War So Far: India and Pakistan in the Shadow of Terror and Retaliation

The India-Pakistan relationship has been one of the most volatile and militarized bilateral relations in modern history. Born out of a violent partition in 1947, both nations have fought multiple wars and engaged in numerous skirmishes. But in the 21st century, while full-scale wars have been avoided, tensions have escalated dangerously close to the brink of conflict multiple times—particularly over Kashmir, the flashpoint of their rivalry.

In recent years, the fragile peace has been periodically shattered by terror attacks originating from Pakistan-based groups and corresponding Indian retaliatory strikes. The latest developments—a devastating terror attack on Indian security forces in Kashmir followed by a swift Indian airstrike on Pakistan-based terror camps—have once again pushed both nuclear-armed neighbors to the edge. This article explores the historical context, recent events, and implications of the ongoing hostilities.

Kashmir has been at the heart of India-Pakistan tensions since 1947. Following the partition of British India, the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, with a Muslim-majority population ruled by a Hindu king, chose to accede to India under specific conditions. This led to the first Indo-Pak war in 1947-48, culminating in a UN-mandated ceasefire and the division of Kashmir between India (Jammu & Kashmir) and Pakistan (Gilgit-Baltistan and what Pakistan calls Azad Jammu & Kashmir).
Subsequent wars in 1965 and 1971 (the latter leading to the creation of Bangladesh) solidified hostilities, and the 1999 Kargil War in particular brought the specter of nuclear confrontation into sharp focus.
Since then, the war has continued by other means—through proxy terror, infiltration, and border skirmishes.

India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of harboring and supporting terrorist groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen, which have carried out attacks on Indian soil. Pakistan, in turn, denies these allegations, claiming it only offers moral support to what it calls the "freedom struggle" of Kashmiris.
Some of the most significant terror attacks that worsened bilateral relations include:
2001 Indian Parliament Attack by Jaish-e-Mohammed, which nearly led to war.
2008 Mumbai Attacks, carried out by LeT, killed over 170 civilians and soured relations for years.
2016 Uri Attack, which prompted India’s first publicly acknowledged “surgical strike” across the Line of Control (LoC).
2019 Pulwama Attack, in which a suicide bomber killed 40 CRPF jawans, leading to the Balakot airstrike.

In early May 2025, India was once again rocked by a brutal terror attack in Pulwama district, eerily reminiscent of the 2019 attack. Heavily armed militants ambushed a convoy of Indian Army personnel using IEDs and small arms, resulting in the deaths of 25 soldiers and injuries to several others. Initial intelligence reports, as well as intercepted communications, pointed fingers toward the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, operating from training camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Public outrage in India was swift and severe, with calls for retribution gaining traction across political and public spheres. The government, under immense pressure, promised a “strong and decisive” response.
On the morning of May 7, 2025, Indian Air Force (IAF) Mirage and Sukhoi jets reportedly crossed into PoK and targeted multiple terror launch pads and training camps in the vicinity of Balakot and Muzaffarabad. Preliminary reports suggest that precision-guided munitions were used, and the operation lasted less than an hour.
This marks the second time after the 2019 Balakot airstrike that India has openly conducted airstrikes across the LoC, signaling a change in strategic doctrine—moving from deterrence to proactive retaliation.

Following the Indian airstrike, Pakistan's Foreign Office condemned the action, labeling it a “grave provocation and violation of its territorial integrity.” The Pakistani military claimed that Indian aircraft were repelled and that no significant damage was done—a claim similar to their 2019 stance, which was later contested by independent satellite imagery and media investigations.
There has been increased movement of Pakistani troops along the LoC, and the Pakistan Air Force has been put on high alert. Skirmishes and artillery duels have also intensified along several sectors in Jammu & Kashmir.
However, Pakistan's internal instability—economic crises, IMF scrutiny, and political turmoil—might deter it from engaging in a full-scale retaliation. Yet, history shows that Pakistan-based non-state actors may carry out asymmetric responses through covert operations.

For decades, India followed a policy of strategic restraint, often responding to provocations with diplomatic pressure or international condemnation. However, since the Narendra Modi-led BJP government came to power, there has been a noticeable shift.
Post the 2016 and 2019 attacks, India has adopted a more aggressive posture, including:
Surgical Strikes (2016): Covert operations to destroy launch pads across the LoC.
Balakot Airstrike (2019): Use of air power for the first time since 1971.
Revocation of Article 370 (2019): Stripping Jammu & Kashmir of its special status, which Pakistan strongly opposed.

The 2025 airstrike appears to follow the same strategic framework—swift, surgical, and media-managed—to showcase strength and control domestic anger while sending a deterrent signal to Pakistan.

Global powers have reacted cautiously to the current escalation. The United States and the European Union have urged both nations to “exercise maximum restraint.” China, which has close ties with Pakistan and a territorial dispute with India in Ladakh, called for dialogue but reiterated its support for Pakistan’s sovereignty.
Russia offered to mediate, while the Gulf countries expressed concern over regional stability.
The international community largely views Pakistan as a breeding ground for terrorist groups, but also fears that Indian military aggression might spiral into a wider war, especially given both nations' nuclear capabilities.

One of the most alarming aspects of the India-Pakistan conflict is that both are nuclear-armed. While both nations maintain "No First Use" policies officially, the credibility of such doctrines is debatable in times of heightened conflict.
Analysts have often described South Asia as one of the most dangerous nuclear flashpoints in the world. Even a limited nuclear exchange could cause massive casualties and ecological devastation across the region.
Thankfully, despite repeated escalations, both governments have avoided the use of strategic weapons. However, as each cycle of terror and retaliation grows more intense, the risks become harder to contain.
While strategic and political discussions dominate headlines, it's the common people—especially in Kashmir—who suffer the most. With frequent curfews, military presence, internet shutdowns, and constant fear of attacks, daily life is severely impacted.
Families living along the LoC are often displaced or killed in cross-border shelling. The prolonged insurgency in Kashmir has also led to massive human rights concerns, including arbitrary detentions, torture allegations, and restrictions on press freedom.
Militancy has not only destabilized the region but also robbed generations of peace, education, and development.

Both nations have, at times, taken steps toward peace—bus diplomacy, cricket matches, trade routes, and backchannel negotiations. But these have always been derailed by acts of terror or political shifts.
Experts believe that for long-term peace to be possible:
Pakistan must dismantle its terror infrastructure and stop using non-state actors as strategic assets.
India must engage with the people of Kashmir meaningfully and transparently.
Confidence-building measures like track-two diplomacy, cross-border trade, and dialogue must be resumed.
Most importantly, both nations must stop viewing each other as existential threats and start seeing the potential for regional cooperation in trade, climate change, and counterterrorism.

The war between India and Pakistan has never been limited to formal declarations or battlegrounds. It is a war of ideologies, national identities, and unresolved histories. In 2025, as yet another cycle of terror and retaliation unfolds, the question remains: how long can this shadow war continue before it turns into a real one?
With the region hanging in the balance, both nations must tread carefully. The world is watching—not just for what bombs fall or borders change—but for whether South Asia can finally rise above its bloodied past and choose peace over perpetual conflict.

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