A deadly terrorist strike in the scenic Pahalgam region of Indian-administered Kashmir in April has once again brought India and Pakistan dangerously close to war. This week, the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours exchanged missile and drone attacks in a sudden flare-up of a decades-old conflict, closely watched by the international community.
Mutual Accusations and Military Action
After a week of intense fighting, both India and Pakistan accused each other on Saturday of worsening the situation by launching air and drone strikes on military installations. Pakistani officials claimed that Indian attacks had killed at least 36 people, including 26 in a missile assault on Tuesday night, which Islamabad labeled an “act of war.” India, in turn, asserted it had eliminated 100 terrorists in various camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Life on the Edge: Voices from UriDaily Reality Under Conflict
As tensions escalate, places like Uri—an Indian border town in Kashmir—are on high alert. Military vehicles traverse local roads, and residents live in a state of ongoing uncertainty.
Understanding the Kashmir Conflict
A Region of Beauty and Bloodshed
Kashmir, a stunning Himalayan region with snow-covered peaks and lush valleys, was once one of India’s many princely states under British rule.
Partition and the Roots of Division
When Britain granted independence to the Indian subcontinent in August 1947, it split the territory into two: Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan. Amid the chaos and bloodshed of partition, Kashmir—a Muslim-majority region ruled by a Hindu Maharaja—sought to remain independent.
The First War Over Kashmir
Accession and Invasion
When Pakistani tribesmen invaded Kashmir in October 1947, the Maharaja sought India’s help. In return, he agreed to join India. Indian troops expelled the invaders, and Kashmir effectively became part of India.
UN Involvement and Stalemate
India brought the issue to the United Nations, which recommended a plebiscite following a military withdrawal. But that vote never happened. Instead, a 1949 ceasefire divided the region into two: Indian-administered and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Multiple Wars and Ceasefire Lines
India and Pakistan fought wars in 1947, 1965, and again a brief conflict in 1999 over Kashmir. A Line of Control (LoC) established in the 1970s acts as the de facto border. Both nations claim the entire region, and China controls a third segment—adding to the geopolitical complexity.
Rise of Insurgency and Militancy
The 1989 Insurgency
An armed rebellion began in 1989 in Indian-administered Kashmir, with fighters demanding independence or accession to Pakistan. India accuses Pakistan of backing these groups—a charge Islamabad denies. Over 70,000 people have died since the insurgency began.
Recent Flashpoints in the Conflict
The Uri and Pulwama Attacks
In 2016, an attack in Uri killed 19 Indian soldiers. India responded with “surgical strikes” across the LoC. Another major attack in 2019 in Pulwama killed over 40 Indian paramilitary personnel, leading to retaliatory Indian airstrikes inside Pakistan. Aerial combat followed, bringing the nations to the brink of war once more.
India Revokes Kashmir’s Autonomy
Article 370 Abrogation in 2019
Later in 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government revoked Article 370, ending Kashmir’s special status. The move triggered massive security crackdowns, communication blackouts, and house arrests of local leaders.
Pakistan’s Reaction
Pakistan condemned the move, pledging to oppose it through all possible channels. Tensions soared, although militancy in the region declined in the years that followed, allowing tourism to resume.
The 2025 Pahalgam Attack and Renewed Tensions
A Spark That Ignited Old Fires
The April 2025 terrorist attack on Indian tourists in Pahalgam has upended relative calm and reignited hostilities. With both nations armed with nuclear weapons and a history of unresolved conflict, the situation has once again placed the region—and the world—on high alert.