KASHMIR CONFLICT, PROSPECTS FOR QATAR TO MEDIATE

Abstract

Observations highlight that since the establishment of the modern nation-state system, various border and ideological conflicts between newly created countries have intensified. In the current century, these conflicts and wars have reached remarkable levels. The Kashmir dispute is one such conflict linked to the genesis of the modern nation-state framework. A common and effective way to resolve disputes is through third-party mediation. This research thesis focuses on the Kashmir issue, which has continued for almost eight decades. Qatar has almost always successfully mediated many disputes in the Middle East. Its successful track record is leading us to consider it as a suitable candidate for mediation between India and Pakistan in the Kashmir issue. The research methodology we opted for is qualitative, exploring different theories and models of conflict resolution, and thoroughly reviewing existing literature on the Kashmir issue. We take the Afghanistan peace process as a case study for a comparative analysis of a successful mediation attempt carried out by Qatar. This research concludes that while Qatar has the potential to mediate the Kashmir dispute, India's rejection of third-party involvement remains a major hurdle. To address this, Qatar could leverage its energy and humanitarian diplomacy to encourage India to consider mediation efforts. This research aims to explore different aspects of Qatari mediation for successful mediation conduct in the Kashmir dispute.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	HBKU College of Islamic Studies