense periods, religious tourism to Hindu sites like Vaishno Devi Temple in Jammu and the Amarnath Yatra in Kashmir continues to draw millions annually.

Kashmir is also rich in natural resources—not in terms of oil or precious metals, but in forests, minerals, and fertile land. Its forest covers over 20% of Jammu and Kashmir’s area, the forests supply timber, medicinal plants, and fuelwood.

The region’s coniferous forests are home to deodar, pine, and fir—critical to both local use and commercial logging (though now more regulated). The region also has reserves of gypsum, limestone, bauxite, and coal. While not a mining hub on the scale of other Indian states, these resources play a role in local industries, especially in Jammu.

Its horticulture, perhaps one of the least-discussed but economically vital sectors. Kashmir is India’s largest producer of apples, contributing to over 70% of the country’s supply. Other fruits like walnuts, cherries, almonds, and saffron are grown in abundance. The saffron from Kashmir, particularly from the Pampore region, is among the finest in the world and holds a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, ensuring international recognition.

This combination of tourism and natural wealth reinforces why both India and Pakistan regard Kashmir as a region with deep economic potential. Control over these resources and industries also feeds into broader questions about India-Pakistan relations, development equity, and long-term strategic planning.

Political and Symbolic Significance

To understand why Kashmir important to India and Pakistan, one must also explore how it is used as a symbol of national identity, political legitimacy, and ideological assertion in both countries.

For India, Jammu and Kashmir represent the very idea of a secular and pluralistic nation that was envisioned at the time of Partition in 1947. The fact that a Muslim-majority region acceded to secular India is often cited as proof that Indian secularism can accommodate all religious communities. This makes Kashmir essential to India’s national identity and a symbolic bulwark against communal fragmentation.

The abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019—an article that granted special autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir—was framed by the Indian government as a move toward full integration and national unity. Critics, however, argue that it also served political objectives, especially for the ruling party, by appealing to nationalist sentiments and reinforcing a strong central authority over a sensitive region.

Moreover, maintaining control over Kashmir is often portrayed as vital for India’s territorial integrity. Any concession is seen as a dangerous precedent that might embolden other separatist movements. Thus, Kashmir is seen as a symbol of Indian sovereignty.

For Pakistan, the Kashmir issue is deeply rooted in the narrative of Partition and Islamic identity. The foundational idea behind Pakistan’s creation was a homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent. From that perspective, Pakistan sees the India Pakistan Kashmir dispute as an “unfinished business” of Partition—arguing that Kashmir, being a Muslim-majority region, should have become part of Pakistan.

Kashmir thus holds immense ideological significance in Pakistan’s domestic and foreign policy. Its official stance, supported by decades of diplomacy and military posturing, is that Kashmiris should be allowed to decide their future through a UN-mandated plebiscite—a position that aligns with Pakistan’s emphasis on Islamic solidarity and support for what it calls the self-determination of the Kashmiri people.

In Pakistani media and education, the Kashmir conflict is often depicted as a moral obligation and religious duty. The region, especially Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and its developments, is frequently used to bolster nationalist narratives and justify military expenditure and alliances.

And, how do domestic politics fuel the Kashmir issue?

In both countries, internal politics have often shaped and intensified the Kashmir dispute. Political leaders in India and Pakistan have, at various times, used Kashmir to rally domestic support, distract from economic challenges, or consolidate ideological bases.

In India, political parties across the spectrum have invoked Kashmir to demonstrate toughness on national security. For instance, military operations in the region or responses to Kashmir insurgency are often highlighted during elections to showcase strong leadership.

In Pakistan, especially during times of domestic turmoil, leaders have used the Kashmir issue to unify the population around a common cause. The military, which plays a powerful role in Pakistan’s politics, often presents itself as the protector of Kashmiri Muslims.

Thus, the India-Pakistan relations over Kashmir are deeply entangled in political rhetoric, public emotions, and symbolic representation of what each nation stands for.

Conclusion

So, “Why is Kashmir important to India and Pakistan?” The answer is complex, rooted in history, strategy, and national identity.

Kashmir holds deep strategic, political, and symbolic importance for both nations. For India, it represents secularism, national unity, and territorial integrity—especially since it’s a Muslim-majority region that chose to join a secular state. For Pakistan, it’s seen as the unfinished business of Partition and a matter of Islamic identity.

Strategically, the region borders both countries and China, making it vital for military defense, including high-altitude zones like Siachen. Economically, Kashmir’s rivers feed Pakistan’s agriculture, and the region holds massive potential for hydropower and tourism. Politically, it’s a powerful symbol used in domestic narratives by leaders in both countries.