On Tuesday morning, India began launching airstrikes aimed at militant targets in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir. This course of action was provoked because India had reason to believe that it was the target of a suicide bomber group which killed 40 Indian troops. Indian foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale appear on national TV hours later, defending that the intended targets were not against Pakistan or its citizens, but rather the force of terrorism itself. Pakistan responded to this unprecedented military launch by preparing airstrikes of its own. Aircraft were prepared and aimed at Indian military forces in order to demonstrate strength but were directed off-course to prevent conflict. In a scramble for defense, India prepared yet another counter-strike of jets. This tit-for-tat conflict ended with one downed aircraft on either side.
Pakistani President Imran Khan defended his position, saying that the airstrike was merely supposed to be a threat in response to India’s airstrike and was a complete ‘miscalculation’.
President Khan invited Indian President Narendra Modi to sit down and discuss this week’s conflicts and to convince him that the violence should end where it is. In response, the Indian government stated that the Pakistani counterstrike was unprovoked, and doesn’t have any equivalence to the initial Indian airstrike.
International members are hoping for a de-escalation of the conflict, however, India stated that it reserves the right to take firm and decisive action when responding to the week’s events. There is widespread public support to de-escalate the Pakistani and Indian conflict as well. Analysts said that a violent response on India’s part is unlikely. India would most likely continue its efforts to diplomatically isolate itself from Pakistan, as it has been doing since mid-February.
Shortly after, however, six total civilians have been killed in both Pakistani- and India-controlled Kashmir. Neither side is looking to de-escalate the conflict as the international community readies for the possibility of war.