CSS Pakistan Affairs | Role of Kashmir Conflict in India Pakistan Relations
The following question of CSS Pakistan Affairs is solved by Eman Ashraf under the supervision of Howfiv’s Pakistan Affairs and Current Affairs Coaches: Miss Iqra Ali and Sir Ammar Hashmi. She learnt how to attempt 20 marks question and essay writing from Sir Syed Kazim Ali, Pakistan’s best CSS and PMS English essay and precis teacher with the highest success rate of his students. This solved question is attempted on the pattern taught by Sir to his students, scoring the highest marks in compulsory and optional subjects for years.
Outline
1- Introduction
2- The Root of Kashmir Conflict
3- How Kashmir conflict has shaped Ind-Pak Relations?
- ✓Strategic Hostility and repeated wars
- ✓Diplomatic deadlocks and derailed peace struggles
- ✓Article 370 Abrogation(2019) and its repercussions
- ✓Security Dilemma and Nuclearization
- ✓Humanitarian Impacts of the conflict
- ✓International Mediation and Strategic shifts
4- Critical Analysis
5- Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction
The Kashmir conflict has been a bone of contention between Pakistan and India, significantly determining their relations since partition. This princely state sparked the first war of 1947 between both countries and has been a cause of recurring wars. This conflict led to multiple diplomatic deadlocks, militarization, strained peace struggles, and humanitarian impacts. Kashmir is not only a cause of distress for India and Pakistan, but also a cause of prolonged instability for the region. In a nutshell, the Kashmir issue has its deep roots in history, which requires strong bilateral negotiations and compromise from both the states to maintain non-hostile relations between both countries as well as regional stability.
The Root of Kashmir Conflict
At the time of partition, the princely states were given as option to either join India or Pakistan based on their religion, geography proximity, and culture.They were also given an option of being independent on certain conditions. The Muslim majority princely state of Kashmir, ruled by Hindu Maharaja Hari Singh, first chose to remain independent. But, when Muslims on the western border of the state and Pashtun tribesmen entered the territory, Hari Singh signed an instrument of accession with India on October 26,1947 to get rid of this situation. Pakistan rejected this agreement and as a result India sent its military to Kashmir to occupy the state. This escalated the first war between India and Pakistan. Despite of UN’s recommendation of holding a plebiscite, India did not accept the option. However, the war stopped in 1949 when India and Pakistan established a ceasefire line called LOC and the region became divided in two parts.
How Kashmir conflict has shaped Indo-Pak Relations?
The Kashmir conflict has been a fundamental part in defining India and Pakistan relations. It has affected both countries diplomatic ties in many ways.
- Strategic Hostility and repeated wars
The Kashmir cause has fueled multiple wars between India and Pakistan. In 1965, Pakistan launched Operation Gibralter, infiltrating military troops in Indian occupied Kashmir to incite insurgency in Muslim majority. This escalated a full scale war between India and Pakistan resulting in Tashkent agreement. Similarly, the Kargil Conflict (1999) further dismantled the diplomatic relations and hardened Indian point of view of Pakistan’s involvement in cross border terrorism. And the recent Pahalgham attack (2025) also disturbed diplomatic ties of India and Pakistan. Hence, it is evident that Kashmir conflict has always sparked the militarization and disrupted the relation of both countries.
- Diplomatic deadlocks and derailed peace struggles
The Kashmir conflict has consistently interrupted the Diplomatic ties and peace making efforts. For Instance, major peace initiatives like Agha summit (2001) and composite dialogue process (2004-2008) collapsed due to the terrorist attacks on Indian Parliament in 2001 followed by Mumbai attacks 2008.India accused Pakistan of supporting proxy warfare in Kashmir through groups like Lashkr-e-Tayba and Jaish-e-Muhammad. Thus, Kashmir has negatively impacted peace making efforts, progressive trade, and regional integration and has deepened mistrust between India and Pakistan.
- Article 370 Abrogation(2019) and its Repercussions
In 2019, India unilaterally revoked the article 370 and dismissed the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, bifurcation it into two union territories. Pakistan condemned this move by declaring this a violation of international law. Pakistan halted the bilateral trade, downgraded the diplomatic relations and went for International intervention through UN and OIC. India insisted on the argument that it was an internal matter. This move grabbed international attention but very limited. Consequently, the diplomatic relations reached a deep freeze, with suspended dialogues and intensified hostility.
- Security Dilemma and Nuclearization
The Kashmir conflict has raised concerns over nuclear threat for the region. In, 1998, both countries were declared as nuclear powers. Since then any military confrontation, particularly over Kashmir, highlights security risks for the region and for globe making Kashmir as a geopolitical issue. The 2019 Pulwama-Balakot attack, which included aerial strikes and military escalation, demonstrated the significance of Kashmir conflict as a risk of nuclear shadow for the region. Hence, Kashmir causes a dangerous edge for South Asia as well as raising global security concerns.
- Humanitarian Impacts of the Conflict
Kashmiri people remain the most affected and trapped in a militarized conflict between two countries.
“When the rich make war, it’s the poor that die.”
Jean-Paul Sartre
This conflict has cost many civilians lives and hampered cross border educational, cultural, and economic ties. Several ceasefire violations have led to many civilian casualties on both sides of LOC. In Indian administered Kashmir, violation of basic human rights has drawn criticism from human rights organizations. Cross border initiatives like bus service and cultural exchange has suffered because of political tensions.
- International Mediation and Strategic shifts
Pakistan has always represented the Kashmir conflict of international forums like UN and OIC, whereas, India insists that it is a bilateral issue as per the Shimla Agreement. On the other hand, China has its own sake through Aksai Chin and CPEC running through Gilgit Baltistan. China wants peace in the region to succeed its BRI program, which increases Kashmir’s geopolitical significance.This demonstrates that Kashmir is not only a bilateral conflict, but also a global concern involving power dynamics of China and USA.
Critical Analysis
Critically, the issue of Kashmir between India and Pakistan is highly complex and requires a wise solution safeguarding the interest of Kashmiri people. Without any effective efforts towards the issue, the bilateral relations of India and Pakistan cannot be improved in a long run. Otherwise, the disastrous impacts of this rivalry would impact the whole globe. Both countries should work collectively on peace making efforts and establish social, economic and cultural ties to maintain the regional peace and stability.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, the Kashmir issue is multidimensional and has deeply affected Pakistan and India relations throughout the history. Undoubtedly, all the efforts in the past to resolve this conflict including international mediation has not laid any favorable results. However, the changing world dynamics can play a significant role in the near future. China will participate actively in Kashmir issue after being a global power, and find a solution of this decades long dispute. As China always prioritizes peace, so this can be considered as a hope for resolving this dispute.
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