Writing a book on the role of negotiation in conflict resolution is a principled academic motivation to project the non-coercive and non violent approaches to responds a conflict.
Negotiation is a peaceful and profitable approach which de-recognizes the means of violence in denying or demanding the justices and liberty. There were 57 major armed conflicts in 47 countries in the year 2014 (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) with 6 million people killed in the conflicts (International Institute of Strategic Studies, London). Kashmir conflict is one of the longstanding and most dangerous conflict with negative security assurance between two nuclear bordering states of south Asia (India and Pakistan).
The present book under review “Role of Negotiations in Conflict Resolution A way out of Kashmir Conflict” by Dr. Shaheen Showket, forwarded by Professor Gautam Sen and published by G.B. Books New Delhi is a study of conflict resolution and negotiations to explore the possible and acceptable resolution of Kashmir conflict with array of clues from scholarly literature. The author focusses on addressing the conflict rather than countering it and encourages civilised and dignified appropriation for resolution of a conflict without fighting the war. The author has given brief description of various definition, concepts, situations and scenario within the realm transformation studies. The central theme of the book is how to address active conflicts rather than to counter and how to work together rather than against each other with reference to India and Pakistan in the context of Kashmir conflict.
The author has also explored various Socio-Political issues of being in conflict by using ripeness theory. In addition, the book highlights the impact of longstanding Kashmir conflict on Indo-Pak relation as both the states have never enjoyed a decade of peaceful relation, and viewing each other through negative lenses. “The Indians are viewing Pakistanis as “Muslims”, “raiders”, “terrorists”, “anti-Indian”, “lifelong enemies”, and Kashmir as an “integral part” of India. The situation in Pakistan is a mirror-image response. They see Indians as, “non-Muslims (Kafirs)”, “occupiers”, “imperialists”, “anti-Muslim”, “eternal enemies”, and Kashmir as a “jugular vein” of Pakistan”. The unresolved Kashmir conflict has created hostile attitude. “65% of Indians have an adverse opinion about Pakistan and consider it the greatest threat to their country. Likewise,75% Pakistanis consider India more serious threat than Al-Qaeda and Taliban” (Page.9)
The book is divided in five chapters: talks about Conflict, wars and devastation caused by wars, historical basis, and significance of Kashmir conflict and role of negotiation in resolution of Kashmir conflict. India and Pakistan are the first and fifth largest importer of conventional weapons with Kashmir conflict being the main reason for importing weapons which has deeply affected economy, welfare, education, healthcare of the two nations due to budget allocation on defence of the two nations. In this back ground the give core of this book is that both India and Pakistan should ease the stalemate by inviting each other for focused negation for conflict resolution and use mutually enticing opportunities.
The author discusses in detail the resolutions of Kashmir conflict given by different organisations, parties, agencies and people 1947. The author has referred the UN resolution, Dixon plan, McNaughton’s plan of plebiscite to resolve conflict. The beauty of the book is that it has an inclusive approach. It gives a brief description of different plans to resolve Kashmir issue given by former Pakistani Prime Minister General Parvez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, also of Sajad Lone’s Achievable Nationhood, and People’s Democratic Party’s Self Rule. But the author doesn’t discuss solutions given by Kashmiri American business tycoon Farooq Kathwari’s “Kashmir Study Group”, and NC’s autonomy.
Overall, the book adds to the understanding of role of negotiation in conflict resolution: a way out of Kashmir conflict. It will be highly useful for students, scholars, journalists who are in the field of Peace and Conflict Studies, National Security Studies and Geo-Political Studies.
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