India And Pakistan Agree On A Ceasefire
India and Pakistan agreed on a ceasefire after a week of cross-border military action. The conflict began as a response to a terror attack on April 22, 2025, and escalated into a back-and-forth between the two nations. To understand the animus between India and Pakistan, it is instructive to briefly explore the historical and socio-economic contexts.
The Bad Blood
After the struggling British empire “decolonized” the subcontinent in 1947, the country was partitioned into India and Pakistan. Jawaharlal Nehru and Muhammad Ali Jinnah agreed that the solution was necessary to quell any religious unrest among the populace. Subsequently, India and Pakistan litigated over territorial aspects including the contentious issue of Kashmir and water from the Indus river. Due to the wars between India and Pakistan in 1947, 1965, 1971, and 1999, the hostility never really subsided. One of the outcomes of Pakistan’s defeat in 1971 was the formation of Bangladesh.
India And Pakistan: Being ‘Nuclear’
Another outcome was the necessary impetus to possess and develop nuclear weapons under global “supervision.” Cut to modern day, and the two countries now belong to the group of nine nations with nuclear capabilities. This nuclear list also includes United States, Russia, China, France, North Korea, Israel and the United Kingdom.
Therefore, whenever a war breaks out in the region, leaders across the world are on the edge. Even as India has chosen a pacifist, more measured approach, Pakistan has been accused of being an aggressor. Also, Pakistan has the dubious distinction of providing a safe haven to terrorists, including 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden. While Pakistan vehemently denies complicity and culpability, India continues to dub its neighbor a “rogue state.”
Hence, the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which resulted in the death of 26 civilians, triggered an unprecedented response. On May 7, 2025, India forces launched a series of precision strikes called “Operation Sindoor,” which roughly translates to ‘operation vermillion.’ As both countries claim credit for scalps and jets downed, a recent report by The New York Times sheds some light on the destruction across borders.
Recent mediation talks between the two warring nations resulted in a ceasefire. However, the world waits with bated breath to see if they continue to honor their end of the bargain.
Featured Image Credit: Lara Jameson/Pexels