Author: Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan, Founding Chair GSRRA, Sinologist, Diplomat, Editor, Analyst, Advisor, Consultant, Researcher at Global South Economic and Trade Cooperation Research Center, and Non-Resident Fellow of CCG. (E-mail: awanzamir@yahoo.com)

Just minutes after a terrorist attack targeting tourists in Pahalgam, located in the illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir region, India hastily blamed Pakistan without conducting any investigation or collecting credible evidence. Such immediate accusations, absent of any forensic or intelligence inquiry, strongly point towards a false flag operation — a manufactured event orchestrated to shift blame onto a rival for political or military advantage.

Pakistan, recognizing the gravity of the situation, offered its fullest cooperation in conducting a joint investigation under the supervision of the international community to ascertain the facts. Pakistan’s call for transparency and accountability was a reasonable and mature response aimed at finding the truth. However, India's outright rejection of a joint investigation raises serious doubts about its intentions and exposes what many analysts see as Indian designs to malign Pakistan internationally and to cover its own internal failures.

India's Internal Crisis: A Nation on the Edge

India today is grappling with severe internal unrest. According to various human rights organizations, there are currently over 150 active insurgencies and uprisings across India. These include the long-standing Naxalite-Maoist insurgency, movements in the northeastern states like Manipur and Assam, and regional protests in Punjab, among others. Much of this unrest stems from the extremist and fascist policies of the Modi government, which has systematically marginalized minorities, regional groups, and dissenting voices.

It is important to recall that Narendra Modi, before becoming India's Prime Minister, was denied a U.S. visa under the International Religious Freedom Act due to his alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat pogrom, where over 1,000 Muslims were killed during widespread riots. Several European countries also banned his entry based on similar concerns.

Despite this background, Modi rose to power in 2014, heavily backed by extremist Hindu organizations such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). During his election campaign, he openly promised to transform India into a pure Hindu state, abandoning the secular ideals enshrined in India's Constitution.

Since taking office, Modi’s government has launched an aggressive campaign against minorities:

Muslims have faced mob lynchings, discriminatory laws like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and the revocation of Article 370 that provided autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir.

Christians have been attacked in numerous incidents, with churches vandalized and worshippers threatened.

Dalits and low-caste Hindus continue to face systemic discrimination and violence.

Sikhs have also raised serious concerns about state repression, especially after the brutal crackdown on farmers' protests.

State institutions have been weaponized to stifle dissent. Laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) have been used to detain individuals indefinitely without trial, particularly targeting Muslims, Kashmiris, Sikhs, and activists.

The Reality of Jammu & Kashmir: A Disputed and Occupied Land

The situation in Jammu and Kashmir is even graver. Jammu and Kashmir is internationally recognized as a disputed territory between Pakistan, India, and China, with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passing several resolutions calling for a plebiscite to allow the Kashmiri people to determine their own future. India, however, has persistently denied implementing these resolutions.

Today, India maintains over 900,000 troops — one of the highest military-civilian ratios in the world — to control a population of around 8 million Kashmiris. Draconian laws like the AFSPA empower the Indian military to arrest, detain, and even kill with impunity. Numerous human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have documented widespread abuses:

Over 100,000 Kashmiris killed since 1989.

Thousands of enforced disappearances.

Mass sexual violence, with rape being used systematically as a tool of oppression.

Destruction of property, with homes and businesses frequently targeted by Indian security forces.

Economic strangulation, with frequent lockdowns and communication blackouts paralyzing daily life.

The hatred among local Kashmiris against the Indian occupation has only intensified. The April 22 Pahalgam attack was claimed by a homegrown Kashmiri group, highlighting the indigenous nature of the resistance. It was an outcry against the decades of brutal suppression under the Modi regime.

India's Aggressive Posturing Against Pakistan

Following the Pahalgam incident, India has escalated tensions by threatening to cancel the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) — a landmark 1960 agreement brokered by the World Bank between India and Pakistan to manage the shared waters of the Indus River system.

It is important to note that:

The IWT is an international treaty and cannot be unilaterally revoked.

Any violation by India would constitute a breach of international law and could be challenged at the World Bank, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and other global forums.

Pakistan remains committed to abiding by the treaty and has made it clear that any aggression on water rights would be met with firm diplomatic and legal responses — and if necessary, Pakistan retains the right to defend its vital interests.

Meanwhile, India has launched massive crackdowns in Jammu & Kashmir, detaining thousands of civilians, demolishing homes, burning crops, and instilling terror among the local population. Troop movements and military buildups have been reported across Indian states, fueling public panic and fear of a larger conflict.

In contrast, Pakistan remains calm and composed. Life continues normally: factories are operational, schools are open, markets are bustling, and public life remains undisturbed. Interviews with ordinary citizens across Pakistan reveal a strong sense of confidence in the nation’s ability to deter any Indian misadventure. The public widely recalls Pakistan's successful response during the 2019 Pulwama-Balakot crisis, where the Pakistan Air Force demonstrated its capabilities by downing two Indian fighter jets and capturing an Indian pilot, who was later returned as a gesture of goodwill.

Pakistan’s Commitment to Peace

Pakistan is a peace-loving nation that actively promotes regional stability and global cooperation. Pakistan has consistently called for dialogue with India on all outstanding issues, including Kashmir, and remains committed to the principles of peaceful coexistence.

However, Pakistan also understands the grave responsibilities that come with being a nuclear-armed state. Any escalation between two nuclear powers would have devastating consequences not just for South Asia but for the entire world. Pakistan has reiterated time and again that it will act with utmost maturity to avert disaster — but it will defend itself resolutely if provoked.

A Call to the International Community

At this critical juncture, the international community must act decisively:

Urge India to halt its war-mongering rhetoric and aggression.

Pressure India to implement UNSC resolutions and resolve the Kashmir dispute peacefully.

Protect human rights and ensure accountability for violations in Jammu & Kashmir and across India.

Prevent the region from spiraling into an unnecessary and catastrophic conflict.

Save human lives. Save regional peace. Save global stability. Act now.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)