The Kashmir Dispute is the core conflict between Pakistan and India since the Partition of British India in 1947. At the time of independence, princely states were given the choice to join either India or Pakistan. Despite a Muslim-majority population, the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India, triggering the First Indo-Pak War (1947–48).

The United Nations intervened and called for a ceasefire and a plebiscite, allowing Kashmiris to decide their future. However, the plebiscite was never held, and the region remains divided into Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) under Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir under India.

The dispute has led to several wars (1948, 1965, 1999) and continuous military tensions, human rights violations, and diplomatic standoffs. Pakistan maintains that Kashmir is an unfinished agenda of Partition, while India claims it as an integral part.

In August 2019, India revoked Article 370, removing the special autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir, escalating tensions significantly. Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties and raised the issue at international forums.

The Kashmir issue is central to South Asian peace, and lasting resolution requires adherence to UN resolutions, bilateral dialogue, and respect for Kashmiri aspirations.