India's bet on Kashmir could prove dangerous

By revoking the special status of India-administered Kashmir and splitting it into two union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh on Aug 5, New Delhi has opened a Pandora's box. India's unilateral move to fundamentally change the administrative division of the region and seize Pakistani and Chinese territories has angered its two neighbors and invited strong reactions from both.

New Delhi's intention may be to completely change the status quo of the disputed region by revising its domestic law. But its careless move could put the already fragile geopolitical balance at risk, with many fearing the situation could deteriorate in the future.

To begin with, the security situation in Kashmir could take a turn for the worse. Ever since Kashmiri separatist leader Burhan Wani was killed by Indian security forces in July 2016, the troubled region has been mired in clashes between Indian forces and Kashmiri protesters. Given their strained relations with the Indian security forces, Kashmiri people fear that by abrogating the region's special status, which endowed the region near-autonomous rights, the Indian government aims to change the demography of the region.