Tensions between India and Pakistan have surged following a deadly terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. The attack, which claimed 26 lives and injured 17 others in the tourist town of Pahalgam, has reignited fears of conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
Among the victims were nationals from the UAE and Nepal, along with two local residents. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short his Saudi Arabia trip and returned home immediately. Upon arrival, he pledged that the perpetrators would face justice.
Modi held an emergency security meeting with key officials, including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Following the meeting, India announced five strong retaliatory measures against Pakistan:
- Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty—a move expected to severely impact Pakistan’s agriculture and water supply.
- Indefinite closure of the Attari-Wagah border.
- Order for all Pakistanis in India to leave within 48 hours.
- Expulsion of Pakistani defense officials from New Delhi within a week.
- Reduction of Indian diplomatic staff in Islamabad from 55 to 30.
India has also cancelled all SAARC visas and instructed recent Pakistani entrants to return home by May 1.
In response, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called India's actions "childish" and convened an emergency National Security Committee (NSC) meeting. He warned that Pakistan would respond with equal force, and suggested that India was unjustly blaming Pakistan without evidence.
Further escalating tensions, Pakistan has accused India of orchestrating the attack as a "false flag" operation—a claim aimed at discrediting India's narrative and avoiding culpability.
Radio Pakistan reported that strategic diplomatic and military decisions may emerge from the NSC meeting.
As fears of war grow, analysts caution that a full-scale conflict may not be viable. With ongoing global wars, economic instability, and strained international alliances, both India and Pakistan may face limitations in pursuing a military confrontation. Moreover, any conflict could open strategic doors for China, further complicating the geopolitical landscape.
With the world already on edge, another South Asian conflict could deepen global instability and economic uncertainty.
