The peacekeepers of Kashmir

"The dispute over Kashmir has been at the heart of Indo-Pakistan relations since the two states became independent in 1947. It has had a generally embittering impact on the relations; has been the direct cause of hostilities on two occasions - in 1948 and 1965; and the scene of further fighting in 1971. Moreover, these conflicts have also provoked wide-ranging international crises." "That the dispute, during its first 25 years, did not have even more serious consequences is largely due to the efforts of one of the United Nations' first peacekeeping missions - the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP). This book provides a careful political analysis of the nature and role of UNMOGIP, illustrating its successes and drawing attention to the factors which limited its peace-preserving work." "The author, Dr. Pauline Dawson (a British scholar), is the first person to have secured access to the confidential Archives of the United Nations dealing with UNMOGIP and she makes full and fascinating use of these voluminous papers. She has also conducted wide-ranging interviews both in India and Pakistan and at the Headquarters of the UN in New York."--Jacket.