Hindus and Muslims shared a strong historical, cultural, civilisational and geographical affinity before the arrival of colonial Britain. The Western insistence on modernisation and hyper-materialism found limited space in the Indian masses, especially within the Muslim denomination, although a section of society was influenced by the system of Western values. The emergence of ethnic states in various parts of the world and the political ambitions of leaders such as Muhammad Ali Jinnah ultimately led to the partition of India on communal grounds in 1947. The bitter sectarian violence during partition and the subsequent conflict over Kashmir set the stage for unending hostility between secular India and theocratic Pakistan. The latter state's overwhelming faith in offensive power monism places the military at the forefront of national security and foreign policy agendas. In contrast, India's secular and defensive security postures make Pakistan less vulnerable but more aggressive. This article provides a sociological and political understanding of the enduring hostility between the two South Asian nuclear powers.
