The high-stakes stand-off between India and Pakistan seems to be de-escalating after the United States brokered an immediate ceasefire between the two nuclear powers, but their bad blood has only continued to boil.
Cross-border violence broke out last week as India conducted a series of strikes on Pakistan and its territory in Kashmir. The campaign, dubbed Operation Sindoor, was touted as retaliation for a militant attack that killed over two dozen Indian citizens in the Indian-administered region of Kashmir two weeks prior.
U.S. Secretary of State Rubio announced at the end of last week that he and Vice President JD Vance successfully brokered peace and that the “governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site.”
This was later affirmed by President Donald Trump, who congratulated both countries for “using Common Sense and Great Intelligence.”
Pakistan said that “three dozen countries” were involved in diplomatic efforts to neutralize the growing violence.
The agreement seemed shaky at first, with Pakistan and India trading accusations that the other had violated the agreement. This peace seems to be holding, but deep-seated resentment on both sides is only provoking further accusations.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the public on Monday in his first post-ceasefire address that “this is not an era of war, but this is also not an era of terror” — affirming a wish for peace but accusing Pakistan of instigating his nation’s wrath through terrorism.
The name “Operation Sindoor” is a reference to the reddish powder worn on the foreheads of married women in India. When a woman is widowed, such as following the Apr. 22 militant attacks on Indians in Kashmir, the powder is wiped off.
Modi invoked this symbolism in his Monday address.
“After [the April 22] terrorist attack, the entire nation, every citizen, every community, every class, every political party, unitedly stood up for strong action against terrorism. We gave full freedom to the Indian forces to wipe out the terrorists,” Modi said. “And today every terrorist, every terror organization knows the consequence of wiping out the Sindoor of our sisters and daughters.”
The Indian leader threatened to further attack “terrorist hideouts” in Pakistan if the rival state renewed aggressions.
These statements incensed Pakistanis, who pointed the finger back at their neighbor and said Modi’s rhetoric is only the latest “manufactured narrative of a perpetual external threat.”
“Indian actions set a dangerous precedent for aggression, dragging the entire region to the brink of disaster. This reflects the mindset of a revisionist actor that seeks to upend strategic stability in South Asia without regard for consequences,” the nation’s ministry of foreign affairs said in a Tuesday statement.
The ministry continued, “Moreover, India is justifying the cold-blooded murder of innocent civilians, mostly women and children, as well as its highly irresponsible brinkmanship as the ‘new normal’ for the region.”
Still, Pakistan affirmed its commitment to the ceasefire and celebrated the efficiency of its establishment.
“Pakistan remains committed to the recent ceasefire understanding and taking necessary steps towards de-escalation and regional stability,” the foreign ministry stated. “This ceasefire was achieved as a result of the facilitation of several friendly countries which contacted us with a message of de-escalation.”
Both countries have indicated they will not be dissuaded from retaliation by the nuclear capabilities of the other, alarming leaders around the world, concerned about the possibility of a nuclear exchange.
It has also exposed some points of division abroad, such as between allies Russia and China.
Russia is a long-time ally of India going back to the days of the Soviet Union, when the Communist Party rendered substantial aid to the subcontinent.
INDIA AND PAKISTAN CEASEFIRE SHAKEN BY OVERNIGHT CLASHES IN KASHMIR
Conversely, China is a frequent collaborator with Pakistan, and has fiercely defended the smaller nation on the global stage.
“As Pakistan’s ironclad friend and all-weather strategic cooperative partner, China fully understands Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns and supports Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty and security interests,” said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on an Apr. 27 phone call.