Are there any other cultural, economic or military forces that rival or counter the Kashmir empire? So far they seem to be the only superpower in the setting
There are a few emerging ones like the Radica Republic, but by far the most widely agreed potential great power was the short-lived Redspring Confederation.
Overnight with the signing of a document, a country with an impressive cache of natural resources, an established industrial apparatus and a sizable population appeared right next door to Kashmir where 12 small squabbling nation-states had been the day before.
Falling just as quickly as it rose it was strategically invaded on disputed claims of aggression by Kashmir and defeated after a lengthy 4 year war. Many historians believe it’s too early to determine what it’s effects on the political stage would have been. But no doubt having been allowed to grow and solidify itself, it along with it’s first leader, the fiery Chairwoman Nicole Kemp, would have seen Redspring grow into a potential economic and trade rival with Kashmir.
Some theories contend that an entity like this right on Kashmir’s doorstep (practically INSIDE it’s established sphere of influence) means a war would have happened eventually. They assert that the war happened when it did as a preemptive move to absorb Redspring into the empire before that could ever happen.