As peace returns on the borders of the two rival countries — India and Pakistan — here are key dates in the troubled history of the two nations.
1947: End of British rule and partition of the sub-continent into mainly Hindu India and the Muslim-majority state of Pakistan. Partition triggers widespread religious bloodshed in which hundreds of thousands are killed and millions displaced.
1947-49: The two new states go to war over the Muslim-majority state of Kashmir, which is also partitioned, along a de facto border that neither accepts to this day.
1965: A new war over Kashmir ends inconclusively.
1971: The two countries go to war over East Pakistan, which secedes to form the new nation of Bangladesh.
1974: India explodes first nuclear device in an underground test.
1987: Pakistan’s Ziaul Haq launches “cricket diplomacy” by watching a cricket Test match between India and Pakistan with then Indian Premier Rajiv Gandhi.
— Muslim separatist groups begin anti-India campaign in Indian Kashmir.
1992: Destruction of a mosque in India strains relations further.
1993: Serial blasts in Mumbai kill around 250. India blames Pakistan for harboring the key suspect.
1998: Both countries carry out tit-for-tat nuclear weapons tests, raising tension across the world.
1999: Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee holds summit with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Lahore.
— Indian troops fight a brief but bloody conflict with Pakistan-backed forces in the mountains of Kargil in Indian-held Kashmir.
2001: Vajpayee holds a summit with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in Agra, which ends in failure because of differences over Kashmir.
— India blames Pakistan-based militants for an attack on the Parliament in New Delhi that leaves 15 people dead.
2003: Both countries agree a cease-fire on the Line of Control in Kashmir, improving relations.
2004: The two countries launch a formal peace process to address a broad range of bilateral issues.
— India tour Pakistan for a full Test series for the first time since 1989.
2005: Pakistan tour India.
2006: India tour Pakistan.
— Serial blasts in Mumbai suburban trains kill 174. India blames Pakistan-based militants.
2008: Gunmen attack the Indian city of Mumbai, killing 166 people. India blames Pakistan-based militants for the assault and suspends the peace dialogue.
2011: India and Pakistan agree to restart their peace talks to resolve all outstanding issues, including the vexed subject of Kashmir.
June 2012: India’s says a key suspect in the 2008 Mumbai attacks provided information confirming Pakistani “state support” for the deadly assault.
November 2012: India executes sole surviving gunman from the Mumbai attacks, Pakistani-born Mohammed Ajmal Kasab.
May 2014: India’s new Prime Minister Narendra Modi invites his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif to his inauguration.
India and Pakistan diplomacy timeline
India and Pakistan diplomacy timeline
UK Police arrest 86 people at prison protest for Palestine Action hunger striker
- Demonstration outside Wormwood Scrubs held in support of Umer Khalid
- Khalid 1 of 5 people charged in connection with break-in at RAF base last year
LONDON: A protest outside a prison in the UK in support of a man detained for supporting the banned group Palestine Action has led to the arrest of 86 people.
London’s Metropolitan Police said a group of demonstrators breached the grounds of Wormwood Scrubs prison in the capital, refused to leave when ordered to do so, and threatened officers. They were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass.
The group, several of whom attempted to gain access to the prison itself, were protesting in support of Umer Khalid, who is currently on hunger strike at the facility.
Khalid is one of five people charged in relation to a break-in by Palestine Action members at an RAF base at Brize Norton last year, in which two military aircraft were damaged.
Khalid, who denies the charges, is one of several people who are on or who have taken part in hunger strikes in recent months, all of whom have been held on similar charges for over a year without their cases being brought to trial.
A spokesperson for the UK’s Ministry of Justice said: “The escalation of the protest at HMP Wormwood Scrubs is completely unacceptable. While we support the right to peacefully protest, reports of trespassing and threats being made to staff and police officers are deeply concerning.
“At no point was prison security compromised. However, where individuals’ actions cause risk or actual harm to hardworking staff, this will not be taken lightly and those responsible can expect to face consequences.
“Prisoners are being managed in line with longstanding policy. This includes regular checks by medical professionals, heart monitoring and blood tests, and support to help them eat and drink again. If deemed appropriate by healthcare teams, prisoners will be taken to hospital.”
