SRINAGAR, India (AP) – Tensions escalated between India and Pakistan last week, as a series of military strikes brought the nuclear-armed rivals perilously close to a broader war, prompting intervention by global powers. The violence ceased only after international pressure highlighted the risks of nuclear conflict.
Experts suggest that the recent crisis has intensified the rivalry between the two neighboring countries, with both sides crossing a significant threshold by utilizing high-speed missiles and drones in their attacks. This tit-for-tat aggression has once again spotlighted the Kashmir region, long regarded as a nuclear flashpoint, particularly after U.S. President Donald Trump offered to mediate the enduring conflict.
Paul Staniland, a South Asia expert and political science professor at the University of Chicago, commented that the recent four days of fighting indicate that "India now feels substantial space to directly target Pakistan, as well as that Pakistan is willing to escalate in response.” Unlike previous bouts of violence, which were generally confined to Kashmir, the recent confrontations involved missile and drone strikes on each other's military installations deep within urban areas and exchanges of gunfire along the Kashmir frontier.
On both sides, dozens of casualties were reported, with each nation claiming to have inflicted significant damage on the other, asserting that their military objectives had been achieved. The latest round of hostilities began Wednesday when India retaliated for an attack that killed 26 people, primarily Hindu tourists, in Kashmir. India attributed the assault to Pakistani support for the attackers, a claim that Islamabad firmly denied, stating that no evidence was provided to substantiate the accusations.
The Indian military has warned that it may conduct further strikes against Pakistan if it perceives any threat, while Pakistan's military responded by cautioning against violations of its sovereignty and pledging to retaliate. Historically, India and Pakistan have engaged in two wars over Kashmir, raising alarm among the international community about the potential for nuclear confrontation. Following U.S.-led discussions, Trump announced on Saturday that both nations had agreed to cease hostilities. On Sunday, he reiterated his offer of assistance in seeking a "solution" to the Kashmir dispute.
Pakistan expressed gratitude to the U.S. and Trump for facilitating the ceasefire, while India refrained from commenting on Trump's mediation proposal, acknowledging only that a ceasefire was brokered through military contacts with Pakistan.
Criticism emerged regarding Trump's mediation offer within India, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has maintained that Kashmir is an internal matter and has opposed any third-party intervention, framing the situation as a struggle against "Pakistan's proxy war." Conversely, Pakistan seeks to internationalize the Kashmir issue, asserting it as a dispute recognized by international law and calling for resolution in accordance with U.N. resolutions and the desires of the Kashmiri people.
South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman described Trump’s offer as "a diplomatic coup for Pakistan." He noted that a fundamental goal of Pakistani foreign policy is to internationalize the Kashmir conflict, and the current situation aligns with that objective, generating frustration for an Indian government that views the matter as settled.
Amidst the ceasefire, residents on both sides of the border have expressed relief, yet many contend that enduring peace is contingent upon resolving the Kashmir dispute. Praveen Donthi, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, remarked that Kashmiris should be included in any negotiation process for a sustainable solution, as they have disproportionately suffered due to the conflict's toll on life and stability.
Kashmir's residents argue that the dispute transcends mere geopolitics and diplomacy, directly impacting their survival and peace. One student, Shazia Tabbasum, poignantly stated, "Let's be honest, India and Pakistan are fighting over Kashmir. So let it be resolved once and forever."
