- By: Muskan Khatri
Both countries were under British rule before 1947 partition and independence from Britain. There were separate underlying movements during British reign which laid the foundation of both these nations. Hindus struggled for independent India, while Muslims for separate independent Muslim land.
Once the goal of independence was achieved and both became two new sovereign countries, their differences began to take shape of international conflicts between them early on. Right from outset, they have been indulged into several conflicts and controversies, whether they are in the shape of four military wars, terrorist dilemmas or recent water disputes. They have always found themselves at loggerheads with each other.
The main bone of contention has been Kashmir, a disputed land. However, in recent times, it is the Pahalgam incident that sparked the conflict between them and causing their relations to be stained. India blamed Pakistan for the whole pahalgam incident and carried out attack on Pakistan in May under the operation Sindoor.
Soon after, Pakistan hit back at India with its own operation named Bunyan Al Maroos. Later, with US intervention, ceasefire was achieved..
Pakistan and India, both found an inherent enemy in each other at their birth. Right after their independence, issue of refugees was a major setback to their relations early on. Myriads of people lost their lives while shifting from one country to another.
Subsequently, Kashmir became the biggest flashpoint between the two nations . They fought their first war over the very issue of Kashamir on 22 October 1947 .It ended up Pakistan taking control of present-day Azad Kashamir ,Hunza and Nagar. India brought Jammu and Kashmir under their control..
Later, they once again came face to face in the war of 1965 when Pakistani soldiers entered Indian occupied Kashmir while dressed as local Kashmiri’s. India responded with Indian soldiers even reaching to Lahore. Afterwards, ceasefire happened.
Next time, India made a first move, and they fought again in 1971. When Pakistan’s military began crackdown in East Pakistan’s Dhaka, India entered their military there and caused Pakistan to lose its eastern wing. They were against each other in fourth war in Kargil when Pakistani soldiers crossed Line of control (Loc) ,seizing Indian military posts in the Kargil mountains, but Indian soldiers fought back and pushed them t away while restoring their control over Kargil.
Nonetheless, they achieved some good terms, too.
In 1960, they signed Indus Water Treaty which divided six Indus basin rivers between them. Pakistan received waters from the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab while India got hold of waters from the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. Another milestone was accomplished between them when the Shimla Agreement was signed.
It established line of control (Loc) and they agreed to settle disputes by peaceful means ..
A terrorist attack was launched in Pahalgam, part of Indian occupied Kashmir, on 22 April 2025. The incident claimed 26 lives of civilians. India, rather than holding a thorough enquiry into it and chasing down the perpetrators, accused Pakistan of this incident.
Like before when in 2016, 19 Indian soldiers died in URI , India blamed Pakistan and carried out strikes on Pakistan across LOC. On another instance, in 2019 when Pulwama bombing killed 44 Indian paramilitary personnel, India again held Pakistan accountable. They carried out strikes deep into Balakot.
Similarly, this time in the wake of pahalgam ,they struck Pakistan one more time with operation..
On 7 may, India targeted 9 sites in Pakistan in response to Pahalgam without providing any evidence of Pakistan’s involvement in it. These strikes claimed the lives of 26 civilian including a child. Pakistan while exercising the right of self-defense hit back at India with operation Bunyan Al Marsoos named after Quranic verse meaning unified and strong force.
It was carried out on 10 may and Pakistan struck 25 military sites.
However, after US president Donald Trump’s intervention, ceasefire was achieved between the two countries and the war immediately stopped before turning into a nuclear threat ..
The war has caused a deep hostility among the two nations and relations will likely remain the same in the foreseeable future.ndia suspended all trading activities with the Pakistan and Pakistan did the same, leading to further strained relations. Both countries sent back each other’s ambassadors, which has brought to an official end of diplomatic relations between the two. Both countries have expelled each other’s citizens and suspended visas to each other’s citizens.
India have gone one step even further to ban Pakistani utube channels, dramas ,films ,etc.This has left a limited room for people to people contact between the two nations . India unilaterally suspended Indus Water Treaty, which is the violation of international law as the treaty was brokered by World Bank under the international law. Thus, India cannot unilaterally suspend the treaty .Pakistan, in response to suspension of Indus Water Treaty by India, suspended Simla agreement of 1972.
Both countries have closed their airspace for each other. This means Pakistan’s airplanes cannot travel indian airspace and vice versa. During the recent war, both counties came even closed to the point of nuclear war.
Luckily, it did not happen, but it raised the concerns for future conflicts which may result in a deadly nuclear war..
Diplomatic Relations should be restored to make room for friendliness even in the face of tensions. This could pave the way for future good relations. International community specially UNO and US should intervene to engage both in peaceful relations and make peace in the region.
Trade should be restored and encouraged between them to reduce the threat of conflicts. Economic ties are always the constructive means to nullify the threat of strained relations .They should combat against the threat of terrorism together with joint efforts and refrain from blame games. They should curtail the influence of the extremist groups within them which create the sense of hatred between the two nations.Kashmir issue should be resolved through peaceful means using diplomatic discussions avoiding any arms option..
The recent war has been a grave threat for their future relations and the peace of the region. The two nations should act responsibly whenever such circumstance of conflicts arise. Moreover, World is heading towards economic development, and together they should work to grow economically and build peaceful relationship between them.They should learn to resolve their conflicts through diplomatic means.
Thus, in doing so, they can peacefully coexist..