Frontiers and Warfare

War is almost twice as common in mountains as it is in lowland regions. Africa’s mountains are especially hard hit, with two-thirds of them suffering severe conflicts in the last generation.

Soldiers loading artillery on the Siachen glacier (photo by Pakistan Military Consortium)

Caught in the cross-fire Why are mountains more likely to suffer war? Mountains are rugged natural barriers where political lines are often drawn. Mountains become battlegrounds when arguments over land, resources, or religion lead to war. India and Pakistan have been fighting for control of the high mountains of Kashmir for decades. The Siachen glacier (Siachen means "black rose" in the Balti language) has become the highest battleground in the world. Mountain people do not always have a say in these conflicts -- they are caught in the cross-fire. Other times, mountain people get involved in the fight because they don’t feel they belong to the country that has drawn its borders across their traditional lands.

Places to hide Mountains can be a good place to hide for guerilla fighters. Sometimes this means that war goes on and on, because no one can ever completely win. People fleeing from war can find safety in the mountains, too. During World War II many people fled over the Alps to find sanctuary in Switzerland. Peace parks In the Ethiopian highlands, centuries of war have left the people with terribly difficult lives. The animals have suffered, too. The Ethiopian wolf, walia ibex, and mountain nyala are all in danger. New peace parks in the Simen Mountains and Bale Mountains of Ethiopia are trying to protect both people and animals. Mountain women for peace The United Nations gave out five special awards to peace-making women in 2001. All of these courageous peace-makers live in the mountains!

Peace parks offer hope to the endangered Ethiopian wolf, ibex, and nyala.

Here is a short video clip about conflict in the mountains of Afghanistan:

Fighting and Destruction in Panjshair Valley
Quicktime movie from APTV

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