Kashmir is a region with a very long history, and ties to both Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism and Buddhism. Today most of the population is Muslim, but there are many important historical sites there that are highly valued by Sikhs, Hindus and Buddhists as well.
So that is what I'd put as the number 1 reason: The conflict over Kashmir is a conflict over a region with significance to multiple different religions.
The second reason is the partition between India and Pakistan in 1947, where what was once a single colony under Britain became split into two countries, approximately--but not precisely--making India a country of Hindus and Pakistan a country of Muslims. Kashmir was right on the border, and both India and Pakistan wanted it; so the compromise was made splitting it in half (akin to East and West Berlin around the same time). In fact Kashmir is mostly Muslim, so Pakistan probably had the better claim; but India is economically and militarily stronger.
The third reason is that Kashmir itself had a quasi-independent government in 1947, and was trying to become a third independent country separate from both India and Pakistan--something that neither India nor Pakistan was willing to allow.
India and Pakistan been fighting over Kashmir on and off ever since, and now they have nuclear weapons pointed at each other.
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