ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book aims to provide India’s disputed borderlands with that of China’s. It focuses on Kashmir and the Indian northeast. The secessionist groups have been fighting for the achievement of political independence, or at least more autonomy. The central issue has primarily revolved around self-determination and sovereignty. In terms of peacebuilding, a demilitarisation has been suggested, since this would give the local people some breathing space and would allow them to think in normal, human and political ways. The book argues that although there is a difference in the nature of the political systems of the two countries, they have similar problems in their respective borderland provinces, and the central government of both countries have treated their borderland problems in a very similar way.
