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India-Pakistan Relations: An Enduring Rivalry[

Submitted to:

D R. Razia Sultana

By:

Jamshed Khan

M. Phil 2 st

Department of HistoryQUAID-I-A AM U!I"#$SI%&


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Islamabad-Pa'istan

Contents

Introdu(tion))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) *Histori(al +a(',round))))))))))))))))))))))))...%heories of #ndurin, $i alry)))))))))))))))))))))) /Seeds of the $i alry bet0een India and Pa'istan)))))))))))))).. 1

34 %he po0er asymmetry)))))))))))))))))))) 124 Se(urity 5ompetition bet0een the %0o 5ountries))))))))).. 6*4 7ashmir: A stumblin, +lo(' to Pea(e)))))))))))))). 38

4 India9s He,emoni( Desi,n and Pa'istan))))))))))))).. 32/4 $ole of # ternal ;a(tors in Indo-Pa' $elations))))))))))... 3/

Ho0 (an this ri alry (ome to an endournalist on 33 Mar(h 3= 6? in ans0er to a

@uestion 0hether there 0as any hope of India and Pa'istan rea(hin, a pea(eful

India-Pakistan Relations: An Enduring Rivalry2


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settlement? Quaid-i-a am Mohammad Ali Binnah said? Cyes? pro ided Indian ,o ernment sheds

its superiority (omple and deals 0ith Pa'istan on an e@ual footin, and fully appre(iates the realities. 3

%his statement ,i es us an insi,ht into the underlyin, reason for the unendin, (onfli(t

bet0een the t0o nations.

Unfortunately? sin(e their independen(e? India and Pa'istan ha e rarely

e perien(e a happy phase in their relations. Immediately after their independen(e the

story of both states started 0ith 0ars? tensions? mistrust and misper(eption. ;our times

they ha e ,one to 0ar. %he hostile relationship bet0een the t0o (ountries ha e resulted

in both states e(onomi( as 0ell as politi(al and se(urity (hallen,es and has also se erely

affe(ted the se(urity en ironment of the 0hole re,ion. %here 0ere also brief periods

0hen these relations (ould be des(ribed as normal and (ordial. Ho0e er? this 0as an

e (eption rather than a normal pra(ti(e. Many efforts 0ere made by both (ountries tonormali e these relations? but all ha e pro ed fruitless. Immediately after independen(e

they fou,ht a 0ar o er the issue of 7ashmirE in 3=1/ they fou,ht another 0ar o er the

same issue. In 3=F3 the t0o (ountries 0ent to another 0ar that led to the separation of

#ast Pa'istan. In 3=== they fou,ht on(e a,ain o er the 7ar,il hills. As a result of these

hostile relations? both nations ha e suffered (onsiderable losses in term of life and

material. Instead of brin,in, pea(e and prosperity to their ast ma>ority of population

both the states feel threatened and inse(ure by ea(h other.

%he Indian-Pa'istan ri alry remains one of the most endurin, and unresol ed

(onfli(t of our times. +e,in in the aftermath of the birth of the t0o states from +ritish

(olonial rule in 3= F? it has (ontinued for 0ell o er half a (entury 0ith periodi( 0ars and

(rises eruptin, bet0een t0o ri als. %he (onfli(t has affe(ted all 'ey dimensions of inter-

state and so(ietal relation of the t0o anta,onists. Despite o((asional pea(e it sho0s no

si,ns of a permanent settlement in the near future. Sin(e the late 3=68s? the open

a(@uisition of nu(lear 0eapon by the t0o states? the in(reasin, number of (rises

in ol in, them? and the introdu(tion of terrorist ta(ti(s into the (onfli(t ha e led to he

hei,htened possibility of a (ata(lysmi( 0ar brea'in, out in South Asia 0ith unima,inable

3 !oor ul Ha@? CPa'istan and the Indian @uest for he,emony ? I pri journal ? ol. III? !o. 2?

summer 288*? p.23.

India-Pakistan Relations: An Enduring Rivalry*


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(onse@uen(es. 2 %hus the South Asian (onfli(t and re,ional se(urity dynami(s re ol e

basi(ally around the ri alry and anta,onism bet0een India and Pa'istan.

%he purpose of this paper is to understand the phenomenon of India GPa'istan

endurin, ri alry. It is an attempt to 'no0 the seeds and (auses of persisten(y of this

ri alry e en 0hen some other lon,-runnin, (onfli(ts in different parts of the 0orld ha e

(ome to an end. %hese are follo0ed by su,,estions and (on(lusion.

Historical Background

%he history of Indo-Pa' relation is a story of t0o hostile nei,hbors? ha in,

different reli,ious ideolo,ies? different so(io-e(onomi( bases and (onfli(tin, national

interest. Its reality (an be best des(ribed as a di(hotomous modelE one 0here the t0o

(ountries are seen as lo('ed in a ero-sum (onfli(t i-e the ,ain for one is seen as the loss

of the other. A ariety of histori(al? psy(holo,i(al and so(ial fa(tors lie at the heart of this

anta,onisti( relationship.

Mutual distrust and anta,onism mar'ed the relations bet0een t0o (ountries sin(e

3= F 0hen they a(hie ed their independen(e. %hey fou,ht three 0ars 3= F- 6? 3=1/?

and 3=F34? and on at least four o((asions 3=6F? 3==8? 3=== and 2882? they 0ere at the

brin' of a ma>or armed (onfli(t. %here 0ere also brief periods 0hen these relations (ould

be des(ribed as normal and (ordial. Ho0e er? this 0as an e (eption rather than a normal pra(ti(e in their bilateral relations. %he moti e? 0hi(h impelled both India and Pa'istan

to0ards a(rimony and ri alry Care embedded in history and politi(s of the Sub-

5ontinent. * ;rom the ery be,innin,? the relations bet0een the t0o (ountries are mar'ed

by (onfli(t and dis(ordE mutual distrust and suspi(ionsE and misper(eption and 0ars. %he

most important e ents that really affe(ted the relations bet0een these t0o anta,onists areE

the saddest e ent of 3=F3 0ar- the separation of #ast Pa'istan and the (reation of ne0

2

%.". Paul? C5auses of the India-Pa'istan endurin, ri alry ? in %.". Paul edited4? %he India-Pa'istan (onfli(t An endurin, ri alry. Cambridge: Camridge university press ? !o ember 288/4?

p. *.

* Munt ra !a ir? C%he politi(al and strate,i( Dimensions in Indo-Pa'istan $elations 3=66-

288 4 ? Pakistan vision ? ol./? !o. 2? De(ember 288 ? p. 23.

