Multi-Level Analysis of India's Revocation of Article 370 and Implications for Indo-Pak Relations

Abstract

This article provides a brief overview of Article 370 and its revocation in order to comprehend the
broader political and diplomatic implications for the South Asian region. The paper's premise is
based on an integrative review that focuses on the qualitative nature of data, and it is theoretically
inspired by classic realism. The end result suggests that the revocation of Article 370 appears to
have had an impact on three levels: at the local level in Kashmir, at the national level in India, and at
the inter-state level in terms of India-Pakistan bilateral relations. As per the study, the people of
Kashmir have certainly felt endangered for their identity, and even the pro-India Kashmiri political
leadership has lost trust in India. Similarly, domestic politics in India are being influenced since this
revocation has spurred the Hindutva ideology, which has been emphasizing on supremacy and
maximizing of power over other identities. At the interstate level, a persistent trust deficit, trade
closures, and deterioration of diplomatic ties became apparent, contributing to the deterioration of
India-Pakistan bilateral relations.