Tit-for-Tat: India and Pakistan's Military Escalation over Kashmir
A New Chapter in an Old Conflict
India's Retaliatory Missile Strikes on Pakistan: Is the Deterrent Effective Against Future Armed Attacks?
*New Delhi, India - While Indian military officials shared a timeline of past attacks on the country, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks and more, a video screen behind them showed the cost - lives lost and broken hearts. The recent missile strikes on Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir were the latest chapter in an ongoing conflict that has plagued these two neighbors for decades.
Behind the Strife
India accused Pakistan of failing to crack down on armed groups that India claims have been financed, trained, and sheltered by Pakistan for the past four decades. Pakistan denies these charges but acknowledges that some of these extremist groups operate within its territory.
The missile strikes, as Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri explained, were driven by both a desire to deter and to pre-empt attacks by armed groups on Indian territory. Now, as diplomatic tensions and border skirmishes continue to escalate, military and geopolitical analysts question the effectiveness of this approach amid potential long-term goals.
Symbolism over Strategic Advancements
Ajai Sahni, executive director of South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), says the strikes have no deterrent value. According to Sahni, "the aim of the strike has nothing to do with military takeaway - the aim was to speak with [India's] own domestic audience."
Meanwhile, Pakistan's pledge of retaliation serves to address "the audience of the other side." For Sahni, this tit-for-tat exchange is more about rhetoric and public perception than achieving tangible results on the ground.
The Aftermath
India reportedly targeted the Markaz Taiba camp of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, the group responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and the headquarters of the Jaish-e-Muhammad, associated with the 2019 suicide bombing in Kashmir. India claimed "justice is served," but Pakistan threatened retaliation and accused India of launching a wave of drones into its territory.
As the death toll rose, with at least 31 civilians, including two children, killed in Pakistan, the risk of full-blown military conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations grew. Analysts argue that the armed groups will adapt their strategies to counteract Indian military actions, ensuring that they retain their capacity to target India.
A Slippery Slope?
The ongoing tensions stretch back to early April, when gunmen attacked tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir. This event followed a pattern mirroring the clash between India and Pakistan in 2019, when Indian warplanes pierced Pakistani airspace and bombed Balakot. Pakistan responded by downing an Indian jet and capturing the pilot, who was later released.
Though both nations claimed victory at that time, major changes in strategy were not implemented. As Ajai Shukla, a defense and strategic affairs commentator, points out, this pattern may not change in the future. The risks of further escalation and the potential for miscalculations loom large, and international mediation may be required to ease tensions and prevent a catastrophic conflict.
In the midst of these volatile exchanges, the people of Kashmir continue to suffer, with an alleged loss of lives, property, and safety. As the region faces ongoing instability, one thing remains clear: the need for dialogue and diplomacy is more urgent than ever before.
- The recent war between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, marked by tit-for-tat missile strikes and retaliation threats, raises concerns about human rights violations, as civilian casualties continue to mount, even involving children.
- The ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir has been fueled by accusations of harboring armed terrorist groups, with both countries using military action and rhetoric to address their domestic and international audiences, potentially masking the real goal of strategic advancements.
- As the geopolitical tension between India and Pakistan escalates, with possible long-term goals in mind, the international community must intervene to prevent a war between two nuclear-armed nations, thereby ensuring the protection of human rights and avoiding a catastrophic breaking news event that could have far-reaching consequences for sports and global stability.
