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In the photo, you see Indian soldiers guarding the border. As you see by the words on the screen, the conflict in Kashmir has been very violent for years. There are frequent clashes along the border, with both sides shooting at one another, and many innocent people die. India and Pakistan continue to spend a great deal of money on weapons. There is massive poverty in both nations, but neither government can do much to help its poor. In 2004, Pakistan and India began peace talks, but neither country has budged on a number of issues. Why do you think both countries want to keep control of part of Kashmir? Things were relatively calm for a while, but in recent months, there has been an increase in violence in Kashmir. Earlier this year, terrorist bomb attacks in India were blamed on Pakistan, although Pakistan denied it. Now, leaders hope that the reopened trade route might help calm the violence. The opening of the trade route was something Kashmir separatists had wanted for a long time, because the increased trade will help bring more money into the region and help give it more economic independence. Do you think the trade route will eventually help lead to long-term peace? Why do you think the two governments, so far, haven't been able to work out a reasonable solution?
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