Radha Kumar

An account of the Kashmir imbroglio, in what is often characterized as one of most dangerous flash-points prom the point of view of world peace and inter-country conflict.The earlier chapters are a somewhat hurried precis of past history, and may not yield a deep enough understanding, for instance of the twists and ramifications of the Sino-Indian border dispute. More rewarding are the author's own experience as a member of a team of 'interlocutors' during the period 2010-11, which has been described and discussed in a long chapter toward the end. What the reader is left with is an impression that there is really no prospect of a satisfactory resolution of this massive clash of interests and perceptions between the major actors. Also evident is the general cussedness and lack of realism of many of the actors, often clinging on to some figment of a past glory or a divinely ordained future, the main sufferers being the people of the region themselves. On balance, it seems that the Indian side has been less successful in convincing the people that joining their polity was a good thing, than the other side, probably due to the role of religious identity. All told, it is also evident that their future is in the hands mainly of the Kashmiris themselves, since it is obvious that neither India nor Pakistan is going to find it feasible to withdraw from present positions, on the ground and in the geo-political sense.… (mais)