As the dust settles on Pakistan’s latest military success against its eastern neighbour, it is vital to remember that this conflict is far from resolved. India continues to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, constructing dams on rivers that were meant to remain untouched—rivers that serve as Pakistan’s lifeline. Moreover, it is diverting substantial water from the rivers allocated to it under the treaty, leaving swathes of Pakistani territory parched and barren.
Meanwhile, the Kashmir dispute remains the region’s most volatile flashpoint. The Line of Control is far from peaceful, and the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir continue to live under one of the largest and most repressive military occupations in the world. With over 800,000 Indian troops stationed in the region—roughly one soldier for every 13 civilians—Kashmir remains under siege. The scale of military control is comparable only to Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank. The people of Kashmir have long demanded the right to self-determination through a UN-mandated plebiscite, and until that demand is met, peace in the region will remain elusive.
Equally troubling is the ideological direction of India under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Once dubbed the Butcher of Gujarat for his alleged complicity in the 2002 riots that left over 2,000 Muslims dead, Modi continues to preside over a political machine steeped in Hindu nationalism. His government has fostered an aggressive majoritarianism that emboldens violence against minorities, particularly Muslims, in the name of national pride and masculine revivalism. This toxic ideology is transforming India from the pluralistic vision of Mahatma Gandhi into a state increasingly marked by sectarianism and exclusion.
While active hostilities may diminish, the underlying problems persist. Pakistan cannot afford complacency. Lasting peace and prosperity—for both Pakistan and the wider region—depend on addressing these core issues: the future of Kashmir, the sanctity of the Indus Waters Treaty, and the threat posed by an increasingly extremist Indian state. Without resolving these challenges, stability will remain an illusion.
