India – Pakistan Conflict and Its Security Implications on South Asia

Abstract

The India - Pakistan conflict is among the most enduring rivalries in the world. Following the British departure from India, Britain realised the profound cultural distinctions existing between the Muslims and the Hindus and formed political borders based on those differences. After the dissolution of the British Raj in 1947, India and Pakistan emerged as two new sovereign states. Due to a wide range of historical and political events, the bilateral relations between India and Pakistan have been contentious and largely antagonistic. The partition of the British Indian Empire caused large-scale migration and loss of life. The political boundaries established by the British have ultimately resulted in several conflicts, which has impeded the regional consciousness and integration in South Asia. The Kashmir conflict is the main cause of the strained relations between India and Pakistan. India and Pakistan fought three major wars over the disputed territories in Kashmir in 1947, 1964 and 1999. All three states involved in the Kashmir conflict; India, China and Pakistan possess nuclear weapons and it would be disastrous if these countries initiate a nuclear war. Indo - Pakistan relations grew increasingly hostile particularly after the Siachen conflict in 1984, intensification of the Kashmir insurgency in 1989, Indian and Pakistani nuclear tests in 1998 and the 1999 Kargil War. The major reasons of the conflict between India and Pakistan have been the protracted Kashmir dispute and cross-border terrorism, which has had significant implications on regional security in South Asia. This research focuses on the security aspect of India-Pakistan conflict on the South Asian region. This research will predominantly utilise the qualitative methodology and data will be collected from both primary and secondary sources.