Achieving sustainable peace process between India and Pakistan through the lens of conflict transformation theory

Abstract

Conflict is natural to the social system of states. However, conflict between states can seriously hamper their progress and development. While conflict resolution may be able to bring peace yet the innate acrimonious behaviours weaken the sustainability of peace and conflict tends to return back. Alternatively, theory of conflict transformation does not only seek to resolve the conflict but it goes a step ahead to root out the basic cause for the conflict. India Pakistan conflict is a unique and perfect example of protracted conflict based on religion, culture and societal differences deep rooted into behaviours of both the states. A sustainable peace process has never been able to develop between the two states owing to the mutual mistrust and acrimonious behaviour developed over the history of relations. The standard modes of conflict transformation; (i) personal, (ii) relational or contextual, (iii) structural, and (iv) cultural, cannot be applied to India Pakistan case in entirety. The contours of conflict transformation theory are challenged by the underlining behavioural and strategic frameworks in case of the conflict between India and Pakistan.