The Kashmir Issue and the United Nations

Since independence of India and Pakistan in 1947, Kashmir has remained a subject of issue between India and Pakistan. They have fought three wars on the dispute and Kashmir issue continue to be a source of irritant in their relations. This is a politicoreligious conflict reflecting elements of secession, self-rule and greater economic control. Its effects are not only felt across the border but also global, with its potential to lead to war between two nuclear weapon states. The Kashmir conflict, however, apparently appears to be an outcome of a ‘çommuno-legal ’dispute, with Pakistan advocating for a communal solution to the conflict, while India sticking to legal aspect of the accession as per the Indian Independence Act 1947. The entire South Asian geopolitics is focussed on the Kashmir, and the peace in the region necessarily depends on the successful resolution to the dispute. Third party involvement or mediation is one of the methods to resolve the conflict. Mediation is the process of conflict resolution. In Kashmir conflict, the major involvement to the conflict resolution is the role of the United Nations Organization. The United Nations Organization has played an important role in maintaining peace and order in Jammu and Kashmir soon after the independence of India and Pakistan in 1947, when a dispute erupted between the two states on the question of Jammu and Kashmir. The main focus of this Paper is on the brief history of Kashmir problem, how the problem was taken to the notice of the United Nations organization, Security Council's efforts to resolve the conflict by passing various Resolutions, by setting up various Commissions, its Directions to the conflicting States, the efforts of various Delegates appointed by the United Nations from among its member-states from time to time and the ultimate failure of the United Nations Organization in solving the Kashmir problem.