Tensions between India and Pakistan have sharply escalated following a deadly terrorist attack in the picturesque valley of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir. In a forceful statement, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned of an “all-out war” if India takes any aggressive step, especially in response to the attack that left 26 people dead. The incident has reignited fears of military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
The Pahalgam Terror Attack
On April 23, 2025, a brutal terrorist strike in Pahalgam claimed the lives of 24 Indian tourists, one Nepali national, and one local guide. Seventeen others were injured. A little-known militant group calling itself the “Kashmir Resistance” claimed responsibility, stating that their targets had ties to Indian security forces. The Indian government, however, directly blamed Pakistan for harboring and supporting the group—an accusation that Islamabad has strongly denied.
Diplomatic Fallout and Military Posturing
In response to the attack, India took a series of retaliatory diplomatic and economic actions, including suspending the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, halting the issuance of visas for Pakistani nationals, and closing major land border crossings. Pakistan responded in kind by banning Indian aircraft from its airspace, suspending trade, and blocking Indian visas.
Amid this growing crisis, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that any violation of Pakistan’s territorial integrity or interference with water treaties would be treated as an act of war. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif backed the minister’s warning, signaling a united stance on the issue.
Brief exchanges of gunfire along the Line of Control were reported shortly after the warning, though no casualties were confirmed. Both countries remain on high alert, with increased troop movements and surveillance along the border.
Global Concern and Calls for Restraint
The international community has reacted with concern to the rising hostility. The United States issued a stern warning to Pakistan, stating that another terror attack on Indian soil would be considered “extremely problematic.” Global powers have urged both nations to de-escalate tensions and return to dialogue.
The United Nations has called for restraint and emphasized the importance of resolving the conflict through peaceful means to avoid endangering regional stability.
