Synopsis
Victoria Schofield’s Kashmir in Conflict: India, Pakistan and the Unending War offers a comprehensive historical analysis of the protracted conflict over the region of Jammu and Kashmir, tracing its origins from the 19th century to the early 21st century. The book begins by exploring the valley of Kashmir, renowned for its breathtaking beauty and historical tranquility, which has become a volatile flashpoint between India and Pakistan, two nuclear-armed neighbors. Schofield sets the stage by examining the region’s early history, when Kashmir was an independent kingdom, and delves into the pivotal moment in 1846 when the British, through the Treaty of Amritsar, controversially sold the predominantly Muslim valley to Gulab Singh, a Hindu Maharaja of the Dogra dynasty. This transaction, which disregarded the region’s demographic and cultural composition, sowed the seeds of discord that would later erupt into a major geopolitical struggle. The author meticulously details how this historical decision, rooted in colonial expediency, created tensions between the Muslim population and their Hindu rulers, setting a precedent for the region’s contested status.
The narrative progresses to the critical juncture of 1947, when British India was partitioned into India and Pakistan, and the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir became a focal point of contention. Schofield examines the complex circumstances surrounding the accession of Kashmir to India under Maharaja Hari Singh, the last Dogra ruler, amid tribal incursions from Pakistan and rising internal unrest. This decision, contested by Pakistan due to the region’s Muslim majority, sparked the first Indo-Pakistani war of 1947–48 and led to the division of the state along what is now known as the Line of Control. The book provides a detailed account of the United Nations’ involvement, particularly the resolutions calling for a plebiscite to determine the region’s future, which was never implemented due to mutual distrust and differing interpretations by India and Pakistan. Schofield highlights how the failure to resolve the issue early on entrenched the conflict, with both nations claiming sovereignty over the entire state while controlling only parts of it.
Schofield’s analysis extends through the subsequent decades, covering major wars between India and Pakistan in 1965 and 1971, as well as the 1999 Kargil conflict, which underscored the region’s potential to escalate into a nuclear confrontation. She explores the rise of insurgency in the Kashmir Valley during the late 1980s and 1990s, fueled by local discontent, political repression, and external support, which further complicated the conflict. The author draws on extensive research, including interviews with Kashmiri diaspora communities in the UK, to present the perspectives of the Kashmiri people themselves, who are often caught between the competing nationalisms of India and Pakistan. Schofield emphasizes the Kashmiri aspiration for self-determination, which she argues is a compelling alternative to integration into either India’s multi-ethnic framework or Pakistan’s vision for the region, though she acknowledges the practical and political challenges of this option.
The book also assesses the strategic dimensions of the conflict, noting Kashmir’s geographic significance on the borders of China, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent, which amplifies its importance in global geopolitics. Schofield examines the military posturing of India and Pakistan, particularly during periods of heightened tension, and the international community’s growing concern over the nuclear capabilities of both nations. She critiques the repeated failures of bilateral diplomacy, such as the 1972 Simla Agreement, to produce a lasting resolution, and reflects on the 1999 Kargil incursion as a stark reminder of the conflict’s volatility. In her conclusion, Schofield poses the question of whether a solution is possible, suggesting that a regional plebiscite could theoretically resolve the issue by aligning with the principle of self-determination, though she recognizes the opposition from hardline factions and the logistical difficulties of implementation. The book ultimately portrays the Kashmir conflict as a tragic and seemingly intractable struggle, driven by historical missteps, national pride, and the competing