In a significant escalation of tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, India has taken a firm stance against what it perceives as Pakistan’s continued support of terrorism on Indian soil. The Indian government recently announced a series of retaliatory actions in response to what it called Pakistan’s “unrelenting support to terrorist groups operating from its territory.”
The latest move by India comes in the wake of a deadly attack in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, where at least 40 Indian paramilitary personnel were killed in a suicide bombing claimed by Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed. The attack, which took place in February of this year, was one of the deadliest in the region in decades and sparked widespread outrage in India.
In a strongly worded statement, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack and vowed to take action against those responsible. “We will give a befitting reply to this attack,” Modi said, adding that “those who are responsible for this heinous act will pay a heavy price.”
Following the attack, India launched a diplomatic offensive to isolate Pakistan on the international stage. The Indian government revoked Pakistan’s Most Favored Nation (MFN) status, which had been granted to Pakistan in 1996, and imposed a 200% customs duty on all goods imported from Pakistan. India also launched a campaign to garner support from the international community to pressure Pakistan to crack down on terrorist groups operating from its soil.
In addition to these diplomatic measures, India also took military action against Pakistan. In a pre-dawn airstrike on February 26, Indian warplanes targeted what India claimed was a terrorist training camp in Balakot, Pakistan. The Indian government said the strike was a preemptive action to prevent further terrorist attacks on Indian soil.
Pakistan, however, denied India’s claims of targeting a terrorist camp and said the Indian airstrikes caused no casualties. In a retaliatory move, Pakistan shot down an Indian fighter jet and captured its pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. The pilot was later released as a gesture of goodwill, but the incident further escalated tensions between the two countries.
In response to these developments, India announced a series of retaliatory actions against Pakistan. The Indian government decided to suspend the cross-border trade between the two countries through the Attari-Wagah border, which is one of the main trade routes between India and Pakistan. India also decided to stop the flow of water from its share of rivers to Pakistan, a move that could have serious implications for Pakistan’s agriculture sector.
Furthermore, India hinted at the possibility of more retaliatory actions in the future if Pakistan does not take concrete steps to dismantle terrorist infrastructure on its soil. “We have given Pakistan a chance to act against terrorist groups operating from its territory. If they fail to do so, we will not hesitate to take further action,” said a senior Indian government official.
The ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan have raised concerns about the possibility of a full-blown military conflict between the two countries. The international community has called for restraint and dialogue to resolve the crisis peacefully. As the situation continues to unfold, the world watches with bated breath to see how the two nuclear-armed neighbors will navigate this delicate and volatile situation.