KASHMIR ISSUE: THE INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION

This article examines the international dimension of the Kashmir dispute, with a particular focus on the new phase of conflict that erupted in late 1989 and 1990. It analyzes how the popular uprising in the Indian-administered Kashmir, combined with the end of the Cold War, re-internationalized the long-simmering issue. The study explores the positions of the key external actors, including Pakistan's diplomatic and material support for the insurgency, and the responses of the major powers like the United States and the Soviet Union. The research also assesses the role of the United Nations and the continued relevance of the historical Security Council resolutions calling for a plebiscite. The paper argues that the international community's response was cautious, primarily concerned with preventing a full-scale war between India and Pakistan rather than actively mediating a solution to the underlying political dispute. The analysis concludes that without more concerted international engagement, the Kashmir issue would remain a dangerous flashpoint for regional and global security.

The Kashmir dispute, after years of being a relatively dormant issue on the international stage, exploded back into prominence with the start of a mass uprising in 1989-90. This paper analyzes the international dimension of this new phase of the conflict. The study begins by detailing the nature of the insurgency in Indian-administered Kashmir and the fierce Indian security response. The core of the article is an examination of the roles and policies of the key external actors. It provides a detailed analysis of Pakistan's strategy, which involved providing diplomatic, political, and alleged material support to the Kashmiri militants, thereby framing the issue as an international dispute over self-determination. The paper then analyzes the response of the United States, which found itself in a difficult position, trying to balance its strategic relationships with both India and Pakistan while calling for restraint and respect for human rights. The study also explores the more muted roles of the Soviet Union and China in this new context. A key theme is the relative inaction of the United Nations, with the paper arguing that the historical UN resolutions on Kashmir had been rendered largely ineffective by the changed geopolitical realities and India's insistence that the issue was a purely bilateral matter. The findings suggest that while the conflict had deep local roots, its international dimension was critical, and the policies of external powers would be a key factor in determining whether the crisis would escalate into a wider war.