India, Pakistan continues to exert military power after deadly tourism attacks
India and Pakistan are competing for military and diplomatic resources to address the crisis triggered by the Indian-controlled Kashmir Holocaust, which has heightened concerns about conflict between nuclear weapons competitors.
India blamed Pakistan for killing 26 people on April 22, most of whom were Hindu tourists, and described it as a terrorist attack. Islamabad denies the allegation.
Both countries expel each other's diplomats and nationals, and closed their borders and airspace. India has also suspended a key moisture sharing treaty with Pakistan.
Kashmir split between India and Pakistan and claims both of them.
The two countries fought two wars with the Himalayas in three wars, and their connections were due to conflict, active diplomacy and mutual suspicion, mainly due to their competitive claims against Kashmir.
A Pakistani minister said last week that his country had “credible intelligence” and was about to strike in India. So far, India has no military action.
Here is where the situation has been since the recent attack:
World leaders urge down demotion
World leaders called on both sides to avoid escalation following the initial condemnation of the attacks on tourists.
The UN Security Council is expected to hold a closed consultation on Monday to discuss the situation.
International pressure has been increasing New Delhi and Islamabad to ease tensions. Senior officials from the United States, China, Russia and Saudi Arabia urged both sides to exercise their constraints.
U.S. officials urged India and Pakistan to reduce tensions after a fatal attack on tourists in disputed Kashmir. Pakistan warned India of an imminent military strike that blamed it on the attack.
Russian President Vladimir Putin spokesman Narendra Modi on Monday and “strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam”, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal wrote on X.
Iranian Foreign Minister held talks with top Pakistan officials on Monday as Tehran proposed to help ease tensions among nuclear-weapon neighbours.
Both countries have launched an active diplomatic campaign to support their posts.
India briefly introduced the so-called “cross-border links” to the attacks to diplomats from dozens of countries.
“The diplomatic propaganda this time is very extensive, and India’s idea is to show its partners any evidence and propose a case where any action that either party may take will support its partners and allies,” said the Foreign Policy Leader of Observer Pants in New Delhi Thought-Tank Foundation.
Pakistan proposed cooperating in an international investigation into the attacks and contacted dozens of foreign diplomats. However, Islamabad said it will match or exceed any military operations in India.
Tensions at the border, fears in Kashmir
Indian troops said their troops had exchanged gunshots with Pakistani soldiers on the line of control in Kashmir, which divided the disputed areas and accused neighbors of 10 unprovoked shootings over 10 consecutive nights. Meanwhile, Islamabad accused India of violating the ceasefire.
In Kashmir, Indian troops launched a massive operation to hunt the attackers on April 22. At least 2,000 people were detained and interrogated. Some were arrested under anti-terrorism laws that allow authorities to detain people who are not formally charged. Indian troops also blew up at least nine families suspected of rebels who have been independent or merged with Pakistan.
The crackdown has led to fear and anxiety in Kashmir, stirring traumatic memories of decades-long rebellion and India’s cruel reaction.
“The Kashmiris have always been the first to bear the brunt of any political or military tensions between India and Pakistan for the first time,” said Praveen Donthi, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group.
“The collective punishment of Kashmiris and the state violence released on them further inspires the conflict.”
Missile testing
Pakistan's military said on Monday it carried out a short-range missile from an undisclosed site, the second-place test launch after launching the medium missile on Saturday. Such missiles will never be launched into India and usually end up in the deserts of the Arabian Sea or the southern province of Balochistan.
The missiles that India's navy also tried last week.
In 2019, the skirmishes between the two countries were almost in control before the U.S. intervention eased tensions.
