The History of Hindu-Muslim Conflict
Religious differences have inspired many wars throughout history, with each side believing their God or gods will carry them to victory. Some of these conflicts continue from ancient times to today. The land of Kashmir is a prime example of this as some Hindu factions in India continue a dispute over the region with Pakistani Muslims. The conflict has been a bloody one for many years.
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Early Conflict
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After the birth of Islam around 700 A.D., the first recorded act of aggression from Muslims against Indian settlements in the land of Sindh occurred 15 years later. Arabian forces had displaced the Sindhian Raja in retaliation against Indian involvement in Persian affairs and to protest India's capture of an Arabian ship in the waters around Sindh.
Continued Fighting
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In 980, a Muslim-led attack started on kingdoms in northern Indian. The war lasted for 40 years as unified Hindu forces repeatedly repelled the aggressors. Muslim invaders found success between the years of 1191 and 1255 when they overtook the Indian city of Delhi. In 1310, the Muslims attacked outlying prominent Indian kingdoms. By 1329, the entire Indian nation was under Muslim rule. The following 400 years saw various instances of Hindu resistance forces fighting Muslim control. Marathas and Gurkhas, two paramilitary forces, managed to chase most of the Muslim forces from India in the late 1700s.
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Changes In Rule
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During the occupation, Muslim rulers enforced their rule by re-introducing slavery and destroying Hindu places of worship. Muslims killed many of the Hindu monks and priests in their efforts to subjugate the Indian people, and were largely successful. Despite Indian victories in later years, India didn't fully recover their religious practices until British troops routed Muslim forces in the late 1800s.
Revival
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Muslim dissenters set off a series of riots in Malabar in the 1920s after it was reported that they began openly slaughtering cows, which are sacred to Hindus. Relations were further strained in the 1940s when Muslim detractors demanded that Pakistan become an independent Muslim state. Their wish was granted to ease any further violence between Hindus and Muslims. It lasted only for a short while, as rioters once again took to the streets in 1992 to destroy a Muslim mosque in the town of Ayodhya. The rioting was sporadic throughout the remainder of the year, leading to the deaths of at least six people and several more wounded.
More Violence
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Violent acts continued into 2002. Muslims attacked a Hindu train and killed at least 58 people. This sparked widespread violence throughout Kashmir, as 2,000 paramilitary troops were called in to squelch the rioting. Despite a call for peace among other world leaders, tensions continue throughout Kashmir.
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