A storm brewing with catastrophic consequences

INTERNATIONAL MEDIATION

- DR RENEVA FOURIE

THE latest escalation of military tensions between India and Pakistan is a stark reminder of the fragility of peace.

Border skirmishes, intensified military manoeuvres and inflammatory rhetoric from both sides have renewed fears of a conflict that could potentially spiral completely out of control. These developments seriously threaten regional stability and international peace and security, prompting urgent calls for de-escalation from the global community.

On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, a military offensive targeting what it claimed were terrorist infrastructures linked to militant organisations Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. These strikes, India said, were in direct response to the killing of 26 civilians, primarily Indian tourists, in the India-administered region of Kashmir.

India has blamed Pakistan-based groups for the attack, holding Islamabad responsible. Pakistan viewed the strikes as a violation of its sovereignty, claiming that India targeted civilian sites, including the densely populated Punjab province, compelling it to retaliate. One must revisit the area’s fractured history to understand the current crisis.

The origins of the India-Pakistan conflict emanate from decades of distrust and a colonial legacy that left unresolved tensions.

British colonial authorities implemented a “divide and rule” strategy, which involved the exploitation of ethnic and religious cleavages to maintain dominance. These policies deepened Hindu-Muslim divides and fuelled the eventual demand for separate states.