The recent tragedy in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, has once again reignited tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan. But what we are witnessing today is not merely a geopolitical conflict over borders. It’s a battle of narratives, egos, and ideologies, fought at the cost of innocent lives. This is not just about Pulwama, Samjhauta Express, or Pahalgam. This is a region haunted by its unresolved history, and the people on both sides continue to pay the price.

On April 22, 2025, a brutal terrorist attack shook Pahalgam, a scenic town in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, nestled in the valley at an altitude of 7,200 feet. Known for its spiritual and tourism significance, Pahalgam was turned into a scene of devastation, with more than 25 innocent civilians reportedly killed. India was quick to lay blame on Pakistan, an accusation that Islamabad strongly rejected. Pakistan not only condemned the attack but also offered a joint investigation to uncover the perpetrators an offer that was not taken up by New Delhi.

In an unprecedented move, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a pact brokered by the World Bank in 1960 that had survived even the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971. Pakistan termed this suspension an act of war. Tensions escalated rapidly.

On May........

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