SOME political decisions solve problems. Others merely postpone them. India’s decision of Aug 5, 2019, sought to settle history itself. By revoking Articles 370 and 35A, New Delhi changed the status of occupied Jammu and Kashmir and fully integrated it into the Indian Union. Seven years later, however, the constitu- tional change has not led to political finality.
The Kashmir dispute predates these constitutional amendments by more than seven decades. Since 1947, wars have been fought, ceasefires negotiated, and diplomatic initiatives attempted, but the dispute has lingered on. India argues that the 2019 decision strengthened national unity, governance and development.
Pakistan totally rejects this position, maintaining that Kashmir remains an internationally disputed territory whose future should be determined in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
The greatest tragedy is that constitutional arguments often overshadow the people themselves. Generations of Kashmiris have lived amid political uncertainty, disrupted livelihoods, divided families and recurring violence. While governments debate sovereignty, ordinary people continue to bear the multifaceted cost of an unresolved conflict.
The international community has largely responded with undue caution, balancing strategic interests against calls for dialogue. Yet, history suggests that unresolved political disputes rarely disappear through legal measures alone.
State power might impose temporary order, but lasting peace rests on political legitimacy, dialogue and public consent. Constitutions provide legal frameworks, not political closure. Seven years after India made its controversial move, the constitutional landscape has changed, but the competing claims remain.
Kashmir continues to demonstrate a simple lesson of global political history. Legal finality cannot by itself resolve a long-standing dispute whose underlying political questions remain unanswered.
Dr Zafar Khan Safdar
Islamabad
Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2026
