A Pakistani Perspective

T he dispute between Pakistan and India over Kashmir has been on the international agenda for more than four decades. The present uprising in the valley, which began four years ago, has once again brought this issue into sharp focus, especially since it poses the danger of yet another conflict between Pakistan and India over Kashmir. What makes the prevailing situation qualitatively more dangerous than at any time in the past is the fact that both countries have the capability to make nuclear weapons and perhaps, in a few years, [will also have] the capability to deliver them. For this reason alone, a symposium such as this is extremely pertinent and timely. For the sake of an objective analysis of the situation and in order to facilitate a constructive dialogue in this academic setting, I shall endeavor to present a Pakistani perspective of the issue taking into account the genesis of the dispute, the current state of affairs, the efforts to resolve the conflict, and the possible avenues for its resolution.