India-Pakistan Relations: An Enduring Rivalry


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state of +an,ladeshE the 3=== 7ar,il (rises bet0een India and Pa'istanE the terrorist

atta(' on the Indian parliament on 3* De(ember 2883 and the terrorist atta(' on Indian

rail0ays in Au,ust 2881 Mumbai 0hi(h dama,e the pa(e of the pea(e pro(ess bet0een

the t0o (ountries. %he C(ru of the diffi(ulties bet0een the t0o states is the 7ashmir

issue. 7ashmir issue has bede iled relations bet0een the t0o (ountries sin(e their

independen(e.

%he ri alry bet0een the t0o (ountries intensified 0hen India be,an to assert its

role as the he,emoni( po0er in the re,ionE Pa'istan? thou,h a((epted India as a

si,nifi(ant role player in the re,ion? sou,ht to resist its attempts for domination.

5onse@uently? at the most of the time Pa'istan9s forei,n poli(y to0ards India has been

rea(ti e.

India and Pa'istan ha e follo0ed a Cs0in, model of relations 0hereby the pendulum of the relationship s0in,s from one end to the other G (onfli(t in May 3==6 to

pea(e in ;ebruary 3=== to (onfli(t in May 3=== to pea(e in !o ember 2883 to (onfli(t

in De(ember 2883 to pea(e in April 288* to further pea(e in Banuary 288 to !o ember

2886. / !o0adays the relations are a,ain ery mu(h tense and poised and does not need

more than a fe0 hours to inter into a (onfli(t situation? be(ause of the 2F th !o ember

terrorists atta(' on %a> Mehal hotel in Mumbai. India is o er0helmed by 0a es of

sorro0 and an,er. Despite Pa'istan9s re>e(tions of all imputations of in ol ement in the

terrorist atta('? Indian ,o ernment is pointin, its fin,er at Pa'istan.

Theories of Enduring Rivalry

#ndurin, ri alries are defined as (onfli(ts bet0een t0o or more states that last

more than t0o de(ades 0ith se eral militari ed inter-state disputes pun(tuatin, the

relationship in bet0een. An endurin, ri alry is (hara(teri ed by a Cpersistent?

fundamental? and lon, term in(ompatibility of ,oals bet0een t0o states? 0hi(h

Cmanifests itself in the basi( attitudes of the parties to0ard ea(h other as 0ell as in

Ibid.

/ .,oo,le.(om 5ost of (onfli(t bet0een India and Pa'istan? 288 0i'ipediaen(y(lopedia. htm

India-Pakistan Relations: An Enduring Rivalry/
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re(urrin, iolent or potentially iolent (lashes o er a lon, period of time. 1 Althou,h

there is differen(e of opinion amon, analysts on the number of disputes and inter-state

(rises re@uired for (allin, a ri alry Cendurin, . A((ordin, to Paul Diehl and Jary Joert ?

an endurin, ri alry as one that in ol es at least si militari ed disputes durin, a t0enty

year period. %his spe(ifi(ation? a((ordin, to them? allo0s definin, the (on(ept alon,

Cspatial (onsisten(y? duration and militari ed (ompetition. F In other 0ords? an endurin,

ri alry (annot be episodi( or of short durationE it should be on,oin, for a reasonably lon,

period on a (ontinuous basis before it (an be termed Cendurin, . #ndurin, ri alries are

also (alled Cprotra(ted (onfli(ts? but the main differen(e bet0een the t0o (on(epts are

perhaps lie in the inter-state dimension of the farmer. here a protra(ted (onfli(t (an be

internal or intra-state? in ol in, state and or non-state a(tors? an endurin, ri alry

spe(ially refers to inter-state (onfli(t.An endurin, ri alry is often (hara(teri ed by ero-sum perspe(ti es on the part of

the parti(ipants. %he (onfli(t (an be(ome entren(hed and so(ietal as parties ie0 ea(h

other as hi,hly threatenin, to their se(urity and physi(al sur i al. #ndurin, ri alries tend

to be typified by periodi( inter-state (rises and? in some instan(es? 0ar? althou,h 0ar is

not a ne(essary (ondition for a ri alry to be (ate,ori ed as Cendurin, . Bohn "as@ue

ar,ues that relati e e@uality in po0er (apabilities is ne(essary for a ri alry to remain

endurin,? sin(e in a hi,hly une@ual po0er situation the stron,er party 0ill in ,eneral be

able to impose its 0ill on the 0ea'er side and put an end to the (onfli(t. 6

Seeds of the $i alry bet0een India and Pa'istan

1 %.". Paul? C(auses of the India GPa'istan endurin, ri alry ? in %.". Paul edited4? %he India-

Pa'istan (onfli(t An endurin, ri alry. Cambridge: Cambridge university press ? !o ember

288/4? p.*- .

F Ibid. p. .

6 Ibid.



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%he present (onfli(t bet0een India and Pa'istan is a le,a(y of the past. %here are

a number of reasons behind the Indo- Pa' persistent ri alry? of 0hi(h? the most important

are dis(ussed belo0E

(1) The power asy etry! %he India-Pa'istan po0er relationship is (hara(teri ed by a

distin(t form of po0er asymmetry. %he inability of either state to impose a settlement or

(on in(e the other to ma'e si,nifi(ant (on(essions is be(ause of the pe(uliar po0er

asymmetry that has e isted bet0een the t0o states. India is o er se en times lar,er than

Pa'istan in population and si e of natural e(onomy? and four times in territorial si e.

Ho0e er? Pa'istan has been able to borro0 po0er to balan(e India throu,h e ternally

pro(ured military (apabilities and ali,nment 0ith outside po0ers. Until the 3=68s ?the

Pa'istani e(onomy also performed sli,htly bitter than India due lar,ely to e ternal aid?remittan(es of Pa'istani e patriate 0or'ers? and its embra(ed of limited free mar'et

e(onomi( poli(ies. Ho0e er? this situation be,an to (han,e after India laun(hed its poli(y

of e(onomi( liberali ation in 3==3. As the po0er differential bet0een the t0o (ountries

in terms of e(onomi( and (on entional military stren,th be,an to alter in India9s fa or

after the early 3==8s? Islamabad in(reasin,ly resorted to asymmetri( strate,ies su(h as

supportin, insur,en(y and pro y 0ar to (ontinue its stru,,le 0ith India. =

Until 3=1/? India9s defense posture a,ainst Pa'istan 0as based on Cmat(hin,

(apabilities but sin(e 3=1/ India9s poli(y has been to maintain Csuffi(ient deterren(e or

a Csli,ht ed,e in its for(e deployments is-K- is Pa'istan. %hus? in 3=1/ India possessed

se en di isions 0hile Pa'istan had si ? 0ith Pa'istan holdin, @ualitati e superiority in

tan's and air(raft. Sin(e 3=F3? India has maintained the Csli,ht in both @ualitati e and

