India formally divides Jammu and Kashmir state

India has formally divided the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two new federally administered territories.

In the new arrangement, Jammu and Kashmir is one territory, and Ladakh, which borders China, is separate.

The two new union territories are now ruled directly from the capital Delhi.

It’s part of a controversial move announced in August to tighten the Indian government’s control over the part of Kashmir it administers.

Union territories have far less autonomy from the federal government than states do.

The former state has long been one of the world’s most dangerous flashpoints and is a highly militarised area.

India and Pakistan both claim Kashmir in full, but control only parts of it.

Via BBC