Kashmir, a Fragile Paradise

The fourth and final episode of this podcast seeks to explore the attempts of the international community, spearheaded by the United Nations, to resolving the Kashmir Conflict. We also take a look at the concerns and awareness that has been raised by several global humanitarian groups, namely Amnesty International and the Human Rights Watch, about civilian life and troubles in Kashmir. These groups have been prominent in shaping the global perception and understanding of the situation in Kashmir, and truly remind us that the Kashmir Conflict is not simply a geopolitical dispute but also a human rights issue that has been aggravated by decades of militarization, political instability, and violent outbreaks of terror in the distressed region. Our discussion in this episode is guided by a prominent local voice, Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo. He is a Kashmiri Indian politician, vocal supporter of the incumbent Indian central government, seasoned activist, and columnist for multiple local newspapers. With his impassioned comments, he provides crucial insight into the rationale and attitude of the Indian government's actions and approach to Kashmir.

Music by Pandit Bhajan Sopori. Taken with permission from Pandit Bhajan Sopori Official on YouTube.

Logo designed by Sara Zubair.

The United States and Russia may be geographically alien to South Asia, but as global superpowers and omnipresent actors in world affairs over the past century, they have managed to inextricably involve themselves in regional South Asian politics. The relationship that these two countries have had with both India and Pakistan has morphed drastically over the course of the past few decades with the routinely-changing global political outlook: the Cold War, nuclear proliferation, and the war on terror are all themes that play into the ambitions and interests of the United States and Russia in South Asia. And in the midst of all this lies their vision for a solution to Kashmir. The approaches taken by the two superpowers to this issue provide unique insight into the tools and terms formally and frequently invoked in the realm of diplomacy, and we will explore in this episode aspects such as bilateralism and the prospect of mediation. Ambassador Jalil Jilani joins us once again on the podcast to illuminate our analysis with his experiences and first-hand insights.

Music by Pandit Bhajan Sopori. Taken with permission from Pandit Bhajan Sopori Official on YouTube.

Logo designed by Sara Zubair.

China is inarguably the biggest superpower in Asia and trending towards increased dominance on the world stage. And indeed, it is another nation with a direct territorial stake in the Kashmir Conflict, besides the traditional rivals India and Pakistan. This episode explores the often-overlooked yet integral role that China has played in this conflict over the past seven decades, as well as their current endeavors in Kashmir and future ambitions for their relations with India and Pakistan. Joining us in this episode is an esteemed guest, Jalil Jilani, who formerly served as the Foreign Secretary of Pakistan and Ambassador to the United States. With his extensive diplomatic expertise and experience, his insights help shine a light on the role of China in South Asian regional diplomacy.

Music by Pandit Bhajan Sopori. Taken with permission from Pandit Bhajan Sopori Official on YouTube.

Logo designed by Sara Zubair.

In this initial foray into the Kashmir Conflict, we explore how this issue has shaped the foreign policies and agendas of the two biggest rivals in South Asia: India and Pakistan. From the moment the British carved out the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir in 1845 to the pivotal decision of the Indian government to revoke Kashmir's autonomy in 2019, we attempt to walk through the most notable internal developments in the region, as well as its fallout on other parts of South Asia. Our discussion is enhanced by the analyses and comments of Tim Sullivan, a roving correspondent for the Associated Press. He spent 17 years based in New Delhi, India and visited Kashmir on numerous occasions, learning about the intricacies of this long-standing conflict.

Music by Pandit Bhajan Sopori. Taken with permission from Pandit Bhajan Sopori Official on YouTube.

Logo designed by Sara Zubair.