Small World, Big Issues

31 deaths and counting ¹. Dozens injured. India and Pakistan, with a long and painful history over Kashmir, are at war again ².

Here’s what’s behind the conflict, what is going on today and what could unfold in the near future.

The Cause

Kashmir is a Himalayan ‘region of the northwestern Indian subcontinent’ ³. It’s ethnically diverse and known for its beautiful nature – meadows, ‘snow-capped mountains’ and lakes ⁴.

India and Pakistan both declare that all of Kashmir is theirs, but each control a section of the region. Their respective sections are separated by the ‘line of control’, one of the most heavily guarded borders in the world ⁵.

The root of this dispute begins in 1947, when India and Pakistan became independent from Britain. Because of the Indian Independence Act, Kashmir, a mostly Muslim region, was able to join either India or Pakistan ⁶.

Although the local ruler wished for Kashmir to be independent, he eventually chose to join India, for their help against invading tribesmen from Pakistan ⁶.

Then, in 1947, the first war over Kashmir broke out. India asked the UN to intervene and the UN suggested holding a direct vote by the region’s electorate to decide whether Kashmir would join India or Pakistan ⁶.

This was the most appropriate decision at the time, as diplomacy plays a crucial role in promoting peace and preventing conflict.

But, the two nations couldn’t settle on an agreement to remove their troops from the area before the vote could even happen ⁶. So, tensions escalated into conflict.

Nearly 20 years later, hostilities resumed in 1965. Then again in 1999, the two nations got stuck in war again, after Pakistani militants invaded India-administered Kashmir ⁷. These repeated clashes set the scene for today’s conflict.

The Spark of Today’s War

Let’s go back to April 22nd. In India-administered Kashmir, there was a terrorist attack that killed 26 people, who were mostly tourists. 17 more were injured ⁸.

Following this, India accused Pakistan for backing the militants that killed civilians. Pakistan denied supporting terrorist groups and insisted that they were “ready to cooperate” with any inquiries ⁸.

India did not buy it. Convinced of Pakistan’s involvement ⁸, India launched Operation Sindoor, seeking to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan ⁹.

India has conducted 24 missile strikes on areas in Pakistan that have been known for high rates of terrorism. 70 terrorists were killed ¹⁰. News updates share that women and several children were killed from India’s missile strikes ¹¹.

This attack included strikes on Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous and political province ¹² – highlighting how diplomacy has once again failed due to the nations’ inability to negotiate, reach an agreement and communicate effectively.

That said, India and Pakistan have made diplomatic efforts in the past. They requested for UN’s advice and they have worked with them in the past, trying to solve their rising issues ¹³. They try, but it doesn’t work, so they opt for violence.

It sounds simple: just attempt communication again. But nations are extremely complex and it doesn’t help that countries have different motives and strategies. India and Pakistan believe war is the only path to achieving their goals.

Food for Thought

Long story short: I understand the motives of both India and Pakistan (this is assuming that both nations are truthful to the media).

Let’s say that Pakistan did support the militant group that committed the terrorist attack in India-administered Kashmir ¹⁴.

Perhaps they were providing a safe haven or failing to hold them accountable. Naturally, India would respond with outrage.

If Indian civilians are getting killed on their soil and India remains placid, they can be viewed as a weak nation.

The same principle applies to Pakistan.

India launched missiles at what it claimed were terrorist camps in Pakistan, but Pakistan reported that the attack killed and injured many civilians, including women and children ¹⁶.

If Pakistan doesn’t retaliate, it risks being seen as weak – especially given that Pakistan’s military is ranked 12th globally, compared to India’s 4th ¹⁵.

Although I understand their motives, the bottom line is: war should not be happening. Understandably, India wants to avenge the 26 people that died on their soil. But this war is taking more than 26 lives. Undoubtedly, the death count of Indian civilians will surpass 26 deaths if Pakistan retaliates, and they already have.

After vowing to ‘avenge’ the 31 lives ¹⁷ and ‘vowed retaliation’ ¹⁸, they also warned India that they will use their ‘full spectrum of power’, including nuclear weapons ¹⁹.

Pakistan has shot down five of India’s aircraft and declared that they would counterattack, only to India’s military sites ²⁰. Calling India’s airstrikes ‘unjustified’ ²¹, Islamabad stated that none of the six sites India targeted were actually militant camps.

Just today, India reported that Pakistan fired missiles and drones at military sites ²². Pakistan denied the claim.

Additionally, Pakistan came forward about blowing up India’s installations along the border in Kashmir. Approximately 40 to 50 Indian troops were killed ²².

The Uncertain Future

Tensions are high, other countries urge the two nations to refrain from violence and wish for the war to end quickly ²³.

The war is just beginning. In the city of Rawalpindi, Pakistani civilians protest “There will be war. Until India is destroyed”. The Pakistani people express frustration, saying “They want a war”. We “should give them a war” ²⁴.

However, there is hope for this war to end. Not all Pakistani civilians wish for war. They hope for peace: “people think war is a joke but imagine the cost to human lives” says Yousaf Nisar, a software engineer in Pakistan ²⁴.

Moreover, experts say that communication between ‘trusted interlocutors’ can help the two nations make amends. They emphasise that international mediation is essential in this case. Experts agree that a full-scale war would benefit neither side, emphasising that diplomacy channels remain open for discussion ²⁵.

That’s all for now. So, how do you think this will play out? Full-fledged war or will India and Pakistan settle for peace?

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References

Image: The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. 2025. Kashmir Region. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Kashmir-region-Indian-subcontinent.

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