@uantitati e defense areas. ith the a(@uisitions of nu(lear 0eapons? Pa'istan belie es

that it has obtained a C,reat e@uali er at strate,i( le el? sin(e its missiles (an hit most

parts of India. ;urthermore? the politi(o-military support that Pa'istan en>oyed off and on

from US and (ontinuously from 5hina sin(e the 3=18s has enabled Pa'istan to redu(e the

po0er asymmetry 0ith India. hile the US ,a e aid 0ith the intention of usin, Pa'istan

= %.". Paul? C5auses of the India-Pa'istan endurin, ? in %.". Paul edited4? %he India-Pa'istan

(onfli(t An endurin, ri alry. Cambridge: Cambridge university press ? !o ember 288/4? p.32

India-Pakistan Relations: An Enduring RivalryF


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for its lar,er strate,i( ,oals? Pa'istan9s main ,oal has al0ays been to in(rease its

(apabilities is-K- is India.6 Some ar,ue that the period of Indian military preponderan(e

0as asso(iated 0ith stability or absen(e of 0ar and (rises in South Asia. Durin, 3=F2-6F?

Pa'istan 0as 0ea'ened (onsiderably follo0in, its defeat in the +an,ladesh of 3=F3.

%hus? nu(lear a(@uisition is ie0ed by the Pa'istan military elite as 0ay to e@uali e the

po0er relationship 0ith India and as a (o er for (ondu(tin, sub strate,i( le el operations

in 7ashmir 0ith more i,or. 38

%he pe(uliar po0er asymmetry bet0een India and Pa'istan has also ,enerated

different patterns of resol e and resentment. Most often? the 0ea'er party has sho0n

more resol e to a(@uire the territory throu,h military means? in(ludin, ,uerrillas terrorist

operations. %he sense of resentment is hi,her in the 0ea'er party as the status @uo seems

to fa or the stron,er side. ;urther? the territorial dismemberment in 3=F3 solidified thee istin, resentment of Pa'istan about the Cunfairness of territorial di isions. %his hi,h

le el of resentment amon, Pa'istanis tends to manifest itself intensely in so(ietal

dimensions? espe(ially the tea(hin, of history that perpetuates ne,ati e and stereotypi(al

ima,es of India and Hindu reli,ion. Indian also holds stereotypi(al ima,es of Pa'istanis?

as is e ident in the often ne,ati e media (o era,e of that (ountry and the bur,eonin,

number of +olly0ood mo ies 0ith anti-Pa'istan themes .33

%he India-Pa'istan po0er asymmetry is affe(ted by per(eptions that ea(h side

holds of the other. Mu(h of the Pa'istani elite belie e that India and Pa'istan ou,ht to be

(oe@uals ,eopoliti(ally and it sees relati e parity in military and diplomati( terms as a

,oal 0orth stri in, for? e en at a hi,h (ost to so(iety. %hus? India9s efforts at a(hie in,

ma>or po0er status and ,ainin, permanent membership in the U! Se(urity 5oun(il are

ie0ed 0ith ,reat alarm and all means are employed to a ert this prospe(t. Pa'istan fears

that Indian he,emony in the sub(ontinent 0ill ad ersely affe(t its se(urity and po0er

position. Sin(e independen(e? Pa'istan has (onsistently pursued a poli(y of obtainin,

parity 0ith India? often throu,h military and diplomati( means. Ali,nment 0ith outside

po0ers and the a(@uisition of @ualitati ely superior 0eaponry ha e been t0o 'ey plan's

38 Ibid. p.3*-31.

33 Ibid. p.31-3F.



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of this strate,y. 32 %he nu(lear arms ra(e bet0een the t0o states has been another basis for

the parity notion. So? as dis(ussed at the start that? the inability of either state to impose a

settlement or (on in(e the other to ma'e si,nifi(ant (on(essions is be(ause of the

pe(uliar po0er asymmetry that e isted bet0een the t0o states.

(") #ecurity Co petition $etween the Two Countries! Se(urity (ompetition

in South Asia dates ba(' to the dissolution of the +ritish $a> in 3= F? 0hi(h resulted in

the birth of t0o su((essor states? India and Pa'istan. %he partition of +ritish India 0as a

traumati( e ent that in ol ed an artifi(ial di ision of territory? the uprootin, of about ten

million indi iduals? and the death of perhaps a @uarter of a million people in iolen(e that

a((ompanied the ,reatest mass mi,ration in modern history. hat 0as perhaps most

problemati( about this e ent? finally? 0as the fa(t that neither of the t0o states appeared

to be satisfied 0ith its out(ome. India ie0ed partition as unne(essary and tra,i(? but

essentially (omplete. Pa'istan ie0ed partition as ine itable and ne(essary? but

fundamentally in(omplete be(ause 7ashmir? a Muslim ma>ority state? remained 0ith

India .%he loss of 7ashmir 0as hi,hly si,nifi(ant be(ause it 0as the last (omponent

ne(essary to (omplete the ision Pa'istan9s founder had of a (ohesi e republi( (omposed

of all the ad>oinin, north0estern Muslim ma>ority areas of erst0hile +ritish India. 3*

Ji in, this history? the (ompetition bet0een India and Pa'istan ismultidimensional. ;irst there is a (ontest o er territory. +esides 7ashmir? there are

unresol ed territorial disputes o er the Sia(hen Jla((ier? 0here India and Pa'istan

(ontinue to fi,ht an a(ti e? hi,h-altitude 0ar? and o er Sir 5ree' in the $ann of 7ut(h?

0here in 3=1 both states fou,ht a limited a(tion that in(luded the use of armor. %he

ular +arra,e (onstitutes a dispute o er 0ater ri,hts pertainin, to one of the tributaries

of the Indus. Althou,h only 7ashmir (ontains the potential for full-s(ale (on entional

0ar? the others ha e (ontributed to dis(ordant Catmospheri(s and o((asional politi(al

(rises in the past. Se(urity (ompetition is supplemented by (ompetin, politi(al isions

and (ontested identities. India dra0s its inspiration from the ideal of liberal demo(ra(y?

