Kargil Conflict and Pak-India Relations During 1999

Abstract

In this research paper an attempt has been made to evaluate the Kargil conflict, its causes and corresponding consequences for Pak-India relations especially within one year of their nuclear tests. It is essential to trace the main factors which pushed both neighbors to a potential conflict which would have turned into a regular war, had the United States of America (USA) not arbitrated the truce. The study is also important in view of the fact that political leadership of Pakistan and India had inked a bilateral accord a few months back at the historic city of Lahore. It was significant that the Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had travelled in bus to Lahore for the peace talks with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif making history of bus diplomacy. The Kargil conflict indeed worked as a spoiler to the peace making between the two neighbors. The conflict came as a surprise to analysts, leadership and people of both countries and the international powers interested in the region. Similarly, it reflected the vulnerability of relations between India and Pakistan. The failure of Summit diplomacy was indeed a challenge. The Kargil episode indicated that the resolve and commitment of leaders for peace could not be predicted and may end up with unending uncertainties for a lasting peace in the south Asia. It is assumed that Indo-Pak rivalry if continued on the cold war pattern, the socio-economic development of both countries may be hampered. The analysis of Kargil conflict may help understand the place of political and military leadership in reorientation of Pakistan foreign policy. This paper is an attempt to assess as well, the response of domestic, regional and international stakeholders towards this conflict.