India’s Escalation in Kashmir: A Reckoning with Pakistan
India’s Prime News Network reports on the latest developments in the volatile Kashmir conflict. The recent deadly militant attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 civilian lives, has reignited tensions between India and Pakistan. This comes after previous cross-border and aerial strikes by India, which have become the new norm in the region.
The 2016 Uri attack, where 19 Indian soldiers were killed, led to India launching "surgical strikes" across the Line of Control, targeting militant bases. In 2019, the Pulwama bombing, which left 40 Indian paramilitary personnel dead, prompted airstrikes deep into Balakot, Pakistan. These actions have further intensified an already volatile situation.
Former Indian high commissioner to Pakistan, Ajay Bisaria, reflects on the similarities between the aftermath of the 2019 Pulwama bombing and the recent Pahalgam attack. He notes that while the attacks share elements of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, they also carry the weight of the 2019 Pulwama bombing, which triggered Indian airstrikes in Balakot.
India’s diplomatic offensive continued after the Pahalgam attack, pushing for the designation of JeM chief Masood Azhar as a terrorist by the UN sanctions committee and inclusion on the EU’s "autonomous terror list." India also withheld data beyond treaty obligations and suspended bilateral agreements, including the Samjhauta Express and the Kartarpur corridor.
The crisis escalated dramatically on 27 February when Pakistan launched retaliatory air raids. An Indian fighter jet was shot down, and its pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, was captured and detained in enemy territory. Pakistan’s prime minister, Imran Khan, announced the pilot’s release on 28 February, under prisoner of war protocol.
India’s political temperature cooled by 5 March, with the Cabinet Committee on Security deciding to send India’s high commissioner back to Pakistan, signaling a shift towards diplomacy. Bisaria describes it as a "testing and fascinating time" to be a diplomat, noting that the key difference this time is the targets being Indian civilians.
The article concludes by highlighting the inevitability of escalation but also the de-escalation instinct. Bisaria emphasizes India’s threat to annul the Indus Waters Treaty, which could have long-term, serious consequences for Pakistan. The article underscores the fragile balance of response and deterrence in this conflict-ridden region.
Reference : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4wk22vk4zo
