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Access to and control of land is a critical ingredient of food security and protection from poverty. However women’s access to and control is marred by patriarchal culture despite legal and policy initiatives being undertaken by the government. This paper attempts to highlight women’s experiences in terms of land ownership through inheritance along with government’s commitment and initiatives in the backdrop of international commitments regarding inheritance rights of women in Pakistan. Experiences of rural women in terms of getting their share in inheritance are highlighted through qualitative research. It is shown that the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan, Shariah laws and global commitments such as CEDAW articles suffice to give women their requisite rights in inheritance. One can also see scattered efforts of the state to take special measures to empower women by giving cultivable land but the issues are enormous in making things effective in a patriarchal society where attitudes are entrenched in the power politics of misogynist society as highlighted by the views of the respondent women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 5th August 2019, the abrogation of Article 370 and 35(A) has given Kashmir conflict a different dimension. It has not only changed the autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) but also compromised the safeguard of the demographic status of J&K as a Muslim majority state in India. Since 1947, India and Pakistan have been locked into continuous adverse relations due to the conflict in Kashmir and do not find a common ground to bring peace in the region. Therefore, peace is an urgent need to address and redress the grievances of Kashmiris. Kashmiris in Indian occupied Kashmir are going through an ordeal, oppression due to massive human rights violations by Indian security forces. The conflict is becoming more protracted day by day and necessitates a systematic and sustainable resolution with the help of the international community and the United Nations. Throughout the last 72 years, several efforts were made, and multiple dialogue and negotiation took place, but Kashmir Conflict could not be resolved mainly due to India's rigid approach and policies towards Kashmir and continuous trust deficits between Pakistan and India. However, India and Pakistan need to commit to peaceful and sustainable conflict resolution. The paper suggests the application of the Problem Solving and Decision Making (PSDM) Model of Conflict Resolution in order to seek changes in legal and political framework to deal with complex issues of Kashmir conflict. The distinct aspects of the model carry a theoretical concept for framing Kashmir Conflict according to a particular sequence to resolve it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overt and covert form of purdah culture has a reflective connection between the public policy and women's way of life in Pakistan. The underpinnings of the gender and nexus of purdah culture very intricately evolve in the formulation of the public policy. Reflections on the state of affairs in the country regarding initiatives about improving women status inform gender biases in development plans, lack of political will, lack of resource allocation, lack of legal instruments, ineffective judicial system, policies without crosscutting integration of gender and lack of commitment, implementation and accountability which does not bring the required results. This paper is an attempt to explore the interplay of purdah shaping women lives and cobweb of patriarchal values predetermining the social and cultural value of gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]