Abstract

Since Pakistans emergences as the nation-state, its dispute with India on Jammu and Kashmir
region has substantially the course of its foreign policy. Pakistan and India agree on the disputed
nature of the area, but their interpretation, actions, and goals are different. Kashmir is a corner
stone of Pakistan foreign policy among its foreign policy objectives. But Kashmir, at present, is
not being treated as a priority by politicians or policy makers. This is a grave mistake. The
ground realities which have continued to blight the lives of million in the region for decades have
not been resolved. Not only do the demand resolution but leave the region fragile and unstable, a
danger exacerbated by the nuclear capabilities of Indian and Pakistan. The domestic narratives
with in India and Pakistan which lead to heightened hostility have been exacerbated by recent
events such as cross border skirmishes. A resolution of Kashmir would reverse these inherent
tensions. The unresolved situation also undermines the human right of the inhabitants of
Kashmir. Likewise its leads to an unconscionable waste of the natural recourses of the region, as
well as needless restrictions in indo Pakistani trade and money being tied up in military conflict.
A Resolution of the conflict would also have wide-scale benefits in the region, reaching to
Afghanistan and china.

Introduction

The quest of security has been at the heart of Pakistans foreign policy since independence.
Pakistans security environment derives its origin from the circumstances in which Pakistan was
created. Kashmir, situated in a very important geo-strategic area of Asia, is a source of rivalry
and conflict between Pakistan and India ever since 1947. Soviet Union and Great Britain were
also rivals in 19th century for the occupation of strategically important area of Kashmir. Kashmir
remained as a buffer zone between Russia and British India. The geo-strategic importance of
Kashmir remained as significant between Pakistan and India after independence. Pundit
Jawaharlal Nehru portrayed the strategic importance of Kashmir thus:

Kashmir Northern frontier runs in common with those of three countries Afghanistan, the
USSR and China. Security of Kashmiris vital to security of India, especially since part of
Southern boundary of Kashmir and India is common

According to Pakistan mission to united nation Pakistan upholds the right of the people of
Jammu and Kashmir to self determination in accordance with the resolution of the united nation
security council. Yet Kashmirs accession to Pakistan appears to be ultimate objective of the
latter foreign .the historical records in recent changes in Pakistan and the region suggested there
the core objective of Pakistans foreign policy towards the Kashmir dispute unlikely to change.

Kashmir as the cornerstone Pakistan foreign policy: Reasons

Why Kashmir is a cornerstone of Pakistan foreign policy, there are certain important reasons.
Ideological factors

The Kashmir is a part of Pakistan identity.Pakistan came to existence on the basis of two nation
theory and principles which enshrine on june 3 rd plan which recongnize the existence of two
nation in the subcontent, that is muslims and hindus.kashmir is a part of that agenda which was
agreed to both congress and muslim league and accepted by the british as the basis of partition
of India. In fact national identity of Pakistan is link with to nation theory.

Hamid Hussain rightly argues Pakistan sees the an annexation of Kashmir as the logical
culmination of the triumph of the two nation theory; the bases of the birth of Pakistan that
stipulated that Hindus and Muslims of the sub continent were two nations. as for India, Pakistan
regards the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India (in 1947) illegal and considers the region a
disputed territory. If Pakistan compromises on Kashmir it undermine Pakistans on national
identity then how be justified separation of Muslims from the Hindus and how would be justified
the existence of a separate state of the hindu.It is link with the survival of Pakistan as
independent sovereign state so that is why Kashmir is a part of collective Pakistani
consciousness.

For India Kashmir become a question of identity cause india crabs to be a secular state it means
that India is a home of people of all religion. The religion is not a base of Indian polity,where as
in Pakistan islam is a base of polity and that is why Muslims of Kashmir are part of Pakistani
nation If India agrees to decide the issue of Kashmir on the bases of religion, on the bases of two
nation theory it undermine Indian secular nature and pretentions.

Economic factor

The Kashmir is important because of the use(or waste) valuable resoures.It is almost impossible
to quantify how much money has been spent in terms of military defense for both conventional
and nuclear weapons which both countries can ill afford because of their continuing
enemity.India may be booming but it add that only a fragment of its society is booming. In 2012,
the World Bank is estimated that 21.9% of the total India population, now at one billion, still
lives at the poverty line. Poverty in Pakistan has the same gloomy statistics, over a fifth of the
population living on $1.25 a day more ever,pakistans western border with Afghanistan is
extremely un Predictable, and so the expense of fortifying its eastern frontier against India is a
luxury its government should not need to have to afford.

