SYSTEMATIC CHANGES IN DEMOGRAPHIC COMPOSITION OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR BY INDIA AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE RESOLUTION OF KASHMIR CONFLICT

Abstract

This research study on Indian demographic engineering traces specific administrative and legal measures that successive Indian governments initiated for demographic engineering in Jammu and Kashmir while the current BJP government crossed all limits and made unilateral moves to annex Kashmir in complete disregard to United Nations Security Council Resolutions and bilateral agreements between India and Pakistan. As a theoretical framework, the study used the Theory of Political Demography developed by Jack A. Goldstone, Eric P. Kaufmann and Monica D. Toft that explains how international security as well as national politics is being shaped by changes in population. Indian administrative measures for demographic engineering among others include grab of land and setting up of colonies for Sainik and KashmiriPanditswhile on the legal front, India eroded special status of the state by changing Article 370 and carving out two union territories to be governed directly from the centre. The study concludes that Indian unilateral
moves in Kashmir not only created serious problems for final settlement of dispute but also spurred tensions between two nuclear states putting at risk the regional peace and security. The study provides pertinent recommendations to deal with the situation.