Kashmir: Roots of Conflict and Paths of Peace

The Kashmir dispute dates from 1947. The partition of the Indian sub-continent along religious lines led to the formation of India and Pakistan. However, there remained the problem of over 650 states, run by princes, existing within the two newly independent countries. In theory, these princely states had the option of deciding which country to join, or of remaining independent. In practice, the restive population of each province proved decisive. The United Nations and its member states have brokered peace in Kashmir since the beginning, and going forward, they will be called on to do the same. The UN mission on the ground, as well as the diplomats around the world, must continue to walk the tight line of limiting violence and encouraging human rights, while respecting Indian and Pakistani sovereignty. The Kargil War, also known as the Kargil conflict, was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan that took place between May and July 1999 in the Kargil district of Kashmir and elsewhere along the Line of Control (LOC). The conflict is also referred to as Operation Vijay (Victory in Hindi) which was the name of the Indian operation to clear the Kargil sector. It is hoped that the book would be of great value to the researchers and students of defence studies and the common readers.