Pakistan's defence chief: Conflict with India could escalate to nuclear war

The ongoing conflict between Pakistan and India could potentially escalate into a nuclear confrontation, Pakistan's Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, warned.

He emphasised the gravity of the situation, stating that both nations are nuclear powers, making the dispute particularly dangerous.

“The international community must take notice of this dangerous dispute, which could escalate into a nuclear standoff. Both countries are nuclear-armed,” Asif said in an interview with Al Jazeera, highlighting the need for urgent attention to the conflict between the two South Asian neighbours.

The latest tensions between Pakistan and India were sparked by an armed attack in the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people. On April 22, militants from the "Kashmir Resistance" group, which is linked to the banned organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba, opened fire on tourists in Pahalgam, a popular city in Kashmir. Reports from indian media stated that three of the five suspects were Pakistani nationals.

In response to these accusations, Islamabad rejected the claims and turned the tables by making its own allegations. However, India’s Ministry of External Affairs announced on April 24 that it would immediately suspend the issuance of visas to Pakistani citizens and cancel any previously granted visas starting April 27. This decision was followed by a significant police operation in Kashmir, where around 1,500 people have been detained.

The situation has escalated further as Pakistan’s National Security Committee, led by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, met on April 24. During the meeting, Pakistan emphasised its right to suspend all bilateral agreements with India unless India stops “inciting terrorism on Pakistani soil and engaging in transnational killings,” as reported by The Dawn.

In a dramatic move, Pakistan also closed its airspace to Indian aircraft and halted all trade with India. The trade volume between the two countries had already been minimal, standing at around $2 billion, mainly due to India’s imposition of a 200% tariff on goods from Pakistan after relations soured in 2019.

Adding to the growing tensions, Pakistan expressed outrage over India’s recent decision to suspend the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, which governs the waters of the Indus River, the region’s most important water source. Pakistani officials pointed out that the treaty does not allow for unilateral suspension and warned that any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan would be considered an “act of war.”

In a further escalation of diplomatic tensions, Pakistan closed the Wagah border crossing, revoked all visas for Indian nationals, and declared Indian military advisors at diplomatic missions persona non grata. The country also reduced the number of Indian staff at its high commission (a diplomatic mission one level below an embassy) to just 30 personnel. These measures were a direct retaliation to India’s decision to limit Pakistani diplomats in India.

The developments have attracted global attention. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in response to the news of the terrorist attack and the escalating conflict, cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia. At the same time, U.S. Vice President James Vance was visiting India, accompanied by his wife, Usha, who has Indian roots.

By Tamilla Hasanova