Asia 877
Date(s): July 7, 1981 to July 12, 1981
Participants: 770 Pakistan/750 India
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (Negotiated)
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: When US President Reagan decided to provide $3.2 billion in military
aid to Pakistan to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan, India became threatened by the
increase in Pakistan’s military capabilities. India was especially concerned with why
Pakistan wanted to acquire long-range missiles and fighter jets, weapons that would
not be efficient if fighting the Soviets in a mountainous region like Afghanistan. There
were numerous “shooting incidents” across the border by both sides, but this dispute
became militarized in July 1981 when there were two extended clashes between both
forces. In September, Pakistan suggested that the two countries discuss a no-war pact,
but Indian officials were skeptical of this proposal since it was presented at the same
time that Pakistan signed the arms deal with the United States. Both sides continued
to make pledges of peace and good intentions through the fall and early winter of
1981, while also building up their militaries. With India, the buildup was an obvious
effort to maintain its military superiority over Pakistan and also to retain military and
political relevance in the eyes of the United States. In fact, in December 1981, India
explicitly declared that the purpose of their military buildup was to counter Pakistan’s
recent arms acquisitions. In January 1982, leaders of both states met for preliminary
talks to discuss a no-war pact, but India canceled the negotiations in February when
Pakistan brought up the bilateral issue of Kashmir in a multilateral form which India
claimed was a violation of the Simla Accord. New negotiations in 1983 were broken
off along the same issues.
Coding changes: End Date changed from November 3, 1981. Outcome changed from
Unclear. Settlement changed from None.
MID#2640
Dispute Number: 2640
Date(s): September 10, 1982
Participants: 750 India/770 Pakistan
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: On September 8, 1982, Sheik Mohammad Abdullah died of a heart
attack. The “Lion of Kashmir” fought for Kashmiri independence from India, and on
the day of his funeral (September 10), India put its troops on alert against possible
provocations.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from September 8, 1982. End Date changed
from September 8, 1982.
MID#2641
Dispute Number: 2641
Date(s): October 16, 1983 to January 1984
Participants: 770 Pakistan/750 India