Issue Brief on “Kashmir Dispute and Strategic Stability of South Asia”

Introduction

Strategic stability in South Asia relies on a fragile balance shaped by unresolved historical disputes, unequal power relations, and the presence of nuclear weapons. The Jammu and Kashmir dispute is at the heart of this unstable balance. It is an ongoing struggle that keeps the region unstable. The Jammu and Kashmir dispute has been the main cause of strife between India and Pakistan for more than seventy years. On number of occasions, it has brought this region to the brink of war. The nuclear deterrence has thus far prevented full-scale conflict between the two arch rivals as happened in 1948, 1965, and 1971, but it has not brought about lasting peace either. The long-standing Jammu and Kashmir dispute has led to cycles of crises, militarisation, arms races, and political deadlock, making South Asia the most unstable nuclear region in the world. A meaningful assessment of regional security must therefore place the Jammu and Kashmir dispute at the centre of South Asia's strategic stability dialogue.

Historical Origins and Strategic Centrality of Jammu and Kashmir Dispute

The origins of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute stem from the defective decolonisation process of British India in 1947. The disputed accession of the Princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, accompanied by armed warfare and territorial demarcation along the Line of Control, established the territory as a persistent fault line between India and Pakistan. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions recognised the contentious status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and upheld the right to self-determination for its populace; yet, their persistent non-implementation has exacerbated the conflict and solidified animosity.

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