The New York Times: India and Pakistan are entering a more dangerous phase
The New York Times published an article by Asfandyar Mir titled “India and Pakistan Enter a More Dangerous Phase”.
The article states that despite the numerous wars and clashes between Muslim-majority Pakistan and Hindu-majority India, the confrontations often ended through negotiations and diplomatic efforts.
He points out that strong controls remained in place to prevent both sides from sliding into catastrophe, particularly the use of nuclear weapons.
Mir adds that the conflict between India and Pakistan has undergone a radical and dangerous transformation.
The current military confrontation began with an attack targeting Hindu tourists in Kashmir last month, which left 26 people dead, and quickly escalated into armed clashes.
Mir asserts that this rapid escalation reflects the disappearance of the diplomatic space that allowed both sides to avoid a devastating conflict.
According to the article, India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has come to view itself as a rising geopolitical and economic power on the global stage.
This transformation is not limited to the economic aspect alone, but also extends to include national and cultural identities.
The article demonstrates that India views Pakistan not merely as a nuisance, but as a major threat to its legitimate rise.
Mir notes that India has lost patience with Pakistan’s claims to Kashmir, the Indian-controlled part of the Muslim-majority region, and its support for anti-India “terrorism,” as the article puts it.
Mir explains that Pakistan, which has suffered from economic, political, and security crises for two decades, has come under the control of the military, which dominates decision-making and possesses significant military capabilities.
Despite these challenges, Pakistan refuses to back down from India, particularly on the issue of Kashmir, which constitutes a fundamental part of its national identity, while seeking to maintain its status as a regional power.
The article draws attention to the “declining role of the United States as a primary mediator in crises in South Asia,” emphasizing that Washington previously served as a trusted mediator between India and Pakistan, able to pull them back from the brink of war.
The article notes that the Trump administration’s support for Modi has waned due to its preoccupation with trade wars and other conflicts, while external mediation is no longer welcome in New Delhi, which views it as empowering Pakistan and is often ineffective with Islamabad, which lacks trust in the West’s relations with India.
Mir believes that all of this doesn’t justify the international community’s disregard at a time when the two nuclear-armed countries are exchanging blows.
The article concluded by stating that the United States and its international partners, such as Britain and Japan, as well as countries with influence over Pakistan, such as the Gulf states and Türkiye, must view the current confrontations not as a passing crisis, but as a conflict that could turn bloody, with the risk of escalating into a nuclear war.
