The Kashmir dispute involves the conflicting claims of India and Pakistan over the region, threatening global peace and security. India claims sovereignty over Kashmir based on an instrument of accession signed by the Maharaja in 1946, while Pakistan argues this instrument is invalid as it did not follow the criteria set by the viceroy. The dispute has broader geopolitical implications, with the USSR historically supporting India and the US aligning more closely with Pakistan, while China's growing nuclear capabilities are also a strategic concern for India.