[UN]WAR

Abstract

Planning in a conflict region is considered as one of the challenging discourses of urbanism due to extreme geopolitical and societal conditions. This research-design project addresses spatial planning, policies, and design in the contested areas, through the case of Kashmir which is a disputed geopolitical region between India and Pakistan. Due to this, political and cultural conflict emerge in the region resulting in underdevelopment and social fragmentation. In order to understand the theoretical aspects of conflict and urbanism, the major part of this thesis is dedicated to the literature review. In which literature by several urban scholars on this topic as well as policies by the Indian government and State government of Jammu and Kashmir has been analyzed. Which leads to the problem formulation for the thesis which constitutes and find out the missing link between current planning practices and cultural conflict in the region, in order to further assist in the conflict mitigation. Also, the analysis has been done by various methods like comparative analysis, Empirical analysis, field visit to understand the planning and governance system in Kashmir. This analysis resulted in finding spatial opportunities as an urbanist to develop the region. Finally, this project aims to create a strategic framework to achieve social cohesion in the area by altering the current planning practices and giving design interventions.