The ancient land of Kashmir remains a bone of contention between India and Pakistan. The dispute started after the Partition of India in 1947, when Kashmir was a princely state. Following a war between India and Pakistan, it was divided between the two belligerent nations. Since then, each nation has claimed Kashmir in its entirety. There are also some who want to see Kashmir gain its independence. This is not a simple conflict, since both the nations involved have a nuclear arsenal. Moreover, the Kashmiris have to suffer the violent acts of terrorists supported by Pakistan and the atrocities committed by Indian security forces. The two neighbours continue to make efforts to resolve this issue, despite the failure of many previous attempts.This article examines the position of the various actors in the conflict, including not only India, Pakistan and the Kashmiris, but also the United Nations Organisation. The author demonstrates that the principle of a people’s right to self-determination conflicts with the principle of national sovereignty