First published in 1999, the papers collected in this volume were originally prepared for four workshops organized by the UN Department for Disarmament Affairs to inform the work of the Panel of Governmental Experts on Small Arms. These workshops were held during 1995-96. Some of the authors updated their papers for publication in early 1998. Lora Lumpe, senior fellow with the Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers in Oslo and Tamar Gabelnick, Acting Director of the Arms Sales Monitoring Project at the Federation of American Scientists in Washington, DC edited the presentations for this book.

This book traces the roots of modern-day Kashmir and the role of Sheikh Abdullah in its making. As the most influential political figurehead in twentieth-century Kashmir, he played a crucial role in its transformation from a kingdom to a state in independent India. He was enigmatic and complex, to say the least. Following his meteoric rise, he dominated the political scene for more than 50 years, with enduring impact. The volume presents a keen analysis of pre-Independence events which led to the emergence of a controversial and confused identity of the region. It also looks at other major themes in the political life of Kashmir, including the formation of the Muslim Conference, the plebiscite movement and the Kashmir Accord. A major intervention in the political life of South Asia, this book presents an inside-view of the history of modern Kashmir through the life and times of Sheikh Abdullah. It will be of great interest to scholars and researchers of politics, history, and modern South Asia.

"Kashmir has always been in the midst of geopolitical hullabaloo due to its pending UN Resolution and now the demand of 'Azadi' (Freedom) which became more pronounced after the inception of insurgency in the State in 1987-88. If we look into the issue, in reality, it is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, if the legality reason is applied then there is no doubt that India's stance is most legitimate. The people of Kashmir have invited the 'Jihad' into Indian Kashmir Region and declared 'Azadi' as a war of freedom through the Pakistan sponsored militancy and radicalisation of the society on communal lines by the militant organisations and separatists. In the present environment, the stakeholders are at a tangent and it is mainly because the main stakeholder, the people of Kashmir are uncertain and confused, the total population is not part of the 'Azadi' (freedom) thus there is vagueness and the vision of 'Azadi' (freedom) is very blurred. The other stakeholders are either taking advantage of the people's sentiments or going by their own agenda of self-interest or lack the will to take initiatives to resolve the Kashmir issue which meets their personal ends. In this book, the chapters are based on the stakeholders and their participation in the Kashmir embroil. The basic contents are based on the issues that have made Kashmir an affair of continued existence by various stakeholders, the creation of an environment of stalemate and prevailing status quo without any changes, none of the stakeholders are ready to budge or lose their turf. Written in a simple and lucid manner, the narratives made interesting with historical facts, quotations and factual as prevailing in Kashmir."