Since 1947 when the newly independent states of India and Pakistan were carved out of the ancient South Asian peninsula by departing Britain colonists, they left behind a legacy of serious political and military issues.
The difficulties of the Hindu and Muslim communities to live together as one nation were exploited unscrupulously by the British, negating even the efforts of Mahatma Gandhi, the non-violent freedom leader to prevent the Partition.
The 1947 Partition resulted in the formation of India and Pakistan - the secular Hindu-majority nation of India and the sectarian Muslim-majority nation of Pakistan, separated by 1,500 kilometers of Indian Territory. Hundreds of thousands of citizens were killed in rioting between Hindus and Muslims and the number of refugees exceeded 10 million.
The bone of contention between India and Pakistan is the picturesque state of Kashmir. In 1948 Pakistan irregular soldiers disguised as tribesmen invaded the independent state of Kashmir. The Maharaja of Kashmir seeking India’s military assistance acceded to the Indian Union. This Muslim majority state has since been claimed by both countries and remains a flashpoint deadlock to the present day, both armies separated by the Line of Control in divided Kashmir.
Contrary to the growing trend among nations to consolidate and cooperate toward the New World Order, India and Pakistan have opted to confront each other. Three wars have been fought to date, the last being in 1971 when East Pakistan was overrun by India and the new and independent state of Bangladesh was formed.
In 1975, India developed and tested a nuclear device partially to offset China’s lead. This led to an inevitable nuclear arms race between India and Pakistan. By 1985 both countries were in possession of atomic weapons and were undeclared nuclear powers. In 1998 both nations engaged in nuclear testing and exploded a total of eleven nuclear bombs.
In 1999, the new members of the Nuclear Club almost went to war over Pakistan’s intrusions in Kargil. It required intervention by the United States through the Clinton Administration to defuse the situation.
The novel is set under these circumstances which are aggravated further by burgeoning populations and fragile economies. In both countries, fundamentalism is on the rise.
In this all too realistic scenario, one of the nuclear arch-enemies attempts a quick and decisive military victory.
The results affect not only the whole of South Asia … but indeed the entire world!