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Kashmir: The identity crisis at the heart of the three-way territorial contest
The Interpreter | English | AcademicThink | June 24, 2025 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes
Kashmir is a region of critical geopolitical importance, with its rivers feeding the Indian subcontinent and serving as a vital resource for agriculture and hydropower in India and Pakistan. The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, which allocates river usage, has historically mitigated water conflicts, but tensions have escalated following the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack and India's threat to withdraw from the treaty. Islamabad views any Indian attempt to block rivers allocated to Pakistan as an act of war, and China’s control over headwaters in Tibet further complicates the water security dynamics, with potential for Beijing to leverage access against India given its ties with Pakistan.
Beyond water resources, Kashmir is rich in natural wealth, including forests containing valuable timber and medicinal plants, minerals such as lithium and bauxite crucial for modern technology, and agricultural products like apples, walnuts, and saffron. Despite this economic potential, ongoing territorial disputes have hindered development. The region's mountainous terrain also provides strategic military advantages, underscoring its national security significance for India, Pakistan, and China. Control of Kashmir remains contested: China holds Aksai Chin and Shaksgam, considering these areas part of its historical territories linked to Xinjiang and Tibet, while India claims all of Kashmir based on the 1947 Instrument of Accession and rejects Pakistan’s claims and the cession of Shaksgam to China.
For India, Kashmir is central to its federal identity and sovereignty, whereas Pakistan regards Kashmir as essential to its Islamic founding identity, arguing it should belong to Pakistan due to its Muslim-majority population. Pakistan does not claim Chinese-controlled areas, indicating a strategic alignment with China against India. India remains wary of the China-Pakistan partnership, citing concerns over military cooperation and infrastructure projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor passing through Pakistan-administered Kashmir, which it fears will solidify adversary control over disputed territories.
The Kashmir conflict thus transcends geography and resource competition, embodying deep identity-driven narratives for all parties involved. Unless these narratives shift toward pragmatic diplomacy and economic cooperation, the region is likely to remain a persistent flashpoint negatively impacting peace, development, and the lives of those residing in Kashmir.