0hi(h in(ludes se(ularism? e en as it stru,,les to a((ommodate ne0 re isionist parties32Ibid? p.3F-36

3* .,oo,le.(om Stability in South Asia i'ipedia en(y(lopedia.htm

India-Pakistan Relations: An Enduring Rivalry=
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that espouse more self-(ons(ious forms of Hindu nationalism. In (ontrast? Pa'istan not

only dispara,es Indian se(ularism as a myth obs(urin, the reality of Hindu domination?

but also holds out a yet-to-be defined Islam as its preferred ideal o er nonreli,ious

se(ularism. Pa'istan9s ision of itself as the ,uardian state for South Asia9s Muslims?

ho0e er? is (hallen,ed by a dis(on(ertin, empiri(al fa(t: India9s Muslim population is

almost as lar,e as? if not already lar,er than? Pa'istan9s entire population? thus ma'in,

India? not Pa'istan? the lar,er CMuslim state. 3

;inally? Indo-Pa'istan (ompetition is defined by the t0in motifs of dominan(e

and resistan(e. In Indian (on(eptions? true se(urity (an dri e only from an un(hallen,ed

re(o,nition of its standin, as an important state about to a(tuali e its ast potential after

se eral (enturies of di ision and sub>u,ation. India is heir to both an an(ient (i ili ation

and the erst0hile $a>. It possesses a lar,e population and an e tensi e landmass. It has,reat e(onomi(? te(hnolo,i(al? and military potential. %hus for India? sur i al means

sur i al as a ,reat po0er and se(urity has (ome to des(ribed the safety that enables India

to de elop? maintain? and prosper in its politi(al eminen(e. 3/

%his ision of se(urity is by no means dire(ted primarily at intimatin, Pa'istan.

$ather? it dra0s upon India9s per(eptions of itself? its history? its ie0 of the 0orld? and

the role it see's in the ,lobal arena. %he Indian desire for eminen(e en,enders unintended

(onse@uen(es 0here Islamabad is (on(erned. ;rom Islamabad9s point of ie0? the

eminen(e that ,uarantees India permanent se(urity is hi,hly mena(in, and (ould

represent the end of Pa'istan as an autonomous politi(al entity. 5onse@uently? it is

naturally in(lined to resist Indian politi(al dominan(e? by diploma(y 0hen possible but

by for(e if ne(essary. %he sta,e is thus set for (ontinued ri alry bet0een the t0o states.

Politi(al and strate,i( (ir(umstan(es thus ha e (ast Pa'istan as the anti-status-@uo state in

the Indian sub(ontinent. %he ri alry bet0een the t0o (ountries intensified 0hen India

be,an to assert its role as the he,emoni( po0er in the re,ionE Pa'istan? thou,h a((epted

India as a si,nifi(ant role player in the re,ion? sou,ht to resist its attempts for

domination. 5onse@uently? at the most of the time Pa'istan9s forei,n poli(y to0ards India

3 Ibid.

3/ Ibid.



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has been rea(ti e. 31 %his (ompetition is supplemented by the a(hie ement of nu(lear

0eapons by both states. In 3==6? India hei,htened re,ional tension 0ith fi e nu(lear

0eapon tests in(ludin, that of fission tri,,er hydro,en bomb. ithin days Pa'istan also

responded 0ith similar test pro,ram.

(%) &ash ir! ' stu $ling Block to eace! Sin(e independen(e? Pa'istan-India

relations ha e re ol ed mainly around the issue of 7ashmir. %his issue has been a ma>or

bone of (ontention bet0een Pa'istan and India sin(e their independen(e in 3= F. %he t0o

(ountries ha e fou,ht three 0ars a,ainst ea(h other? 0hile the stru,,le for attainin, the

ri,ht of self-determination? 0hi(h 0as bein, (arried out pea(efully in the politi(al arena?

has been transformed into an armed resistan(e mo ement for the lats3 years. %ension

bet0een the t0o (ountries is unli'ely to diminish 0ithout an ami(able resolution of the(onfli(t 3F. India is defyin, the United !ations resolutions that (all for holdin, a

plebis(ite under U! auspi(es to determine Cthe final disposition of the state of Bammu

and 7ashmir. It is in iolations of these resolution and its o0n (ommitments that India is

(ontinuin, its un>ust o((upation of 7ashmir? >ustifyin, its a(tions on arious ,rounds. In

3= F? 0hen their leaders 0ere demandin, di ision of pro in(es on a (ommunal basis?

they (laimed 7ashmir for strate,i( reasons. !o0 they ar,ue that sin(e they belie e in

se(ularism? 7ashmir should be theirs? as its a((ession to Pa'istan 0ould ha e a domino

effe(t in other pro in(es that fa(e ethni( unrest .36

Pa'istan ie0s India9s (ontinued o((upation of 7ashmir as a threat to its se(urity.

%he strate,i( northern areas and the ital railroad of Pa'istan? lin'in, Lahore-Islamabad-

Pesha0ar? 0ould be both under (onstant threat from India if it held 7ashmir. All the

ri ers flo0in, into Pa'istan ori,inate in 7ashmir. C%he shuttin, off of 0ater supplies to

31 Munt ra !a ir? C%he politi(al and Strate,i( Dimensions in Indo-Pa'istan $elations 3=66-

288 4 ? Pakistan vision ? ol. /? !o. 2? De(ember 288 ? p. 23.

3F An IPS Study? CPa'istan-5hina relations in the 23 st 5entury: $e,ional situation? se(urity?e(onomi( and trade (ooperation ? Policy perspective ? ol. 3? !o. 3? April 288 ? p. F836

!oor ul Ha@? CPa'istan and the Indian @uest for he,emony 3= F-288* ? IPRI Journal ? ol. III?

!o. 2? Summer 288*? p. 26.



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the (anals leadin, to Pa'istan in 3= 6 0as indi(ati e of the dama,e that India (ould

infli(t upon Pa'istan. 3=

%he 7ashmir dispute is a le,a(y of the hasty +ritish departure from the Indian

sub(ontinent after di idin, it into t0o. %ill that time it has remained unresol ed. It has

'ept Pa'istan and India di ided and has lar,ely influen(ed the international outloo' of

the t0o (ountries. It has been a ma>or (ause of the armed (onfli(ts bet0een India and

Pa'istan. In fa(t this parti(ular dispute has hampered all the efforts of both states to

normali e their relations. Until it is settled? the threat of 0ar is bound to persist? 0hi(h

(annot help in impro in, the relations of the t0o (ountries. %his issue has infe(ted their

relations so seriously that it is responsible for the failure to rea(h an a,reement on any

other ma>or issue and 0ea'ened the pa(e of any normali ation pro(ess bet0een the t0o

(ountries. +oth nations ha e unfortunately (ontinued to loo' at the issue in an emotionalrather than a rational and realisti( manner.

