THE recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Indian-occupied Kashmir, on April 22, which killed 26 people and injured over a dozen tourists, has reignited long-standing tensions between India and Pakistan.
India quickly blamed Pakistan-based groups, shut down the Attari-Wagah border, suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, and expelled Pakistani diplomats.
Pakistan denied involvement, calling the incident a “false flag” operation – an accusation that highlights the deep distrust at the heart of this latest crisis.
As rhetoric escalates and the subcontinent inches closer to a dangerous precipice, the international community must ask: are India’s actions a genuine security response or a diversion from internal turmoil?
And more importantly, how can the world act now to avert a larger conflict?
A history of division and distrust: The animosity between the neighbors dates back to the traumatic partition of British India – an event that displaced millions and still casts a long shadow.
At the core of their rivalry lies the disputed region of Kashmir, a flashpoint that has witnessed wars, skirmishes, and a heavily militarized Line of Control.
The stakes escalated when both nations became nuclear powers in 1998.
Recent U.S. intelligence reports warn of the region’s volatility, particularly amid rising nationalism and extremism.
The Pahalgam attack, reportedly claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), is the deadliest in Kashmir in two decades.
The TRF, nevertheless, has denied any involvement.
“Any attribution of this act to TRF is false, hasty, and part of an orchestrated campaign to malign the Kashmiri resistance,” it stated, adding that after the Pahalgam attack “a brief and unauthorized message” that was posted from their digital platforms was result of “cyberattack”.
TRF emerged in 2019 after the Modi administration revoked Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution, stripping Kashmir of its special autonomous status.
TRF commander, a resident of Srinagar, had remained imprisoned in Tihar Jail for four years before release in 2006.
Following one of the longest curfews of history in IOK from August 2019 to February 2021, tensions have simmered, and the fragile 2021 ceasefire now appears in jeopardy.
Internal struggles, external aggression?
India’s response has been swift: sealing borders, canceling Pakistani visas, and suspending the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty – a critical agreement governing water access for millions.
These moves may project strength but risk triggering humanitarian and environmental crises, particularly for downstream communities.
Domestically, India faces significant unrest.
Ethnic violence in Manipur, which erupted in May 2023, has left over 250 dead and displaced more than 60,000.
Border tensions with Nepal and Bhutan, strained relations with Bangladesh and persistent economic challenges further pose stability challenges.
On one hand, India boasts one of the world’s largest economies; on the other, it has the world’s highest number of people living below the poverty line – an alarming 234 million, according to a 2024 UN report.
Critics, including opposition leader Shashi Tharoor, argue that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assertive foreign policy – from the 2019 Balakot airstrikes to the current escalation – may be a calculated effort to deflect attention from internal challenges and rally nationalist sentiment ahead of elections.
Blame, denial, and the need for neutral inquiry: Pakistan, for its part, has accused India of fostering unrest in Balochistan – a claim India vehemently denies.
Yet, the absence of impartial international investigations allows suspicion and hostility to fester.
Without neutral fact-finding, the blame game becomes a dangerous substitute for accountability.
This endless cycle does more than inflame passions – it obscures the real costs of conflict: lost lives, destabilized communities, and an increasingly fragile peace.
Why the world can’t look away: This is no longer a regional issue.
With both countries armed with nuclear weapons, the implications of a misstep are global.
The international community, particularly institutions like the United Nations, must take urgent action.
The U.S. and India’s joint call in 2023 for Pakistan to curb extremist groups, met with Pakistan’s protests, highlights the complexity of international involvement.
Now, Iran has offered to mediate – a sign that regional powers are growing alarmed.
But what’s needed is a coordinated, multilateral effort.
The UN must lead an impartial investigation into the Pahalgam attack and bring both nations to the negotiating table.
Only structured dialogue can address root issues – like Kashmir, water rights, and regional security – meaningfully.
Dialogue over drums of war: There is no military solution to this standoff.
Pakistan has called for diplomacy over aggression.
India, too, must be encouraged – if not pressured – into a de-escalatory path.
Both countries face shared challenges: climate change, health crises, and smog.
Cooperation, no conflict, is the only way forward.
A health emergency in the making: Beyond immediate political and military concerns, regional conflict brings devastating health consequences.
Mass displacement leads to overcrowded refugee settlements, overburdened healthcare systems, outbreaks of disease, and psychological trauma.
Environmental consequences – such as disrupted water systems and worsening air quality – exacerbate respiratory and chronic health issues already widespread in South Asia.
As a healthcare leader, I see firsthand how fragile our health infrastructures are in the face of instability.
In a region already battling malnutrition, poor maternal care, and infectious diseases, a full-blown conflict could set back decades of progress.
Peace is not just a political imperative – it is a public health necessity.
A defining moment: The Pahalgam attack has brought South Asia to a critical juncture.
While India’s security concerns are valid, its current trajectory risks deepening instability and masking internal issues.
If left unchecked, this crisis could spiral beyond borders.
Global institutions and major powers must act, not as passive observers but as responsible stewards of peace.
For the sake of millions on both sides, and for the stability of an already volatile region, diplomacy must prevail over division.
—The writer is the Chief Executive Officer of Shifa International Hospitals, Limited and a commentator on international relations.
