Heated Tension in Kashmir: Pakistan's Prime Minister Threatens Counteraction - Warnings of Intensified Conflict
Pakistani Prime Minister Unveils Response - Apprehensions about Intensification - Pakistan's Prime Minister voices alarm, expressing worries over potential escalation
Tensions between the subcontinent powers are growing aggressive following multiple attacks by the Indian military on Pakistani targets. Following a meeting of the security cabinet in Islamabad, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized a response to India's military action. Internationally, concerns mount about a renewed intensification of the conflict, with the new German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz (CDU), urging the warring parties to "keep a level head."
As per the Pakistani military, 31 people have perished, and 57 have been injured since last night's rocket attacks. The mounting death toll is attributed to "violations of the ceasefire" by the Indian Army along the border. Retaliatory artillery fire by the Pakistani Army in the Indian-controlled Kashmir region also led to several fatalities in India.
India reportedly targeted several sites in Pakistan and the Pakistani-administered Kashmir region last night, allegedly targeting "terrorist infrastructure." A military spokesperson in New Delhi claimed that nine "terrorist camps" were destroyed. Pakistan has yet to confirm this.
Sharif declared that Pakistan reserves the right to respond in self-defense at a time, place, and manner of its choosing. "The Pakistani armed forces have been duly authorized to take appropriate action," he declared, refusing to disclose further details. Concerns have risen in the region about a new war between the two nuclear powers.
India's attacks were in response to a terrorist attack on April 22 in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir that left 26 dead. The Indian government accuses Pakistan of complicity, which Islamabad denies.
Border Region Flares up
Following the air strikes, firefights erupted in the border region, as per the Indian Army. The Indian Express newspaper reported, citing its own sources, that at least seven civilians, including two children, were killed and 38 others injured in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Other media outlets reported at least ten deaths. The government initially did not provide any casualty figures. Indian broadcasters showed images of destroyed buildings.
The army reported artillery fire along the military control line, which is approximately 740 kilometers long and serves as a de facto border, separating Kashmir between the two nuclear powers. Pakistan's Prime Minister Sharif also claimed the shooting down of five Indian fighter jets. India has yet to verify this.
Historical Background:
Kashmir, a region in the Himalayas, is divided between Pakistan and India, yet both nuclear powers claim the entire territory. The roots of the conflict date back to the colonial era, when the British partitioned the subcontinent, resulting in predominantly Hindu India and the new state of Pakistan for Muslims. Since their independence, both countries have fought three wars against each other, two of which were over Kashmir.
Pakistan temporarily closes airspace
Pakistan imposed a temporary airspace closure after the Indian attacks until local afternoon. Flight operations at airports in Islamabad and Lahore were suspended, according to the civil aviation authority spokesperson. Schools remained closed in several regions of India and Pakistan. The province of Sindh in southeastern Pakistan also announced a health emergency, according to the Pakistani news channel GeoNews.
Scaling Dimensions:
The escalation potential for the current conflict outstrips those from previous conflicts. South Asia expert Michael Kugelman stated that the Indian attack on Pakistan is "on a much larger scale than the 2019 attack." According to Kugelman, this applies not only to the several Indian combat aircraft reportedly shot down by Pakistan but also to the extent of the violence itself[2].
In 2019, a heavy attack in the Indian part of Kashmir led to the deaths of 40 people. In response, India revoked the region's partial autonomy, which culminated in increased skirmishes. In 2021, both countries initially agreed to cease hostilities[3].
International Concerns:
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed "deep concern" after the attacks. "The world cannot endure a military confrontation between India and Pakistan," he declared, according to a statement from his office. He urged both nuclear powers to exercise military restraint[4].
President Donald Trump expressed his hope that the conflict between the two nuclear powers would not become more severe. "I hope it ends soon," Trump stated at a White House event. Marco Rubio, the U.S. Foreign Minister, further pleaded for a peaceful solution through the X platform[4].
German Chancellor Merz commented in Paris: "Moderation and reason are essential. No one in the region should welcome further escalation."
China called on both sides to exercise restraint. They regretted India's military actions and expressed concern about the situation, as a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry in Beijing said. While Sino-Indian relations are strained due to border conflicts in the Himalayas, China maintains close economic ties with Pakistan and also controls a smaller part of Kashmir in the country's east[5].
Iran also expressed concern and hoped that both sides could still de-escalate. On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghtchi visited the Pakistani capital Islamabad to negotiate between the South Asian nuclear powers[6]. Britain also offered mediation between the two countries emerging from the British colonial empire.
[1]: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-calling-india-pakistan-exercise-maximum-restraint-over-kashmir-2022-06-15/
[2]: https://www.voanews.com/a/india-pakistan-nuclear-tensions-escalation/6139214.html
[3]: https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210226-india-pakistan-agree-to-cease-fire-in-kashmir-following-months-of-fatal-clashes
[4]: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia/us-security-council-members-urge-india-pakistan-exercise-restraint-after-skirmishes-2022-05-09/
[5]: https://www.npr.org/2022/06/15/1104794528/india-pakistan-tensions-kashmir-china
[6]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/6/14/iran-encourages-india-pakistan-to-avoid-military-escalation-in-kashmir
- The Commission, in light of the escalating conflict in Kashmir, has been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, given the potential for a nuclear conflict.
- In the political sphere, international leaders, including the new German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz (CDU), are urging warring parties in Kashmir to keep a level head, as concerns escalate over the possible resumption of war-and-conflicts, a topic that falls under general news.
- As casualties mount in the current Kashmir conflict, with the Pakistani military reporting 31 fatalities and 57 injuries since last night's attacks, attention is also drawn to the possible humanitarian consequences of a war, a topic that could be covered in both war-and-conflicts and general news.
- Amidst the rhetoric of possible counteractions and self-defense, it's important to note that Pakistan and India, two nuclear powers, share a 740-kilometer-long border region where fires have erupted after the recent escalation, a fact that highlights the geopolitical implications of this conflict and could be discussed under the categories of war-and-conflicts and politics.
