The latest military confrontation between India and Pakistan is not a spontaneous response to terrorism, but rather a premeditated maneuver by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi—one rooted in domestic politics rather than regional security. As the subcontinent teeters on the edge of open war, the world must understand the underlying motivations behind India's recent strikes across the Line of Control in Kashmir that divides the two: calculated redirection of public attention to redirect attention away from internal failings and toward a familiar external scapegoat—Pakistan.

Two weeks ago, the tragedy in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of Indian tourists sparked rightful outrage. But outrage alone does not justify airstrikes on civilian areas in Pakistan. More concerning is New Delhi's outright dismissal of Islamabad's offer for an impartial, international investigation into the incident. Instead of accepting transparency, Modi's government chose escalation—launching "Operation Sindoor," a military campaign cloaked in symbolism, but anchored in cynical domestic politics—particularly after losing parliamentary strength in the 2024 general elections.

For Modi, this pattern is not new. In the run-up to the 2019 general elections, his administration similarly used the Pulwama-Balakot crisis to whip up nationalist fervor. Then, as now, Pakistan offered cooperation and even returned an Indian........

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