From Pahalgam to Provocation: India’s Escalation and Pakistan’s Response

From Pahalgam to Provocation: India’s Escalation and Pakistan’s Response


India's recent actions against Pakistan mark a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region. The violence began after the April 22, 2025, incident in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, where 26 tourists lost their lives. Within minutes of the attack, Indian media began accusing Pakistan, despite having no credible evidence. Two weeks later, on May 7, India launched a strike on Pakistan, targeting nine civilian and religious sites. These included a mosque in Bahawalpur, resulting in the death of 31 people, including women and children. India also damaged the Neelum-Jhelum hydropower infrastructure, a critical civilian asset.


By: Hasnain Khan

These attacks were launched under the pretext of the Pahalgam incident, despite the absence of an independent investigation. Such actions violate international law, the United Nations Charter, and the Geneva Conventions. India has also breached longstanding agreements, including the Indus Waters Treaty. These repeated acts of aggression highlight India's disregard for regional peace and legal norms.


Following the attacks, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed a strong response. The Pakistan Air Force reportedly downed five Indian jets, including three Rafales. In a state of panic, India began deploying Israeli-made Harop drones. Pakistan’s air defence successfully neutralized 77 of these drones across Punjab and Sindh. Only one drone managed to cause minor damage near Lahore.


India continued its aggression by firing missiles at Pakistani airbases in Rawalpindi, Chakwal, and Shorkot. The Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations confirmed these strikes but assured the nation that all assets remained unharmed. He warned that Pakistan would respond decisively to any further provocation.


On May 10, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyan al-Marsous, translated as "Iron Wall", in response. Carefully calibrated and exclusively targeting Indian military infrastructure, the operation demonstrated both Pakistan’s strategic restraint and its unwavering resolve to defend national sovereignty. Precision strikes neutralized critical Indian assets, including missile depots, air defense systems, logistics hubs, and airbases, significantly degrading India’s offensive capabilities. This operation targeted multiple strategic Indian installations. Confirmed targets included the BrahMos missile depot in Beas, the S-400 air defence system in Udhampur, and the Pathankot airbase. Additional strikes crippled logistics hubs in Jalandhar and command centres in Nagrota and Akhnoor. The Northern Command HQ in Srinagar and airbases in Chandigarh and Suratgarh were also hit.


This was not an act of escalation but of necessity, executed after India ignored repeated calls for impartial investigation into the Pahalgam incident and violated international law by targeting Pakistani civilians. Operation Marsoos sent a clear message: Pakistan seeks peace, but it will not allow its territorial integrity to be trampled upon. The success of the operation reaffirmed the preparedness and professionalism of Pakistan’s Armed Forces and underscored the unity of the Pakistani nation in the face of aggression.


President Zardari praised the military’s professionalism and courage. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to peace but emphasized that the country would not tolerate violations of its sovereignty. The President stated that Indian aggression had left Pakistan with no option but to respond decisively.


Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also reached out to national political leaders to ensure unity. He stressed that Pakistan’s response was limited to military installations, avoiding civilian targets. This restraint contrasted sharply with India's deliberate attacks on civilian areas. PM Sharif highlighted that Pakistan had previously demanded an impartial investigation into the Pahalgam incident, which India refused. Now, faced with repeated provocations, Pakistan had been compelled to act.


India’s actions are not isolated. They reflect an ideological agenda rooted in the Hindutva doctrine, which seeks to destabilize Pakistan. This doctrine has resulted in disinformation campaigns, false-flag operations, and violations of Pakistan’s territorial integrity. These include water weaponization and attempts to delegitimize the Kashmiri resistance.


The Kashmir conflict remains unresolved due to India’s refusal to honour international commitments. In 1948, UN Resolution 47 called for a plebiscite in Kashmir. More than seventy years later, India continues its illegal occupation. The 2019 revocation of Article 370 was a blatant violation of this resolution. India has labelled legitimate Kashmiri resistance as terrorism, silencing voices that seek self-determination.


Historical patterns support the claim of India’s aggression. In 1971, India’s intervention in East Pakistan violated the UN Charter. The 1999 Kargil conflict was misrepresented through distorted narratives. In 2016 and 2019, India launched so-called surgical strikes to gain domestic political support. The arrest of Kulbhushan Jadhav, a serving Indian naval officer involved in espionage and sabotage in Pakistan, further exposes India’s covert hostility.


Pakistan must now pursue a robust legal and diplomatic strategy. Under Article 51 of the UN Charter, Pakistan should formally notify the Security Council of India’s aggression. If the Council remains deadlocked, the matter can be raised in the General Assembly through the Uniting for Peace resolution. India’s violations should also be referred to the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.


Diplomatically, Pakistan must engage with key allies and international forums. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, China, Türkiye, and other partners must be mobilised to condemn India’s actions. Sustained international pressure is essential to prevent further escalation.


India’s aggression has revealed its long-term agenda of destabilisation. Pakistan, a peace-seeking nuclear state, has responded with restraint, precision, and legal clarity. The international community must no longer remain silent. It must hold India accountable to prevent a catastrophic conflict in South Asia.

 

The writer is a student of international relations at Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan and currently serving as an intern at the Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR).

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