India, the European Union and Kashmir: Containing a Postmodern Policy (original) (raw)

The differences between India and the European Union over Kashmir are a textbook example of how two governments can approach a foreign policy dispute from wholly different points of view. The original points of divergence were, one, India's tactical view of dialogue with Pakistan and, two, human rights violations in Indian administered Kashmir. How the EU changed its policy towards India and Kashmir is also a micro-study of how pragmatic versus idealist foreign policy approaches contend with each other within Brussels. The differences on Kashmir between India and the EU reached their peak in the period between 2000 and 2004. During this time policy in Brussels was strongly under the influence of the European Council and its prioritization of human rights. Subsequently, the EU Commission graduated Brussels' position to a more realist attitude, a policy shift helped by the easing of political violence within Indian Kashmir. Kashmir continued P.