Mubashar Nadeem
After a tense standoff between two nuclear-armed neighbors, Pakistan and India have stepped back from the edge of war. Hostilities that began with India’s unprovoked attack on Pakistani targets on May 7 came to a halt only after urgent diplomatic intervention, particularly from the United States. It was American President Donald Trump who ultimately announced the ceasefire, which Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister later confirmed.
The situation had rapidly escalated. According to the Pakistani military, India had targeted three air force facilities in Rawalpindi, Chakwal, and Shorkot. Although critical assets were reportedly unharmed, these strikes represented a significant act of aggression. In retaliation, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyan-ul-Marsoos, striking back at Indian military installations in Jammu and Kashmir and Indian Punjab. This operation marked a strategic, calibrated, and necessary response to defend Pakistan’s sovereignty.
This most recent conflict differed markedly from previous confrontations between the two nations, including the 2019 Pulwama crisis. Not only was the scale of drone warfare and electronic disruption unprecedented, but the role of the media—particularly in India—amplified tensions. Indian outlets, even mainstream ones, disseminated misinformation, falsely claiming extensive destruction within Pakistani territory. This irresponsible journalism fueled public fear and deepened hostilities.
The importance of Operation Bunyan-ul-Marsoos cannot be overstated. For Pakistan, the military response was not just about retaliation—it was about defending national dignity, maintaining deterrence, and showing the world that Pakistan would not tolerate violations of its airspace or threats to civilian lives. The operation demonstrated the precision and restraint of the Pakistani Armed Forces, who deliberately avoided civilian targets and acted within the bounds of international norms.
This crisis also unified Pakistan internally. Citizens rallied behind the armed forces, and political divisions temporarily faded in the face of a shared national threat. However, the question remains: could all this bloodshed have been avoided? The answer, sadly, is yes.
India blamed Pakistan for the Pahalgam tragedy without presenting credible evidence or opening diplomatic channels. Had India chosen dialogue over missiles, countless lives and critical infrastructure could have been spared. The refusal to communicate and the eagerness to escalate underline a dangerous pattern that has emerged in recent years.
It’s also vital that Pakistan now seek firm answers about the future of the Indus Waters Treaty. This agreement is crucial for Pakistan’s water security and agricultural sustainability. Any threat to it could push the two nations into deeper conflict. The international community, having played a role in de-escalation, must now push for stability through long-term engagement, especially around water-sharing agreements.
Yet, it’s unrealistic to expect foreign powers to solve South Asia’s problems. While allies can mediate, the heavy lifting must come from Islamabad and New Delhi. Sustainable peace can only be achieved through consistent diplomacy, honest engagement, and mutual respect.
UN Secretary General António Guterres touched upon the heart of the matter when he stated that the ceasefire should be a step toward resolving the long-standing issues between the two nations. Foremost among these is the Kashmir conflict. Left unresolved, Kashmir remains a ticking time bomb that threatens the entire region’s stability.
This recent bout of violence proves that the Kashmir issue cannot be sidelined any longer. Foreign mediators must recognize that any meaningful and lasting peace between India and Pakistan hinges on addressing this core dispute. India’s narrative—equating Kashmiri resistance with terrorism—only complicates the matter and blocks progress.
Rebuilding trust will take time. Years of hostility, misinformation, and political posturing have poisoned the atmosphere. But the alternative to peace is a future filled with recurring conflict, economic stagnation, and humanitarian crises.
Operation Bunyan-ul-Marsoos was a necessary moment of national defense for Pakistan. It reminded the world that any act of aggression against a sovereign state has consequences. But now that the immediate crisis has been defused, both nations must turn their attention to preventing future ones. Dialogue, diplomacy, and accountability must replace aggression, propaganda, and mistrust.
Only then can South Asia hope for a stable, peaceful future.
