Abstract
The theme of this paper is to review the extent to which, in the post-9/11 environment, it became difficult for Pakistan to continue its covert support of the Kashmiri separatist movement at the same time as assisting the United States and its allies in the global ‘War on Terror’. The paper will explain the origins of Pakistan’s support and also examine the potential that the dispute between India and Pakistan over the state of Jammu and Kashmir still has to act as a de-stabilising factor in Pakistan and the region. The argument is that the Kashmir issue no longer has the same explosive characteristics it had 20 years or even 10 years ago, and that a genuine attempt has been made by the Pakistan government to curtail cross-border terrorism—although it has not been entirely successful, mainly because the militant groups have succeeded in establishing a momentum of their own. Yet, even after 60 years, there remains a general reluctance to let go of the Kashmir issue without some tangible political gain.
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