Warriors after War: Indian and Pakistani Retired Military Leaders Reflect on Relations between the Two Countries, Past, Present and Future

by Richard J. Bonney (Editor), Trividesh Singh Maini (Editor), Tahir Javed Malik (Editor)

Overview

The inspiration for this book arose from the opening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus route on 7 April 2005, the first direct link between the two parts of divided Kashmir since 1947. The original impetus for change in the region arose not from politicians but from ex-military figures in Pakistan and India who had made a direct approach to the Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy (IMTD), an independent, not-for-profit organization in the United States headed by former US Ambassador John W. McDonald. Most of the twenty-six retired military figures from India and Pakistan interviewed in this book accept that with both countries possessing nuclear weapons since 1998, choosing war to resolve outstanding disputes is no longer a sensible or realistic option. They differ greatly, however, in their analysis of the opportunities and pathways towards a sustainable peace in South Asia, with the greatest divergence of views on the Kashmir dispute. The material contained in the interviews is enhanced with biographical and other notes, along with a comprehensive introduction and conclusion. The detailed Appendices provide an analysis of religious-based extremist violence in Kashmir and Pakistan.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783034302852
Publisher:	Peter Lang AG, Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften
Publication date:	06/16/2011
Series:	Studies in the History of Religious and Political Pluralism , #6
Pages:	380
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Richard Bonney’s recent publications include Jihad: from Qur’an to Bin Laden (2004), False Prophets: the Clash of Civilizations and the Global War on Terror (Peter Lang, 2008) and Confronting the Nazi War on Christianity. The Kulturkampf Newsletters, 1936-9 (Peter Lang, 2009).
Tahir Malik and Tridivesh Singh Maini previously collaborated in Humanity Amidst Insanity: Hope During and After the Indo-Pak Partition (2008).

Table of Contents

Contents: Richard Bonney: General Editor’s Introduction – Tahir Malik/Tridivesh Singh Maini/Richard Bonney: Introduction – Richard Bonney: Conclusion – Richard Bonney: Appendix I: Reviving the ‘Paradigm Shift’: Towards a Settlement of the Kashmir Dispute – Richard Bonney: Appendix II: Washington Declaration, 31 July-1 August 2008 – Richard Bonney: Appendix III: Road Map towards Peace, 10-12 January 2010 – Richard Bonney: Appendix IV: Memorandum on Present Realities, Transitions and Resolution in Kashmir, 4 November 2010 – Ahmer Bilal Soofi: Appendix V: Planning the Dialogue – Richard Bonney: Appendix VI: Pakistan: Islam’s Predicament with Modernity and the Issue of Self-Identity.

Editorial Reviews

«India and Pakistan have fought three wars since the Partition of the Subcontinent in 1947, but because of a shared history and culture, there are similarities between the two armies. ‘Warriors after War’ is a fascinating collection that illustrates this remarkable bond and underlines the need to humanize each other and work towards a more peaceful South Asia.» (Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, American University, Washington, DC)
«This is a timely study, which illuminates key episodes in India and Pakistan’s enduring rivalry since 1947 [...]. The extensive interviews with twenty-six former Indian and Pakistani officers reveal the centrality and intractability of the Kashmir issue for regional peace. The interviews are enhanced with biographical notes along with a comprehensive introduction and conclusion.» (Professor Ian Talbot, Head of History, University of Southampton)
«This is an interesting book which offers views, insights and analyses of the relations between India and Pakistan through the interviews with top 26 ex-military officials from both the nations. [...] Since these officials have been major stakeholders in history of relations between the two nations, thus, naturally it provides very insightful comments and suggestions regarding the bilateral relationship. This book could prove to be a useful collection for those officials, researchers, students as well as general readers who wish to understand the complexities involved in India-Pakistan relations and are in search for some appropriate and good answers.» (Sanjeev Kumar Shrivastav, Journal of Defence Studies)

From the Publisher