In re(ent years the 7ashmir issue has ,ained (onsiderable importan(e. It is

per(ei ed as a potential spar' that (ould lead to an e plosi e situation in the re,ion.

A((ordin, to the re(ent history? 7ashmir 0as a predominantly Muslim state 0ith a Hindu

ruler? 0ho? a,ainst the 0ishes of Muslim ma>ority? de(ided to a((ede to India? at the time

of partition of the sub(ontinent. %he de(isions lead to the insur,en(y9 that resulted into a

0ar bet0een India and Pa'istan in 3= F. %he (ease fire 0as established throu,h U!

inter ention? (allin, for holdin, the plebis(ite? 0hi(h 0as ne er held. Sin(e then? it has

been the most outstandin, dispute bet0een India and Pa'istan. 28

Pa'istan has (onsistently maintained that 7ashmir is the (ore9 problem bet0een

the t0o (ountries and until this issue is resol ed? all the attempts to brin, normal(y in

their relations 0ill be fruitless. +oth the parties ha e remained lar,ely infle ible in their

positions. # en? mediatory efforts by some friendly (ountries ha e pro ed fruitless.

Despite the failure of the earlier bilateral efforts? many more 0ere made by Pa'istan to

resol e the dispute throu,h bilateral ne,otiations that all 0ere frustrated by Indian

3= Ibid.? p. 2=.

28 Munt ra !a ir? C%he politi(al and Strate,i( dimensions in Indo-Pa'istan $elations 3=66-

288 4 ? Pakistan Vision ? ol. /? !o. 2? De(ember 288 ? p. *6.



13/24

intransi,en(e. Moti ated by is se(ular ideolo,y and (on(ern that allo0in, one territory to

lea e 0ould (ause a C(hain of se(essionists efforts ? India has tried a ariety of strate,ies

to 'eep 7ashmir in the fold. Arti(le *F8 of the Indian9s (onstitution ,a e the state of

Bammu and 7ashmir a Cspe(ial status 0ith ,reater autonomy than other federal units.

Ho0e er? from the mid-3=18s on0ards? India sou,ht to inte,rate Bammu and 7ashmir

more ti,htly into the rest of the (ountry. %hese efforts may ha e pro o'ed Pa'istan in

3=1/? (ausin, the outbrea' of a se(ond 0ar bet0een the t0o (ountries. 23 Despite the

failure of the earlier bilateral efforts? many more 0ere made by Pa'istan to resol e the

dispute throu,h bilateral ne,otiations that 0ere all frustrated by Indian intransi,en(e.

%hus? 7ashmir dispute pro ed to be the sin,le most important (ause for the deadlo(' and

tension in the relations of bet0een India and Pa'istan. Infa(t? the t0o Indo-Pa' 0ars

3= 6? 3=1/ and a mini 0ar the 7ar,il (onfli(t 3===9 ha e been fou,ht o er this (onfli(tand the ener,ies of the t0o (ountries ha e been ,reatly (onsumed o er the tension

,enerated by this issue. %he stru,,le for freedom that the people of 7ashmir ha e been

en,a,e in for si ty years 0as initially referred to by India as an Cinsur,en(y E later? as

Cmilitan(y E no0 it is referred to as Cterrorism . All these terms are used to mislead

international opinion and to dis,uise the fa(t of the (ontinued for(ible Indian o((upation

of 7ashmir. 22

( ) India*s Hege onic +esign and akistan! It is ine itable for pea(e and se(urity of

the re,ion that all (ountries in it respe(t ea(h other9s so erei,nty and freedom. %he

enmity bet0een India and Pa'istan ,oes ba(' to 3= F? 0hen the ne0 state of Pa'istan

0as (reated despite the intense opposition of the Indian !ational 5on,ress I!54. Later?

the I!5 a((epted Pa'istan in the hope that it 0ould see' reunion 0ith the rest of India.

%he Mahasabha oi(ed the (laim that CIndia is one and indi isible and there 0ill ne er be

23%.". Paul? CAt the heart of the: irredentism and 7ashmir ? in %.". Paul edited4? %he Indian-Pa'istan (onfli(t An endurin, ri alry. Cambridge: Cambridge university press ? !o ember288/4? p.23/. 22

!oor ul Ha@? CPa'istan and the Indian @uest for he,emony 3= F-288* ? IPRI Journal ? ol. III?

!o. 2? Summer 288*? p. 2=.

India-Pakistan Relations: An Enduring Rivalry3*


14/24

pea(e unless and until the separated areas are brou,ht ba(' into the Indian Union and

made inte,ral part thereof. 2*

Pandit Ba0aharlal !ehru? 0ho be(ame the first Prime Minister of India? had

already told Jeneral ;ran' Messer y? Jeneral-Nffi(er 5ommandin,? !orthern 5ommand

India? that his Cdeliberate plan 0ould be to allo0 Binnah to ha e his Pa'istan and then to

ma'e thin, so diffi(ult for theme that they 0ould ha e to (ome on their bended 'nees and

as' to be allo0ed ba(' into India . It is therefore not surprisin, that? immediately after

partition? Binnah (omplained to the 5hief of the "i(eroy9s Staff? Lord Ismay? that e ents

su(h as the influ of refu,ees? et(.? sho0ed that the Indians 0ere determined to stran,le

Pa'istan at birth. 2 %he an(ient (on(ept of A'hand +harat is further stren,thened by the

Hindu belief that they are the inheritors of +ritish imperialism east of Sue . It is in

pursuan(e of this poli(y that India used its armed for(es to o((upy territories that did nota((ede or belon, to it. C%he most alarmin, de elopment 0as India9s resort to arm to

settle the a((ession of three prin(ely states: Buna,adh? Hyderabad and 7ashmir? 0rites

J. . 5houdhry. 2/

Ji in, this history? it be(ome easy to understand the India9s sense of superiority

and its assertions and desi,ns for he,emony in the South Asian re,ion. India9s diplomati(

and military beha ior sho0s a trend? 0hi(h has mo ed India a0ay from !ehr ian belief

that India (ould en>oy international influen(e as military 0ea' status @uo statesE 0hile

post !ehru ian India defines its destiny as a stron, territorial re,ional po0er in the

international sphere. India9s stru(tural ad anta,e in South Asia en,enders in her an

attitude and poli(y of dominan(e in the re,ion. %his has been en(apsulated in 0hat has(ome to be 'no0n as the CIndia Do(trine . +habani Sen Jupta? a leadin, Indian s(holar?

has spe(ified the parameters of this do(trine. He 0rites that India 0ill not tolerate

e ternal inter ention in a (onfli(t situation in any South Asian (ountry if the inter ention

has any impli(it or e pli(it anti-Indian impli(ation. !o South Asian ,o ernment must?