The waste of eco recourses which could be spent on health, education and development, the
humanitarian suffering, the danger of inflamed public opinion spiraling out of control the nuclear
potential of both India and Pakistan and the fact that there is an unresolved dispute between two
neighbors is a major reason of eco instability of Pakistan.

The Indian occupation has become a national imperative of Pakistan because its gives India
control over the water resources which flow to Pakistan and which are the life line of Pakistan
economy. The Rivers of Sind, Jhelum, Chenab and Ravi provide the main drainage system to
Pakistan. These all river originate from Kashmir. Pakistan is agrarian society depend upon water
and these water comes from all these bunch of rivers. Kashmir provides life line to Pakistan.
Pakistan is in fear that in major war situation India will shut down water from Kashmir. As per
research centers Pakistan will dry after 2025 hence kashmir water will play an important role.

India is going to be built certain dams on Pakistans river (kishen ganga ) from which she is
generated energy but it denies It can affect the flow of water. It cannot stop the water but it can
influence and divert the flow of water. Temporary reduce the flow of water, power generation
projects and small scale irrigation cannot affect the Pakistan economy. this matter is now in
international court where Pakistans stance is proved and India has been stop from furthering any
kind of work on this.

The trade across china Xinxiang province will be easier if Kashmir is in controlled by Pakistan.
Currently the trade route to China goes via Kakoram Pass. Actual Ground Position Line AGPL
divides current India and Pakistan line and hence Siachen Glacier is equally important to India to
properly monitor Kakoram Pass.

Security Issues:

There is no great truism than the one that Pakistans foreign policy is determined by India. Since
Pakistans emergence as a nation state, its dispute with India on Jummu and Kashmir region
has substantially influenced the course of its foreign policy. Nonetheless despite being the part of
top foreign policy priorities Pakistans Kashmir policy has undergone several changes time to
time. Yet the region remains important and thus the ensuing conflict with India is one of the
major irritants in India Pak relations.

Diplomacy remained a prominent theme in Pakistans policy toward the dispute from early 1950s
to late 1980s, although it fought two wars with India in 1965 and 1971 respectively. And after the
emergence of armed insurrection in Indian administrated Kashmir (IAK) it provided assistance to
the insurgents (Mujahedeen) until 2001. During 1960s, Pakistans President Ayub Khan sought
help from the US President John F. Kennedy to solve the dispute. Pakistani and Indian foreign
ministers Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Swaran Singh held talks regarding the dispute, but no
agreement was reached.

After the 1971 Pakistan-India war, and the separation of East Pakistan, Pakistan started
perceiving India as a significant external threat. After India successfully tested its first nuclear
device codenamed Smiling Buddha in 1974, Pakistan immediately focused its resources to
acquire strategic nuclear capabilities for deterrence against future Indian aggression. And with
nuclear tests by both India and Pakistan in 1998, a new environment for conflict emerged.
Despite both nations now harbouring nuclear shields as a deterrent, low-intensity conflict was on
the rise, hence leading to Indias development of the Cold Start doctrine.
Given these new dynamics in todays security environment, both nations particularly India need
to realise the severe consequences of realising these strategies. Even low intensity conflicts under
nuclear overhang can escalate beyond the limited theater of control and create a use it or lose it
dilemma ultimately leading to use of nuclear weapons.
In parallel with a sustained dialogue, both sides need to engage in measures for confidence
building. Both sides should seriously consider a dialogue on mutual threat perceptions and
military doctrines. Offensive doctrines like Cold Start should be eschewed and replaced with
defensive doctrines and force postures. This will diminish the rationale for the other side for
conventional and/or nuclear build ups and pave the way for strategic restraints, nuclear and
missile, in South Asia. It will create a conductive environment for the sustainability of the
dialogue for resolving long-standing disputes between the two neighbours faced by common
challenges such as poverty, climate change, and food security. The sooner decades old disputes
are resolved, the sooner both nations can secure a brighter future for the region.