India, Pakistan hostalities bring our region close to catastrophe

Indian airstrike in Pakistan 7 May 2025

The latest escalation of hostilities between India and Pakistan has brought our region dangerously close to catastrophe. India’s airstrikes, Pakistan’s response citing self-defense, and the ongoing dispute over the tragic Pahalgam attack are pushing both nations towards a path that threatens countless innocent lives, deepens mistrust, and destabilises South Asia. It is imperative that reason prevails over reaction and diplomacy triumphs over destruction.

Although India has characterised its actions as non-escalatory, history teaches us that conflict does not remain contained. Pakistan’s invocation of self-defense under the UN Charter, coupled with its claim of downing five Indian fighter jets, signals an inevitable cycle of retaliation—one that could spiral beyond control. The regrettable stance from China regarding India’s actions further underscores how deeply this crisis resonates beyond the subcontinent.

The world must act now. The cost of continued military engagement is not just measured in territory or political leverage—it is counted in lives lost, in families shattered, and in futures extinguished. The international community must step forward to intervene, mediate, and insist upon a diplomatic resolution before irreparable damage is done.

Let this moment serve as a turning point, not a breaking point. The governments of India and Pakistan, the United Nations Security Council, and all global stakeholders must prioritise dialogue, negotiation, and peaceful resolution over force. War is never the answer—it is only the beginning of suffering. Now is the time to choose wisdom over warfare, restraint over retaliation, and a future of peace over a history of conflict.