Confidence building measures in South Asia

Abstract

This dissertation evolves a theoretical framework of the concept of Confidence Building Measures and applies it to the case-study of India Pakistan relations in the South Asia region. Part I examines the Confidence Building Measures in a global regional perspective. It outlines a theoretical framework of Confidence Building Measures by putting forward an appropriate definition of this concept and conceptualising the confidence building process in a model. It explores the empirical universe of Confidence Building Measures on a global scale in a conflict and crisis framework, in terms of its functional dimensions and at different levels of analysis. This provides a conceptual and empirical backdrop for an examination of Confidence Building Measures in the South Asian region. Part II studies the trends of conflict and cooperation in India-Pakistan relations in the first two decades after independence in 1947 and sets the stage for a more formal reconciliation process between the two countries in the post-Simla Agreement (1972) period. It also examines the operational variables given in the Indian and Pakistani political milieu that shape their bilateral confidence building process. Part III presents a detailed analysis of the India-Pakistan confidence building process in its political, military, economic and socio-cultural dimensions in the last two decades. The core issues of India-Pakistan conflict, the Kashmir conflict and Pakistan's alleged involvement in supporting terrorism in the Indian states of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir have also been discussed. Part IV summarizes the major findings and conclusions of the study and puts forward some suggestions which may facilitate the confidence building process between India and Pakistan. The dissertation has relied on information gathered from the field work research carried out in India and Pakistan in Winter 1991-1992.