The unfortunate and gruesome terrorism incident at Pahalgam, followed by India's knee-jerk reaction – without any investigation or evidence – could be used as an opportunity to reduce polarisation.

However, so far, the Pakistani regime has not been proactive in reaching out to the political parties that today represent the true voice of the Pakistani people. Without such measures, the inherent ability of the nation to unite and speak out as one voice against Indian propaganda will be wasted – even though the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Imran Khan have been unequivocal in condemning and highlighting the false accusations of the Modi regime and the war hysteria that it periodically creates.

Measures announced by the Modi government left Islamabad no choice, and it was compelled to respond with tit-for-tat measures. Rising tensions and the jingoistic rhetoric of the Indian media prompted the UN secretary-general to ask both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and de-escalate. Alarmed by the deteriorating situation, Saudi Arabia and Iran have offered to mediate.

Mediation must be welcomed. A war between two nuclear neighbours will not only be mutually destructive, but will also be suicidal. Statements from some Indian and Pakistani ministers have been highly irresponsible and have vitiated the climate further. With the international community preoccupied with Ukraine and the Middle East crises, plus the consequences of the tariff war, and with no dialogue mechanism between Indian and Pakistan in place, a neutral international probe into the Pahalgam tragedy is the only correct way forward.

The response of the mandate-less and forcibly installed government in Pakistan has been........

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