Kashmir dispute and its impact on India-Pakistan relations

Geopolitical significance is an important aspect of relation between and among states which have common borders. The geo-political, significance of Kashmir has put India and Pakistan on formidable wars from last more than sixty five years. The present paper offers an explanation of contemporary bilateral relations of India and Pakistan in the context of the Kashmir dispute. Looking at the historical background of the conflict, it explains how the Kashmir conflict has become a thorn in the bilateral relations of India and Pakistan. The paper is designed to analyse the true nature of India-Pakistan conflicts and its long term consequences. An attempt has therefore been made to understand the impact of Kashmir conflict on Indo-Pak bi-lateral relationship. Finally, the paper concludes with an argument that unless the Kashmir dispute is resolved, the relation between India and Pakistan will remain disrupted. Since Kashmir dispute lies at the core of conflict between the two countries, it would be appropriate to have a look on the position of both these countries over the Kashmir dispute. The partition of India, as was to be expected, did not resolve the problems of the two communities. Instead of ending the Hindu-Muslim conflict, it merely elevated the inter-community blood-bath into inter-state rivalry and even failed to prevent Hindus and Sikhs on one side and Muslims on the other from getting at each other's throat. Thus, in order to bring stability in their bi-lateral relationship, it is imperative to solve this issue permanently as soon as possible.