2* Ibid.? p.2*-2 .

2 Ibid.? p.2 .

2/ Ibid.? p.2 -2/.



15/24

therefore? as' for military assistan(e 0ith any anti-Indian basis from any (ountry)If a

south Asian (ountry ,enuinely needs e ternal help to deal 0ith a serious internal (onfli(t

or an intolerable threat to a ,o ernment le,itima(y established? it should as' help from a

number of nei,hborin, (ountries in(ludin, India. %he e (lusion of India from su(h a

(ontin,en(y 0ill be (onsider to be an anti-Indian mo e on the part of the ,o ernment

(on(er. 21

;rom the abo e? it is (lear that the primary ob>e(ti e of the India Do(trine is to

obtain the a((eptan(e of India9s status as the dominant re,ional po0er in south Asia?

from re,ional states as 0ell as from the ma>or e ternal po0ers. %he India Do(trine 0as

first applied in the (ase of Sri Lan'a in 3=6F 0hen the Indian Air for(e had iolated Sri

Lan'an air spa(e in support of Sri Lan'an %amil insur,ents. It 0as follo0ed by an Indo-

Sri Lan'a a((ord 0hi(h had irtually allo0ed Indian military inter ention. After SriLan'a? Indian inter ention 0as 0itnessed in the Maldi es in 3=66. Apparently India had

inter ened to put do0n a (oup? but informed (ir(les indi(ated that all this 0as en,ineered

by India itself. In 3=6=? India had imposed a irtual blo('ed on !epal and this 0as

follo0ed by a deadlo(' o er the rene0al of trade and transit treaties. !epal 0anted to

si,n these treaties separately but India insisted on turnin, them into one treaty. As a

matter of fa(t? it 0as an a(tion a,ainst !epal9s a(@uisition of arms from 5hina in 3=66-

6=? in(ludin, some anti-air(raft ,uns. 2F In all these instan(es? India employed politi(al?

military and e(onomi( po0er to assert its domination in the re,ion. %he efforts is to ,et

an a((eptan(e for 0hat Asho' 7apur has termed an Indo-5entri( po0er stru(ture in

South Asia. 26

"ie0ed in this perspe(ti e? it be(omes (lear that India9s role has al0ays refle(ted

he,emoni( desi,ns in the re,ion. # en at present India is e tremely busy in arms buildup.

21 Mohammad Humayun 7abir? C$e,ional Se(urity in south Asia: A +an,ladesh Perspe(ti e ?

II!! Journal ? ol. 2*? !o. 2? April 2882? p. 321.

2F 5olonel $etd4 Jhulam Sar0ar? CSouth Asian Se(urity Perspe(ti e ? Pakistan "e#ence Revie$ ?

ol. F? !o. 2? inter 3==/? p. 31/.

26 Ibid.

India-Pakistan Relations: An Enduring Rivalry3/


16/24

%hou,h its preparations appear to be aimed at Pa'istan? the fa(t is that they are not

Pa'istan spe(ifi(9. Moreo er? India9s attitude to0ards all of its nei,hbors refle(ts its

he,emoni( plans. %o ensure pea(e and stability in the re,ion in the presen(e of

he,emoni( desi,ns of a bi, (ountry has been a really bu, (hallen,e. 2=

%he ri alry bet0een India and Pa'istan intensified 0hen India be,an to assert its

role as the he,emoni( po0er in the re,ionE Pa'istan? thou,h a((epted India as a

si,nifi(ant role player in the re,ion? sou,ht to resist its attempts for domination.

5onse@uently? at the most of the time Pa'istan9s forei,n poli(y to0ards India has been

rea(ti e. +ein, a 0ea' state? Pa'istan tends to balan(e its allian(e relationship 0ith

multilateral diploma(y. It is ba('ed by a (omparable in(rease in its defense (apability on

the one hand and nu(lear (apability on the other. All this is intended to ensure a rou,h

balan(e of po0er is-K- is India .*8

Pa'istan9s prin(ipal politi(al ob>e(ti e (onsists mainly of resistin, India9s natural

dominan(e in order to preser e both its physi(al se(urity and its de(isional autonomy. Its

deri ati e military ob>e(ti es in(lude defendin, its territorial inte,rity is-K- is India- an

issue of ,reat importan(e ,i en Pa'istan9s e perien(e in 3=F3- and se(urin, the

outstandin, disputed territories? 0hi(h mainly (enter on 0restin, 7ashmir from Indian

Co((upation . *3

%he (ompetiti e nature of these ob>e(ti es ordinarily implies the e isten(e of a

se(urity dilemma in 0hi(h ea(h state? armin, itself for purely defensi e reasons?

inad ertently threatens the se(urity of the other. In the indo-Pa'istani (ase? ho0e er ?the

se(urity dilemma be(omes e en more i(ious and intra(table be(ause of the relati e

superiority of India. Indian attempts at maintainin, su(h superiority only reinfor(e the

Pa'istan per(eption of India as bein, 0illfully determined to Cundo the histori( partition

2= An IPS Study? CPa'istan-5hina relations in the 23 st 5entury: re,ional situation? se(urity?

e(onomi( and trade (ooperation ? Policy Perspective ? ol. 3? !o. 3? April 288 ? p. F8.

*8 5olonel $etd4 Jhulam Sar0ar? CSouth Asian Se(urity Perspe(ti e ? Pakistan "e#ence Revie$ ?

ol. F? !o. 2? inter 3==/? p. 31F-16.

*3 .,oo,le.(om Stability in South Asia 0i'ipedia en(y(lopedia.htm



17/24

of the sub(ontinent and? by impli(ation? to terminate the e isten(e of Pa'istan itself as an

independent politi(al entity. *2

(,) Role of E-ternal .actors in Indo/ ak Relations! %hird party9s in ol ement has

al0ays played an important role in relations bet0een India and Pa'istan from the ery

be,innin,.

%he international se(urity system unipolar? bipolar? multipolar? (reates se(urity orinse(urity for parti(ular (ountries. Nften there are attempts made by the ,reat po0ers to

maintain asymmetries in the distribution of military and e(onomi( po0er and to (reate

te(hnolo,i(al and le,al (ondominiums to enshrine the ri,hts of ,reat po0ers. %his has

been amply manifested in USA9s dual (ontainment poli(y in respe(t of Pa'istan and

India. ** # ternal fa(tors are really affe(tin, the India-Pa'istan relations sin(e their

independen(e. %he South Asian sub(ontinent has been the si,ht of fier(e histori(al(ompetition durin, the last half (entury. %here ha e been some politi(al de elopments of

serious international (on(ern sin(e the 3=/8s.

