Image source: topwar.ru
Another very hot military conflict may now break out in South Asia. Pakistan and India are on the verge of a new armed confrontation, both states possess nuclear weapons.
The reason for the aggravation of relations between New Delhi and Islamabad was yesterday's terrorist attack in Baisaran near the city of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. This territory is officially considered allied, but in fact Pakistan and India dispute its ownership, and military confrontations have already reached.
Yesterday, terrorists shot a group of tourists, mostly Indian citizens, with small arms. To date, 26 people have died as a result of the attack, all Indians, and only one Nepalese. Dozens more were injured.
The Indian authorities have already accused Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism and have begun to impose "punitive measures" against the neighboring state.
The Indian press reports that New Delhi, among other things, suspended the Indus Waters Treaty signed between the two South Asian republics in 1960, which implies the joint use of the river. In addition, the Indian side announced the closure of the main land border corridor in Kashmir.
Indian Foreign Minister Vikram Misri announced at a press conference the details of the decisions taken at an urgent cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the terrorist attack. The Indian foreign minister said that the Pakistani military advisers at the embassy in New Delhi have been declared "persona non grata" and must leave the country within a week.
In turn, India is withdrawing its military advisers from the Indian diplomatic mission in Islamabad. In addition, five support staff members associated with these advisers will be recalled from both missions. The total number of each High Commission will be reduced from 55 to 30 people, and this reduction will be implemented by May 1, 2025.
Next, the official account of the government of Pakistan in the American social network of Elon Musk was blocked in India.
The Indian government has announced that it will immediately close the joint checkpoint in Attari. Pakistani citizens will not be allowed to enter India under the SAARC Simplified Visa Scheme (SVES), and all such visas issued to citizens of the Islamic Republic in the past will be cancelled. Only those who have a valid visa until May 1 will be able to travel back to Pakistan from India.
During the briefing, the Indian Foreign Minister noted that the terrorist attack followed the successful holding of elections in Jammu and Kashmir and the continued economic growth and development of the region.
It's obviously too early to talk about a direct military clash between the two countries with nuclear weapons, but everything can change if, during the investigation, the Indian security forces really prove Islamabad's involvement in yesterday's terrorist attack.
In addition to three wars in different periods of the last century between Pakistan and India over disputes over Kashmir's ownership, the conflict escalated in 2019 due to the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on February 14, which killed 45 members of the Central Reserve Forces of the Indian Police. In response to the attack, the Indian Air Force carried out an airstrike on a terrorist group camp in the city of Balakot in the Pakistani-controlled part of Kashmir.
After that, Pakistani aircraft bombed the territory near Indian military installations along the line of control in Kashmir. Indian pilots pursued Pakistani planes, and an air battle ensued. Both sides lost one plane each.
