India and Pakistan are once again on the edge of armed confrontation. Although the two countries have long been geopolitical rivals with a history of warfare dating back to 1947, the dynamics in April 2025 reveal a new pattern of escalation involving direct military attacks, cyberattacks, and global diplomatic pressure.
The classic issue of Kashmir has once again become a flashpoint, but now it is compounded by the dimension of technological warfare and mutual accusations in cyberspace. Classic issues such as Kashmir are once again a flashpoint, but now with the added dimension of technological warfare and mutual accusations in cyberspace.
Causes of War and Escalation
The conflict was triggered by the massacre of 26 civilians in Pahalgam, located in the Indian-controlled region of Kashmir, on April 22, 2025. The attack was claimed by the Resistance Front (TRF), but India accused Pakistan of supporting the group. Despite Pakistan’s denial, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to retaliate.
Following a series of reciprocal diplomatic retaliations, military tensions escalated once again. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, a large-scale military operation involving more than 100 fighter jets, including Rafale, Su-30MKI, and MiG-29 aircraft. The attack targeted nine locations, four in Pakistan and five in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, believed to be terrorist camps.
Pakistan’s Cyber Attack on India
On May 10, 2025, a massive power outage occurred in India, particularly in Srinagar, Ferozepur, Kachchh District, Patan, and Banaskantha. The Pakistani government claimed this as a success of a cyber attack under Operation Bunyanun Marsoos, which is said to have disabled 70% of India’s power grid. The cyber attack targeted various critical sectors, including energy, telecommunications, defense portals, and government systems. In response, India retaliated by attacking four major Pakistani airbases, causing damage to military installations and assets. The air bases targeted included Noor Khan in Rawalpindi, Murid in Chakwal, and Rafiqui in Shorkot.
The United States as a Mediator in Achieving a Ceasefire
The military tension between these two nuclear-armed countries is a concern for many parties. On May 10, 2025, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire, claiming that the conflict between India and Pakistan had been resolved through US mediation efforts and encouraging both countries to focus on economic cooperation. Through his Twitter account, Donald Trump said, “I am proud that the USA was able to help you arrive at this historic and heroic decision. While not even discussed, I am going to increase trade substantially, with both of these great Nations. Additionally, I will work with you both to see if, after a thousand years, a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir. God Bless the leadership of India and Pakistan on a job well done!!!”
Interestingly, there is a difference in position between India and Pakistan in seeking a resolution to the conflict. India has consistently rejected international mediation, in contrast to Pakistan, which has used UN resolutions to call for global involvement in resolving the conflict.
Will the Ceasefire Stand?
Military leaders from India and Pakistan have reached an agreement to maintain the ceasefire and reduce military presence in the border region. It is hoped that further negotiations will be held soon to follow up on this agreement. Prime Minister Modi referred to the ceasefire as a “temporary pause,” not as a final resolution to the existing conflict. Some analysts believe that this agreement has a chance of being maintained, given that both countries face limitations and see the benefits of reduced tensions. This view was also expressed by Al Jazeera in its report, which stated that the continuation of the ceasefire reflects shared interests, despite many unresolved issues. However, if the narrative of victory from each side sounds less convincing at present, there is a high likelihood that the long-simmering conflict in Kashmir will erupt again in the future.
Author: Nazwa
Cover Image Source: thediplomat.com
References:
Al Jazeera. “India and Pakistan Trade Accusations of Nuclear Weapons Mismanagement.” Al Jazeera, May 15, 2025. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/15/india-and-pakistan-trade-accusations-of-nuclear-weapons-mismanagement.
Bharadwaj, Swati , and U Sudhakar. “Operation Sindoor: As India Hit Pakistan, 6 Nations Fired Cyber Missiles.” The Times of India. Times Of India, May 16, 2025. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/operation-sindoor-as-india-hit-pakistan-6-nations-fired-cyber-missiles/articleshow/121147575.cms.
Fair, C Christine. “Another Clash over Kashmir Is Coming.” Foreign Policy, May 16, 2025. https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/05/16/pakistan-india-kashmir-military-history-escalation/.
Mashal, Mujib, and Alex Travelli. “Why There’s No Battlefield Solution to India’s Perpetual Pakistan Problem.” The New York Times, May 18, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/world/asia/india-pakistan-conflict.html.
TOI News Desk. “US Hails India-Pakistan Ceasefire, Calls Donald Trump a ‘Peacemaker’ after His Offer to Mediate on Kashmir.” The Times of India. Times of India, May 16, 2025. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/us-hails-india-pakistan-ceasefire-calls-donald-trump-a-peacemaker-after-his-offer-to-mediate-on-kashmir/articleshow/121199505.cms.
