Issues Problems and Prospects in IndoPak Relationship Since 1990

Abstract

After the dissolution of the British Raj in 1947, two new sovereign nations were newlineformed the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. The subsequent partition of newlinethe former British India displaced up to 12.5 million people, with estimates of loss of life newlinevarying from several hundred thousand to 1 million. India emerged as a secular nation with newlinea Hindu majority population and a large Muslim minority, while Pakistan, with a Muslim newlinemajority population and a large Hindu minority, later became an Islamic Republic, although newlineits constitution guaranteed freedom of religion to people of all faiths. It later lost most of its newlineHindu minority due to migration and the separation of East Pakistan in the Bangladesh newlineLiberation War. newlineSoon after gaining their independence, India and Pakistan established diplomatic newlinerelations, but the violent partition and reciprocal territorial claims quickly overshadowed their newlinerelationship. Since their independence, the two countries have fought three major wars, as newlinewell as one undeclared war, and have been involved in numerous armed skirmishes and newlinemilitary standoffs. The Kashmir conflict is the main centre-point of all of these conflicts with newlinethe exception of the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 and the Bangladesh Liberation War, which newlineresulted in the secession of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). newline