After the Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives in India-held Kashmir, the Modi government has mobolised its army along the Pakistan border and line of control. Pakistan has, however, shown restraint, giving a moment of choice to its neighbour. If the Modi government goes for war, it fall prey to its own rage. Sane elements in India are advocating peace, while Pakistan has offered an independent probe into the incident. While grief and anger are natural responses, the path forward must be guided by restraint, not retribution. Indians must know that while calls for military strikes, diplomatic isolation and economic warfare against Pakistan may play well to domestic audiences, they risk escalating tensions in a region already facing volatility.
The Indian civil society must read their government’s international standing as despite India’s repeated attempts, not a single country has offered condemnation against Pakistan so far. This absence of global support is not a diplomatic oversight but a quiet testament to Indian’s false flag history and Pakistan’s successful foreign policy posture in recent years. Pakistan is a responsible stakeholder in regional security, with constructive roles in Afghanistan peace talks, climate discussions, and growing relations with powers like China, Russia, and key Gulf states.
The world is not blind to the dangers of militaristic adventurism. It understands that punitive strikes, cyber offensives, or naval blockades could quickly spiral into a broader conflict with grave consequences for South Asia and beyond. Moreover, recent international experience — from Ukraine to Gaza — reminds us that war, even in the name of counterterrorism, rarely brings sustainable peace. It is here that Pakistan has consistently called for dialogue, regional cooperation, and adherence to international norms — appeals that deserve to be acknowledged rather than dismissed.
Any kneejerk military response by India risks playing directly into the hands of extremists who seek to sow discord and derail peace efforts in Kashmir. Escalation will only deepen communal polarisation within India, alienate Kashmiri youth, and damage the very idea of a pluralistic India that New Delhi claims to defend.
Pakistan has repeatedly condemned terrorism and has suffered immensely at the hands of it. Instead of threats and strikes, India must return to diplomacy, intelligence cooperation and confidence-building. India's greatness will not be proven by the force of its arsenal, but by the strength of its democratic values, including its capacity for restraint in the face of provocation. Peace, not posturing, is the only enduring answer.
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