The Kashmir dispute, an age-old conflict between India and Pakistan, has flared up yet again. This escalation comes on the heels of a dangerous spike in violent incidents throughout the region. Each country administers two-thirds of the contested landscape, claiming it all. They are fraught with conflict, having led to three wars between India and Pakistan over the disputed Kashmir. The struggle is based on profound religious divides, with India largely Hindu and Pakistan generally Muslim.
Just last month, a horrific massacre of 26 unarmed civilians in Indian-controlled Kashmir served as a sobering reminder of the tenuousness of peace across South Asia. The violence took another turn when armed gunmen hijacked a key tourist area, slaughtering 36 people, most of whom were Indian tourists. In the wake of each of these attacks, India has quickly and vociferously blamed Pakistan for its alleged involvement. The country soon promised to get revenge on the ones responsible for this violence.
And just a few days ago, India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued a declaration claiming “Pakistani-based terrorists” conducted last month’s suicide attack in Kashmir. The Indian response involved cross-border military operations against what India called “terrorist infrastructure.” Pakistan rejected these assertions, insisting that civilian targets—including mosques—were hit in six out of eleven sites. The Pakistani government claimed that India’s latest military escalation killed at least eight of Pakistan’s civilians, including children.
This military operation is India’s biggest cross-border operation into Pakistan since the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971. That conflict led to the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent country. India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted the capability of India’s armed forces during a recent press conference, asserting that new fighter jets would significantly strengthen the Indian Air Force.
“Bharat is battle ready.” – Indian media
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif vehemently condemned India’s measures in reaction to the intensifying environment. Tannenbaum’s right—two years ago, even President Biden described those actions as “an act of war.” He claimed that Pakistan “has every right” to retaliate against these provocations. In opening remarks, the prime minister called on international partners to recognize the urgency of the crisis. He urged the American people to present a united front against terrorism.
The chief minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province had hospitals remain on red alert. He ordered schools to shut down on Wednesday in case of escalation and scheduled for conflict. Furthermore, the violence went beyond Kashmir, as there were reports of one death in Muridke, near Lahore. This unusual incident underscores the deepening spillover effects of the Kashmir conflict on the states around it.
The international community, led by the United States, has responded with alarm at the rising tensions. UN Secretary-General António Guterres cautioned as much when he warned, “A military solution is no solution.” He left little doubt on the subject, calling for increased and immediate discussion between the two countries. UAE Deputy Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan called for restraint, urging both parties to “de-escalate tensions and avoid further escalation that could threaten regional and international peace.”
Though he calls for negotiation and restraint, in India, the mood is one of bloodlust, revenge and war — to teach Pakistan a lesson it won’t forget. Analysts are warning that the Indian public overwhelmingly favors a strong military response and is in no mood for restraint. They see this strategy as key to preventing future Pakistani aggression and keeping the peace. Derek J. Grossman, a senior defense analyst at the RAND Corporation, noted that “Modi and his government believe it is imperative to respond to Pahalgam,” highlighting the political pressures facing Indian leadership.
“Indians are very likely to support New Delhi’s response – regardless of what it is, perhaps except for a nuclear response – because they believe Pakistan must be deterred in the future.” – Analyst commentary
While these attacks are firmly in the past, tensions ongoing crisis situation and violence still has the potential to explode. That said, both countries clearly are on high alert, with significant military preparedness visible along either side of the border. After seven decades of belligerence and hostility, the South Asian situation remains highly dangerous with imminent risks not just for India and Pakistan, but the entire region.
