The Secessionist Movement in Jammu and Kashmir and India–Pakistan Relations 1

Abstract

The secessionist movement in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) plays a central role in India–Pakistan bilateral relations. New Delhi’s ability or the lack thereof to pacify the internal conflict in J&K has major implications for the larger conflict resolution process with Pakistan, and the nature of its diplomatic negotiations with Pakistan on the Kashmir question, in turn, directly impacts the conflict in Kashmir. Moreover, an unmanaged rebellion in Kashmir could prove to be expensive for India due to a variety of external and internal factors. The nature, politics, demands and ideological orientation of the contemporary insurgency in J&K differs from that of the 1990s in many significant ways. Conflict resolution in J&K would need to be aware of such differences to be successful.