%he Indo-Pa' hostility be(ome en(ompassed into the lar,er (old 0ar

(onfrontation? 0hen Pa'istan fa(in, the se(urity dilemma? >oined the US-sponsored

military pa(ts i.e. South #ast Asia %reaty Nr,ani ation S#A%N4 and 5entral %reaty

Nr,ani ation 5#!%N4 in 3=/8s. India already tilted to0ards the So iet Union be(ause?

her poli(y of non-ali,nment fitted in the So iet ob>e(ti e of (he('in, the ,ro0in, po0er

of the US military allian(es. %hese allian(es ha e a dire(t impa(t on the Indo-Pa' ties.

%he most important phase so far started after the = 33 atta(' on the U.S soil? after 0hi(h ?

the U.S poli(y ma'ers reali ed the importan(e of South Asia on(e a,ain in their C,lobal

0ar on terror J %4. !o0 the U.S administration fo(used its attention on South Asia?

0ith a 'ey ob>e(ti e to find partners in their 0ar on terrorism.

%he deepenin, US-India strate,i( relationship? parti(ularly in nu(lear field as a

(ause of (on(ern for the re,ional se(urity. Pa'istan needs to ,au,e and (losely monitor

*2 Ibid.

** 5olonel !a>am u afar? C"ision of a Pea(eful South Asia #ffi(a(y and Nptions for Pa'istan ?

%"C Journal ? sele(ted papers 0ritten by members of the (ourses at the !ational Defense 5olle,e

Islamabad? 2883? p. *.

India-Pakistan Relations: An Enduring Rivalry3F


18/24

the US ob>e(ti es in this ba('drop. %he US-Indian deal? throu,h stren,thenin, India?

(ould further impose Indian he,emony in South Asia. So far? Pa'istan had tried to play

the role of a balan(er in South Asia. %his role? to some e tent? did dilute Indian

he,emony in the South Asian re,ion. Unless the US too' into a((ount the military?

politi(al? e(onomi( and so(ietal nature of the re,ion? its strate,i( partnership 0ith India

(ould a,,ra ate the smaller (ountries (on(erns is-K- is the he,emoni( po0er O India.

%his 0ould imply that if it 0as based on Indian se(urity interests alone? the partnership

0ould ,i e a free hand to India is-K- is the smaller South Asian states. *

Pa'istan 0as afraid that the US-Indian partnership (ould disturb Pa'istan9s

strate,i( relationship 0ith India 0hi(h 0ould? in turn? impa(t on Pa'istan9s role of a

balan(er in South Asia. Any further in(rease in the strate,i( ,ap in (on entional for(es

bet0een India and Pa'istan therefore 0ould disturb the balan(e of po0er in South Asia inIndia9s fa our. A((ordin, to A,ha Shahi the US de(laration in Mar(h 288/ to help India

be(ome a Cma>or 0orld po0er in the 23 st (entury 0ould enable India to pro>e(t its po0er

in its Cnei,hborhood and beyond . A,ha Shahi ri,htly pointed out that the a,reement

i,nore the Cmaintenan(e of strate,i( balan(e in South Asia . */

In the Pa'istan-India (onte t? for the first time e ternal po0ers ha e dire(tly

impa(ted the se(urity dynami(s bet0een these t0o states? on a number of (ounts. In a

(ontradi(tory mo e? the US is upsettin, the stability of the nu(lear deterren(e in South

Asia by (ommittin, to supplyin, India 0ith Missile defense system and other state of the

art 0eapons te(hnolo,y G all of 0hi(h dire(tly undermines Pa'istan9s stated poli(y of

minimum nu(lear deterren(e and nu(lear restraint. %hat is 0hy Pa'istan has e pressed

(on(erns o er the Phl(on sale to India sin(e this dire(tly destabili es the strate,i( nu(lear

balan(e established in South Asia. *1 %he US-India relationship dire(tly impin,es on the

* Dr. Ma ara Inayat? CUS-Indian Strate,i( Parternership: Impli(ations for Asia and +eyond ?

Regional !tudies ? ol. I"? !N. 2? Sprin, 2881? p. 2F.

*/ Ibid.? 26.

*1 Shireen M. Ma ari and ;a al-ur-$ahman? CSouth Asian Se(urity: International 5onte t ?

Policy perspective ? ol. *?!o. 3? Banuary-Bune 2881? p. 3=-28.



19/24

US-Pa'istan relationship be(ause of the defen(e aspe(ts 0hereby the transfer of (ertain

0eapons system to India impa(ts on the se(urity threat per(eptions of Pa'istan. ith the

prospe(ts of the transfer of the Arro0 system also to India? (learly the deterren(e 0ill be

mo e to hi,her le el of armaments bein, held by both sides. *F

Pa'istan and other nations of South Asia are mu(h more open to e ternal

influen(e? partly be(ause they are smaller but also they loo' at the e ternal 0orld as a

(ounter0ei,ht to the o er0helmin, presen(e of India. Pa'istan is naturally in(lined to

resist India politi(al dominan(e? by diploma(y 0hen possible but by for(e if ne(essary.

%he sta,e is thus set for (ontinued ri alry bet0een the t0o states.

# en thou,h 5hina ,eo,raphi(ally is not (onsidered to be the part of South Asia?

+ei>in, is an important fa(tor in se(urity (al(ulations of South Asia. %he un(ertain

trian,ular bet0een India-Pa'istan-(hina is also (ontributin, to the tensions bet0een Indiaand Pa'istan. %he le,a(y of distrust and (onfli(t? the unresol ed border issues? and the

plurality of per(eptions and options (onsider by de(ision-ma'ers in ea(h (ountry added to

the tension and (omple ity of the re,ion. *6%he tension bet0een India and Pa'istan

hi,hli,hted the lon, shado0s that Asia9s risin, po0er? 5hina? (ost on the Indian

sub(ontinent. %hou,h the roots of India-Pa'istan animosity are deep-seated in reli,ion?

history? and the politi(s of re en,e- and thus predate India- 5hina hostility- (hina9s

strate,ists re(o,ni ed the endurin, nature of the India- Pa'istan enmity and e ploit it to

+ei>in,9s ad anta,e. In fa(t? +ei>in, has lon, been the most important player in the India-

Pa'istan-5hina trian,ular relationship. Sin(e the Indo-5hina border 0ar of 3=12? 5hina

has ali,n itself 0ith Pa'istan and made hea y strate,i( and e(onomi( in estments in that

(ountry to 'eep the (ommon enemy? India under strate,i( pressure. *=

*F Ibid.? p.28-23.

