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Kashmir Conflict: A French Perspective

Abstract

This France's prominent role in solving the global conflicts represents an interesting case study because in spite of its size (only 1% of the population of the world), it maintains the largest diplomatic network (152 embassies worldwide). With this diplomatic network France plays more significant role than its size in global affairs. Its representation in United Nations Peace Keeping Missions is ranked 2nd among the EU members and UNSC permanent members. This network also helps France to achieve its international ambitions means to play the role of a mediator among conflicting parties or show its existence as counter force in the global conflicts and issues. In Asia, an issue - Kashmir conflict - which poisoned South Asian politics almost last 70 years and very much compatible with all French global ambitions felt to be totally ignored by French policy makers. Although since the beginning, France acknowledged Kashmir as conflicting region between Pakistan and India yet it never expressed its independent opinion on the issue like it did on certain global conflicts i.e. Iraq/Syrian war, Bosnia-Serbia conflict or some issues linked to African regions. It supported all the UN efforts to solve the Kashmir conflict yet its support heavily influenced by Anglo-American opinion and its own regional financial interests. So, France, a representative of politics of grandeur, existing soul of European Union and decisive factor in global affairs never transformed French moral support to the right of Kashmiri people into a practical help in the form of mediation for the solution of the conflict. The research has been conducted to find out why, France, in spite of being a champion of human rights, self-determination and non- proliferation is so indifferent and unconcerned to the Kashmir conflict, the oldest unresolved issue of the modern age. The research concludes that French policy makers through the years could not make Kashmir conflict as a priority because they considers it asan Asian issue where Anglo-American interests lies and which non-solution could not damage French strategic or economic interests in the region.

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