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The study on the subject dwells upon the Kashmir ripeness under the framework of Mutually Hurting Stalemate. The research tries to find out if Kashmir is a ripe issue to be resolved and the determinants through which a ripe moment can be judged and seized by the parties to the conflict. There are certain preconditions of the ripeness model that can lead to a successful seizure and beginning of negotiations. Since MHS does not guarantee success of the negotiations/mediation or any peace making activity, the combatants should opt for supporting factors to make ripeness a successful phenomenon. Ripeness should be divided into various phases. It should not only be utilized as an opportunity to the opening of a dialogue. It has to be workable from pre to post ripeness issues. The study deals with the pre and post ripeness issues too.

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Maria Saifuddin Effendi is serving as Assistant Professor at Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, Faculty of Contemporary Studies, National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad Pakistan (since February 2009).

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