India -- Pakistan Relations

Abstract

It is unfortunate that in spite of India’s best efforts the relations between the two neighboring countries have remained far from satisfactory. Indo-Pak hostility is the outcome of political, cultural, social and economic factors deeply rooted in history, partition of India, division of assets and liabilities, demarcation of boundaries of both, the land, the water, communal riots, Hindu Muslim Sikh Hostility, large scale migration from both sides, Pakistan support to terrorists in Punjab and Kashmir, Nuclear programme of Pakistan and influx of latest generation sophisticated arms into Pakistan, Siachin Glacier. Pakistan’s growing linkages with fundamentalist elements, trans-border smuggling of weapons and drugs, determination of maritime boundary, discriminatory trade barriers against India, and the treatment meted out to the minorities in Pakistan are the major irritants in the relations between the two countries.

Keywords: India, Pakistan, Conflict, Co-operation, Shimla Agreement

JEL Classification: N75, N40, H50, F20, F30, F40