Fifteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

France’s prominent role in solving global conflicts represents an interesting case study because in spite of its size (only 1% of the population of the world), it maintains the largest diplomatic network (152 embassies worldwide). With this diplomatic network France plays more significant role than its size in global affairs for achieving its international ambitions either as mediator among conflicting parties or by showing its existence as a counter force in the global conflicts. In Asia, the Kashmir conflict - which poisoned South Asian politics almost lasting 70 years and very much compatible with all French global ambitions was totally ignored by French policy makers. France acknowledged Kashmir as conflicting region between Pakistan and India yet it never expressed its independent opinion on the issue like it did on certain other global conflicts i.e. Iraq/Syrian war. It supported all the UN efforts to solve the Kashmir conflict yet this support heavily influenced by Anglo-American opinion and its own regional financial interests. This research was conducted to find out why France, in spite of being a champion of human rights, self-determination, and non-proliferation is so indifferent and unconcerned to the Kashmir conflict, the oldest unresolved issue of the modern age. The research concludes that French policy makers never make Kashmir conflict a priority because they consider it an Asian issue and a non-solution would not damage French strategic or economic interests in the region.