Kashmir unrest spreads to Ladakh, the mountainous region on the Chinese border
- When the change in governmental status was announced for Ladakh, there were celebrations by its Buddhist population
- For decades, Buddhist leaders complained that Muslims controlled funds and jobs allotted by the central government
On August 5, New Delhi stripped Indian-controlled Kashmir of its statehood and divided it into two centrally governed union territories – Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Tensions also have existed for years in the Ladakh region in northeastern Kashmir, which is further divided administratively into the Leh district, which is predominantly Buddhist, and the Kargil district, which is mostly Muslim. There also have been occasional border skirmishes between India and China.
On October 31, New Delhi will formally take direct control of Ladakh, which is famous for its sparsely populated and stunning landscapes, Buddhist monks in mountaintop monasteries and elusive snow leopards prowling rugged terrain.
That move is raising fears about the future in both the Buddhist and Muslim communities, although so far the tension has been confined to cultural and political differences, without violence.
