In Historical Title, Self-Determination and the Kashmir Question Fozia Nazir Lone offers a critical re-examination of the Kashmir question. Through an interdisciplinary approach and international law perspective, she analyses political practices and the substantive international law on the restoration of historical title and self-determination. The book analytically examines whether Kashmir was a State at any point in history; the effect of the 1947 occupation by India/Pakistan; the international law implications of the constitutional incorporation of this territory and the ongoing human rights violations; whether Kashmiris are entitled to restore their historical title through the exercise of self-determination; and whether the Kashmir question could be resolved with the formation of international strategic alliance to curb danger of spreading terrorism in Kashmir.

In 1846, the British created the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) - popularly called "Kashmir" - and then quickly sold this prized region to the wily and powerful Raja, Gulab Singh. Intriguingly, had they retained it, the India-Pakistan dispute over possession of the state may never have arisen, but Britain's concerns lay elsewhere -- expansionist Russia, beguiling Tibet and unstable China "circling" J&K -- and their agents played the 'Great Game' in Afghanistan and 'Turkistan'. Snedden contextualizes the geo-strategic and historical circumstances surrounding the British decision to relinquish prestigious 'Kashmir', and explains how they and four Dogra maharajas consolidated and controlled J&K subsequently. He details what comprised this diverse princely state with distant borders and disunified peoples and explains the Maharaja of J&K's controversial accession to India on 26 October 1947 - and its unintended consequences. Snedden weaves a compelling narrative that frames the Kashmir dispute, explains why it continues, and assesses what it means politically and administratively for the divided peoples of J&K and their undecided futures.

In Senior Chemistry Laboratory of S P College, there was a Senior Gas Man by the name Ghulam Muhammad Bhat who lived in the author’s neighborhood and had family-type relations with the author’s family. From 1971 to 1976, whenever both met he would say (in Kashmiri though)," Lalit you did a very good thing that you went out for higher studies and you will settle down outside Srinagar. I am very happy for you and your parents and sisters because they too will shift. Never think of settling down in Srinagar because there will be terrible bloodshed in the Valley and the Pandits will be forced to leave the Valley, and the preparations have already started post-creation of Bangladesh. You are good and noble people and I can’t see any harm being done to you all, therefore never think of coming back". Ghulam Muhammad Bhat was a member of Jamait-e-Islami and he always became very emotional about the author. The last time the author met him was in 1988 and had lunch in his house, and again he thanked the author for not having settled in Srinagar!!!

This collection of essays discusses the less well-known aspects and areas of Kashmir on the seventieth anniversary of Indian independence.

Understanding Pakistan: Emerging Voices from India is the outcome of a national seminar for research scholars on Pakistan organized by the Centre for Pakistan Studies at the MMAJ Academy of International Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. The aim of the seminar was to explore how young minds in India view Pakistan, the quintessential ‘enemy’ country or the ‘other’ of India. The range of topics included issues related to Pakistan’s politics, economy, popular culture, education, environment, sectarian divide, minorities, policy towards Jammu & Kashmir and foreign relations. The established academic discourse on Pakistan in India is largely dominated by concerns linked to security threats emanating from within Pakistan. Due to this overemphasis on security-related issues, Indian scholarship on Pakistan is considered to be highly subjective and partisan. However, in this volume, most of the young scholars distance themselves from the main thrust of Indian scholarship on Pakistan and provide a fresh perspective on Pakistan which can potentially rupture the established tradition of Indian scholarship on Pakistan. Hopefully, it will be these scholars who in the near future will be at the forefront of emerging scholarship on Pakistan in India.

This book traces the roots of modern-day Kashmir and the role of Sheikh Abdullah in its making. As the most influential political figurehead in twentieth-century Kashmir, he played a crucial role in its transformation from a kingdom to a state in independent India. He was enigmatic and complex, to say the least. Following his meteoric rise, he dominated the political scene for more than 50 years, with enduring impact. The volume presents a keen analysis of pre-Independence events which led to the emergence of a controversial and confused identity of the region. It also looks at other major themes in the political life of Kashmir, including the formation of the Muslim Conference, the plebiscite movement and the Kashmir Accord. A major intervention in the political life of South Asia, this book presents an inside-view of the history of modern Kashmir through the life and times of Sheikh Abdullah. It will be of great interest to scholars and researchers of politics, history, and modern South Asia.