*6 5olonel !a>am u afar? C"ision of a Pea(eful South Asia #ffi(a(y and Nptions for Pa'istan ?

%"C Journal ? sele(ted papers 0ritten by members of the (ourses at the !ational Defense 5olle,e

Islamabad? 2883? p.3.

*= .,oo,le.(om %he (hina fa(tor in the India-Pa'istan (onfli(t i'ipedia en(y(lopedia.(om

India-Pakistan Relations: An Enduring Rivalry3=


20/24

In the trian,ular po0er balan(e ,ame? the south Asian military balan(e of po0er

is neither pro- India nor pro- Pa'istanE it has al0ays been pro- 5hina. And +ei>in, 0ill

ta'e all means possible? in(ludin, 0ar? to ensure that the re,ional po0er balan(e does not

tilt in India9s fa our. # en in the absen(e of 0ar? Pa'istan hopes to (ontinue to reap

si,nifi(ant military and e(onomi( payoffs not only from the intensifyin, Sino-Indian

,eopoliti(al ri alry in Southern Asia but also from 0hat many belie es is the (omin,

sho0 do0n bet0een 5hina and the United States? 0hi(h 0ill further in(rease the

si,nifi(an(e of 5hina9s strate,i( ties 0ith Pa'istan . 8

Has the South Asian se(urity frame0or' benefited from these e ternal

inter entions< At one le el? yes. %he a(ti e interest of the international (ommunity in

pushin, for pea(e in South Asia has had a positi e impa(t on the ma>or South Asian

players. Ho0e er? the military relationship bet0een the US and India has added a ne0dimension to Pa'istan9s se(urity e@uation Gthereby a,,ra atin, its se(urity per(eptions.

%a'in, some of the (entral fa(tors of the Indo-US defen(e a,reement one by one? fallout

for Pa'istan (an be assessed more (learly. %he most important? both in the short term and

lon, term? is the Indo-US a,reement to (ooperate on missile defen(e MD4. A(@uisition

of missile defen(e (apability by India dire(tly destabili es the nu(lear deterren(e in South

Asia as 0ell as underminin, Pa'istan9s do(trine of minimum deterren(e and nu(lear

restrain. %o sustain a (redible deterren(e Pa'istan 0ill ha e to be,in multiplyin, its

missiles and 0arheads ery soon Gas 0ell as deployin, its nu(lear arsenal in a s(attered

fashion into the interior of the (ountry. 3

Alon, 0ith the role of ,reat po0ers in the South Asian re,ion? there are some

other potent po0ers elements that are really disturbin, the pea(e bet0een India and

Pa'istan. %here are some ,roups and or,ani ations 0ho do not 0ant the normal(y and

pea(eful relations bet0een the t0o (ountries. %hrou,h different terrorist a(ti ities in both

(ountries they ,enerate the tensions? distrust and misper(eptions on both sides. %he

terrorist atta(' on Indian parliament by militants in De(ember 2883 really refle(ts su(h a

8 Ibid.

3 Shireen M. Ma ari and ;a al-ur-$ahman? CSouth Asian Se(urity: International 5onte t ?

Policy Perspective ? ol.*? !o.3? Banuary-Bune 2881? p.22.



21/24

situations. India? immedia(y after the atta(' blamed Pa'istan for it and o0ed to retaliate.

Despite Pa'istan9s (ate,ori(al (ondemnation of the atta('? it mobili ed all of its for(es

land? marine and air4 and deployed them on the Pa'istani border. Indian stri'e (orps?

armoured di isions? bri,ades and entire artillery 0ere mo ed for ma>or offensi es a,ainst

Pa'istan. %he belli,erent posture in(ludin, the 0ithdra0al of its hi,h (ommissioner from

Islamabad 0as adopted by India. All ties of (onta(t and (ommuni(ation li'e air? rail and

road ser es bet0een the t0o (ountries 0ere also se ered. Pa'istan 0ith some reser ation?

responded in the same 0ay. %he deployment of one million troops by both sides to their

shared borders hei,htened the tension in the re,ion. 2 %he terrorist atta(' on Indian

rail0ays on Au,ust 2881 Mumbai ha e a,ain dama,ed the pa(e of pea(e pro(ess

bet0een the t0o (ountries. Pa'istan 0as ready to e tend help to (at(h the (ulprits but

India rebu'e Pa'istani offers and instead be,an a series of alle,ations a,ainst Pa'istana((usin, her of not doin, enou,h a,ainst terrorist or,ani ation based in Pa'istan. * %he

(urrent terrorist atta(' on %a> Mehal hotel in Mumbai really refle(ts the role of su(h

elements.

As the death toll in Mumbai (ontinue to steadily (limb and is about to (ross 288

inno(ents li es? India is o er0helmed by 0a es of sorro0 and an,er. %he ,o ernment

pointin, its fin,er at Pa'istan as the base from 0here? the ;idyeen sta,ed their (arefully

planned atta('. Islamabad? of (ourse? stubbornly re>e(ts all imputations of in ol ement in

the terrorist atta(' . %he point is? the India-Pa'istan ad ersarial relationship 0ith itsunder(urrents of mutual suspi(ion and bristlin, 0ith (ountless animosities borderin, on

hostility? is so deli(ately poised at any ,i en moment that it does not need more than a

fe0 hours to de,enerate into a (onfli(t situation on a((ount of a misstep or t0o on either

side? e en 0hen it is (amoufla,ed in eneers of (ordiality as it has been durin, the past

three to four years.

2 Munt ra !a ir? C%he politi(al and Strate,i( Dimensions in Indo-Pa'istan $elations 3=66-

288 4 ? Pakistan vision ? ol./? !o.2? De(ember 288 ? p.*1.

* Dr. Qalb-i-Abid? CSouth Asia: 5hallen,es and prospe(ts ? Pakistan vision ? ol.F? !o.3? Buly

2881? p.3=F.



22/24

Ho0 (an this ri alry (ome to an endor

(on entional (onfli(t or possible nu(lear e (han,e in the re,ion. %o de(rease the

possibility of 0ar and promote pea(e in the re,ion? (onsistent? en,a,ed? a(ti ist and

multi- layered diplomati( strate,y is needed from both sides. Moreo er? the 0orld

(ommunity should (ontinue its efforts to resol e the (onfli(ts bet0een the t0o (ountries.

It should also en(oura,e the efforts to stren,then the (i il demo(rati( so(ieties in both(ountries? 0hi(h (ould help 0ea'en the e tremist elements on both sides.

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