Since the mutual formation of India and Pakistan in 1947, they have engaged in three major wars till date in 1947-48, 1965 and 1971 and countless other skirmishes and diplomatic rites. The most important issues that divide’s these long-time enemies is not necessarily nuclear arms rather it is the territorial dispute over Kashmir.
2016 has been a tough and a year full of tensions between the two countries and especially for Kashmir. It started on 8th July 2016, when Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter by the Indian Security Forces. After his killing anti -Indian protests started and the protesters defied curfew with attacks on security forces and public properties. Kashmir valley with ten districts remained under 53 days of consecutive curfew which was lifted on 31st August from all the areas.
Then on 18th September 2016, the memories of Kaluchak attack of 2002 was revived when four terrorists attacked the 12th Brigade of the army in the Uri sector. Springing a surprise, terrorists lobbed 17 grenades in 3 minutes and 18 soldiers were killed out of which 13 jawans were burnt alive instantaneously. The attack was reported as “the deadliest attack on the security forces in Kashmir in two decades”.
Lashkar-e-Taiba claimed the responsibility for the attack. But this time India could no longer be counted on to take a hit on the jaw and remain quiescent. In retaliation of the Uri attack India boycotted the next South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation(SAARC) summit which was scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan in November. India pulled out of the event due to the prevailing circumstances and hence Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Afghanistan too pulled out of the summit , indirectly blaming Pakistan for creating an environment which was not right for the successful holding of the meet. But this was not enough as this time India had the fire of rebellion. 
On 29th September, Indian army conducted a ‘Surgical strike’ in direct response to the spate of the militant attack on the Indian army base at Uri, along the Line of Control(LoC) in the Pakistan administrated region of Kashmir. The Surgical strike targeted seven terror launch pads across using heliborne and ground forces which was a shock to Pakistan. 
Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association (IMPPA) too paid homage to the martyrs and felt its responsibility towards the nation to pass a resolution which was the banning of Pakistani actors and technicians in India untill normalcy returns. The Board of Control for Cricket in India(BCCI) ruled out the possibility of reviving bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan in the near future. Though the tensions are still there between India and Pakistan, but this time India gave a befitting reply to Pakistan. As rightly said by Mahatma Gandhi “First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, and then you win”.
Pratima Jain | Content Writer | DU Times
