Regional peace and stability in South Asia remain highly fragile owing to the prolonged hostility between Pakistan and India. After the partition both countries have been engaged in conflict and abnormal relations. Bothc faced each other in the 1948 war over Kashmir, then 1965 2nd war on Kashmir, 1971 war and 1999 Kargal war. Thus they both have a long, hostile history.
The recent conflict between Pakistan-India has sparked global concern, with both nuclear-armed nations having a complex history of skirmishes and tensions. The conflict escalated after a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam area, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, mostly Hindu tourists. India accused Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism, while Pakistan vehemently denied the allegations, Pakistan has offered India for collectively investigation on Pahalgam incident internationally but India denied.
India has launched “Operation Sindoor” under which a series of missile strikes were fired targeting civilians, mosques and defence installations including air bases. Pakistan retaliated with “Operation Bunyanum aMarsoos” targeting Indian military bases. Pakistan downed six Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale, and dozens of drones. According to ISPR, a total of 53 individuals, including 13 personnel of the Pakistan Armed Forces and 40 civilians, were martyred in Indian strikes during the recent military confrontation.
A fragile truce was brokered by the US, with both countries agreeing to halt hostilities after 87 hours of the conflict. However, each side accused the other of violating the ceasefire agreement, maintaining a heavy military presence along the Line of Control. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has tasked Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to lead a high-level delegation to key global capitals to present Pakistan’s stance and push for peace. The delegation will visit London, Washington, Paris, and Brussels to expose Indian propaganda and highlight Pakistan’s efforts for regional peace.
The conflict raises significant concerns about regional stability and the potential for humanitarian crises. The Kashmir dispute, terrorism, and border security are the underlying issues that need to be addressed. Diplomatic efforts are crucial in resolving the conflict peacefully. Both countries must work together to address these issues and promote peace, stability, and cooperation in the region.
The international community (especially China, USA, UN, Iran, Saudi Arabia) have emphasized the need for restraint and dialogue, urging both the countries to work towards a peaceful resolution. A long-lasting peace would require sustained dialogue, trust-building measures, and a commitment to resolving differences through diplomacy rather than force. The global community is keeping a close watch, hoping for de-escalation that would benefit not just India and Pakistan but the entire region.
The path forward involves not only addressing immediate tensions but also working towards long-term solutions that promote peace, stability, and cooperation in the region. Pakistan’s delegation to key global capitals is a step in the right direction, aiming to expose Indian propaganda and highlight Pakistan’s efforts for peace stability in region. Both nations maintain large standing armies and possess nuclear weapons, making the region one of the most dangerous flashpoints in the world.
Despite various peace initiatives like the Simla Agreement, the Lahore Declaration, and the Composite Dialogue Process, progress remains slow owing to political instability, hard-line narratives, and lack of sustained diplomatic engagement.
Regional peace is essential not only for economic development and poverty reduction in South Asia but also for broader global security. Therefore, a peaceful resolution to the conflict will require cooperation and diplomacy, bilaterally from both nations, also should solve Kashmir dispute with UN-based plebiscite, bilateral negotiations (four points of Musharraf-Manmohan peace process), and autonomy of self-rule for Kashmir or Confederation/joint administration to kept peace in the region.
