Three of the world's most protracted conflicts are in Asia: the Palestinian-Israeli crisis in West Asia, Kashmir in South Asia and Korea in East Asia. The world's interest is engaged in South Asia because of the fate of over 1 billion people, the importance of India as the world's most populous democracy and the nuclearization of the subcontinent. Although not the most dangerous place on Earth, Kashmir is the most likely nuclear flash point.
Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee announced a unilateral ceasefire in November for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The Indian Army was instructed not to initiate any combat operations, although they would still respond to attacks on security forces. Within Kashmir, the broadest grouping of militants, the All Party Hurriyat Conference, welcomed the ceasefire and responded positively. Some militant groups, including the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and the Lashkar-e-Taiba, scoffed at the ceasefire. Still, a few days later Pakistan reciprocated with a policy of "maximum restraint."
On Dec. 20, Vajpayee announced in both Houses of India's Parliament that the ceasefire was being extended by a month until Jan. 26, India's Republic Day. Pakistan responded the same day with the announcement of a partial pullback of troops from the 700-km Line of Control, though the exact numbers and location were kept secret.