An Analysis of Pak-India Rivalry over Kashmir Dispute: A Conflict Resolution Approach

Abstract

Kashmir is known to be a heaven on earth for centuries. This earthly paradise turns out to be a hell for the last seventy-three years of history. Kashmir conflict, on the contrary, remains a bone of contention amid India and Pakistan since independence. The Kashmir dispute is an extremely complicated phenomenon that offers an inflexible contest to the modern approaches of conflict resolution. The conflict of Kashmir needs a viable resolution because both antagonist states are nuclear powers of the region, which may have
devastating consequences since it undoubtedly keeps the global and regional peace at risk. The end of this seemingly unending conflict demands unprejudiced and just efforts to create new opportunities for cooperation. No party at present exhibits willingness to leave its principled stance hurdling the possible solution of this dispute, although an agreement among three stakeholders can make the dream of Kashmir's self-determination come true. This research aims to analyze the possibilities of normalization of India and
Pakistan's relationship while highlighting various options for peaceful resolution of the Kashmir conflict. In the present scenario, it would be necessary to condition Pakistan and India's people to reach out a workable solution to the Kashmir issue in a win/win situation by adopting a give and take strategy as a conflict resolution approach.