“Kashmir” in the line of fire: Will India and Pakistan enter a military confrontation?
Diplomatic and security tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad have escalated following a deadly terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on Tuesday (April 22). The attack, which took place in the Baisaran area near Pahalgam, killed 26 people, mostly Indian tourists, and injured more than 20 others.
Following the attack, a statement by the Tehreek-e-Insaf (TRF) claimed responsibility for the attack. Some believe the group is a branch of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. The statement linked the attacks to the issuance of thousands of residence permits to Indian citizens, allowing them to live and work in Kashmir. However, the authenticity of the statement has not been confirmed, and Pakistan has denied any links to these elements or any terrorist acts.
The differences between these two neighbors are long-standing, and since India and Pakistan gained independence in 1947, relations between them have been marked by distrust, military clashes, and ideological rivalry. The long-standing dispute over the state of Jammu and Kashmir has been the main factor in the formation of four wars, dozens of border clashes, and numerous diplomatic crises. This rivalry has taken on not only military nature, but also political, cultural, and economic dimensions, leading the two countries on a tense path where any provocative event can turn into a full-fledged crisis.