Can India and Pakistan be Brought Back from the Brink of War?

A deadly attack in Kashmir raises fears of escalation between two nuclear powers

Indian soldiers trek back after a search operation in Baisaran meadow in the aftermath of an attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on April 23, 2025. (Photo by TAUSEEF MUSTAFA/AFP via Getty Images)

EXPERT INTERVIEW – One week after a deadly terror attack, India and Pakistan stand at the precipice of military conflict, and as one scholar and editor noted Tuesday, “the risks of escalation…are higher than ever.” 

The catalyst for the crisis is last week’s attack in the long disputed territory of Kashmir, in which gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists in Pahalgam, in the part of Kashmir that is controlled by India. 26 people were killed. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has blamed militants based in Pakistan for the attack, and on Tuesday, Modi said he had given his military “complete operational freedom” to respond. 

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