ABSTRACT
Much has been written on the history of Kashmir conflict and Indo-Pakistani relations; therefore, the purpose of Part 1 of the book is not to present an exhaustive and detailed historical reconstruction of this protracted imbroglio, but rather to enumerate and analyse the selected pre- and post-partition events/policies that are particularly vital for the adequate understanding of the conflict's roots and over seven-decade dynamics. Correspondingly, the key assumption of this introductory chapter is that studying the dispute in such a tailored manner enables to decode current complexities related to Indo-Pakistani feud and both states’ policies vis-à-vis Kashmir. By triggering the costly arms race and mainstreaming politicised communalism, which nurtures hawkish nationalisms, the leaderships of India and Pakistan have thwarted prospects for conflict settlement and peaceful cooperation. Conversely, they have entangled both nations in escalation-prone hostilities, confrontational rhetoric with limited space for dialogue. Indo-Pakistani relations need to be contextualised not only as a post-colonial legacy and a matter of bilateral antagonisms, but also within major geostrategic and socio-political trajectories, including democratic backsliding and its consequences, the problem of terrorism, Pakistan's proxy strategy, evolving security-related alliances, with a wider international context: the role of such actors, such as the United States or China. These ramifications constitute an important analytical framework for the investigation, which is pursued in subsequent chapters of the book: what role Kashmir and the Kashmiris play in India's and Pakistan's domestic and international policies.
