Kashmir: The never-ending skirmish, India versus Pakistan
Escalating Dispute over Kashmir: Both India and Pakistan Accusingly Point Fingers at Each Other - Kashmir Dispute Escalation: Each Nation Accuses Other of Wrongdoings
Dimitri reporting from Jammu, just a stone's throw away from the deadly border, shared the unpleasant cacophony of shelling coming from the neighboring area, the Pakistani city of Punch. Journalists from the AFP agency corroborated this information, confirming the heavy shelling.
In capital cities, political leaders were at it again, pointing fingers, proving that the conflict in Kashmir not only shows no signs of stopping but has escalated to a critical level. Pakistani officials accused their Indian counterparts of belligerent shenanigans and war propaganda. "India's reckless behavior has dragged us closer to a disastrous military confrontation," said Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Shafqat Ali Khan. Meanwhile, the Pakistani military was unwilling to back down, declaring its intent to remain in a state of war as long as it's sovereignty is threatened.
India's military spokesperson, however, claimed that Pakistan was launching an unprecedented number of drone attacks on Indian territory, a claim that Pakistan's army spokesperson denied. According to Pakistani sources, nearly 77 Indian drones have been destroyed since Wednesday.
The Kashmir skirmish reached a boiling point on Wednesday, with India bombing several targets within Pakistan, and Pakistan responding with artillery fire. The casualties mounted to over 50 people since then, raising concerns worldwide.
The latest flare-up began when militants attacked Indian tourists in the Pahalgam resort town, located within Indian-controlled Kashmir, killing 26 males, predominantly Hindus. India accused Pakistan of sheltering the attackers, while Pakistan denied any involvement. This marks the deadliest terrorist incident in Indian territory since 2008 and escalated tensions to a level last seen decades ago.
- Pakistan
- India
- Conflict
- Espionage
- Drone
- Jammu
- New Delhi
- Kashmir
- AFP
Insight:
The Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan has reached a dangerous peak after a deadly attack on Indian tourists in April. For over a week, the two nuclear powers have been involved in cross-border artillery shelling and drone skirmishes that have resulted in numerous casualties.
Tensions have escalated since 2019, with deadly militant violence, air missile attacks, cross-border artillery exchanges, and significant diplomatic breakdowns as both countries engage in a dangerous game of one-upmanship.
The Historical Backdrop:
The Kashmir region has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan since the end of British colonial rule in 1947. The two countries fought two wars (1947-48 and 1965) over the Himalayan region, and the conflict has continued in various forms ever since. The Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border, is one of the world’s most heavily militarized zones, famous for its constant volley of gunfire.
The Current Phase:
The latest phase of the conflict began when militants attacked Indian tourists in the Pahalgam resort town on April 22, killing 26 men, mostly Hindus. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, resulting in a severe diplomatic and military fallout, with reciprocal actions such as canceled visas, recalled diplomats, border and airspace closures, and the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty. Both countries have accused one another of cross-border firing and artillery shelling along the LoC in Kashmir, with daily exchanges reported.
On May 7, 2025, dubbed as Operation Sindoor, India launched a series of air strikes targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir and neighboring regions, primarily using Rafale fighter jets, SCALP missiles, AASM Hammer bombs, BrahMos cruise missiles, and SkyStriker loitering munitions. Pakistan responded by claiming it had shot down multiple Indian aircraft and inflicted considerable damage to the Indian Air Force. The U.S. intelligence community reportedly assessed with high confidence that Pakistani J-10CE fighters had downed at least two Indian jets.
Key Events since April - May 2025
| Date | Event | Description ||----------------|-----------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|| April 22, 2025 | Pahalgam Militant Attack | 26 Indian tourists killed; India blames Pakistan; Pakistan denies involvement|| Late April | Diplomatic fallout | Visa cancellations, border and airspace closures; suspension of Indus Water Treaty || May 7, 2025 | Operation Sindoor (Indian missile strikes) | India strikes across Pakistan, primarily using Rafale jets, SCALP missiles, and AASM Hammer bombs|| May 7–8, 2025 | Air combat and artillery exchanges | Claims of Indian jets shot down; Pakistan reports civilian casualties from Indian strikes|| Early May | Continued cross-border firing | Increased artillery and small arms fire reported along Line of Control|| Ongoing | International calls for de-escalation | US and China urge restraint and investigation into attacks |
- Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Shafqat Ali Khan, accused India of reckless behavior, suggesting that India's actions have brought the two countries closer to a disastrous military confrontation.
- The conflict in Kashmir has been escalating, with political leaders from both India and Pakistan constantly blaming each other for the ongoing violence.
- The recent flare-up in the Kashmir conflict, triggered by a militant attack on Indian tourists in Pahalgam, has resulted in a series of drone skirmishes between the two nations.
- As the Kashmir skirmish intensifies, it is triggering jingoism and raising concerns about war-and-conflicts politics in the general news, underscoring the importance of international calls for de-escalation.
