An opinion piece titled “Stepping back from the brink: time for reason and rapprochement between India and Pakistan,” published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) on May 28, 2025 https:/ /www.bmj. com/content/389/bmj.r1102), inspired me to express my views. The opinion was expressed by 11 renowned clinicians from Pakistan and India; some of whom are my friends.

I not only join my voice with their appeal for reason and rapprochement, but also salute them for expressing their opinion jointly and clearly. Many of us who are engaged with scientific research and teaching in India feel concerned about the deterioration of relationships with our neighbours that impedes collaboration and progress of science. Having expressed this concern, I emphasize that I am much more perturbed by the escalation of terrorist activities in our region. The dastardly and heinous act carried out by terrorists in Pahalgam on April 22 must be condemned by all in no uncertain terms. Whatever steps need to be taken to prevent such acts in the future must be taken.

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But let us not give up on negotiation and let not diplomats throw up their hands in frustration. Let us not assume that armed conflict is the only solution. The bottom line is that we must not give in to terrorism. Conditions must be created so that terrorism is eliminated. However, terrorists have the last laugh when they are able to precipitate a war by their actions. As the authors of the BMJ article have opined in the context of the recent war between India and Pakistan “Several weeks after........

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