New Delhi: The terrorist attack that occurred on April 22 in the Kashmir region under India’s administrative control, resulting in the deaths of 26 civilians, has sparked renewed tensions between India and Pakistan. Following the attack, India accused Pakistan of having ties to the incident, further escalating tensions in the region.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Indian officials claim that the attack was carried out by terrorists supported by Pakistan. Pakistan, however, firmly rejects these allegations. The Pakistani government argues that India is using the terror attack to cover up its internal issues and to portray Pakistan as guilty in front of the international community. Pakistan highlights that India’s policies and its repressive military operations in Kashmir have fueled terrorism and violence, stressing that these incidents are a result of India’s harsh treatment of the people in the Kashmir region under its occupation.
Pakistan has called on the international community to adopt an objective approach to India’s accusations and to seriously assess the efforts of both countries in combating terrorism. The country emphasizes the importance of using both legal and diplomatic means to prevent terrorism, stating that the fight against terrorism must not only be military but should also address economic, social, and political issues within the framework of international law.
Tarique Siyal, an International Affairs Analyst and Ph.D. Scholar at American Study Centre, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, told APA that the recent tensions between the two countries, in the context of the attack in Kashmir, pose a serious threat to regional stability and the future of relations between the neighboring countries. He noted that the relations between India and Pakistan are once again facing a serious test, with the attack disrupting the fragile stability between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
According to the political analyst, Pakistan favors resolving the issue through diplomatic channels. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s countermeasures included banning Indian airlines from using Pakistani airspace, suspending trade cooperation, closing the Wagah border, and downgrading diplomatic relations. These actions indicate that both countries have chosen a course of confrontation. The situation is not limited to their bilateral relations alone but also puts the future of regional energy, security, and trade projects into question.
The Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that the conflict with India could escalate into a nuclear confrontation. Tarique Siyal noted that given the historically hostile relations between the two countries, a nuclear war cannot be ruled out. The possibility of a nuclear conflict often prevents escalation into full-scale warfare, but the threat remains.
India’s accusations against Pakistan and its resort to war rhetoric are further increasing tensions in the region. Actions like cutting off the Indus River’s water supply and expelling diplomats jeopardize regional stability and raise the risk of a new confrontation in South Asia. The “Resistance Front,” an obscure armed group that emerged in the region in 2019, has claimed responsibility for the attack, but India alleges that Pakistan is behind it.
Dr. Abhinav Pandya, the founder and CEO of the Usanas Foundation, shared his position with APA regarding the situation. He stated that tensions between India and Pakistan have been ongoing for years, with terrorism supported by Pakistan being a central issue. The killing of 26 tourists on April 22 is a clear manifestation of this policy, and India will continue to respond to this threat in a principled and consistent manner.
The Indian political analyst acknowledged that no serious investigation has been conducted regarding India’s claim that Pakistan is behind this incident. However, he pointed out that the group responsible for the attack, the “Resistance Force,” is an offshoot of “Lashkar-e-Taiba,” which is primarily supported by Pakistan’s intelligence services and military.
Abhinav Pandya noted that if the current tension escalates into a full-scale military conflict, Pakistan would not be an easy opponent due to its highly trained, professional army. The presence of nuclear capabilities on both sides adds an additional layer of danger. Historically, nuclear deterrence has prevented further escalation, but the risk of nuclear war between the two countries has grown.