Kashmir conflict escalates: four nights of shooting and massive arrests!

Kashmir conflict escalates: four nights of shooting and massive arrests!

Tensions in the Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan remain tense. After a serious attack on 26 tourists on Tuesday, the situation in the region has escalated again. Reports from vienna.at According to reports, the Indian army was responding to “unprovoked” shelling from Pakistan at the de facto border. This acrimonious clash has been going on for four nights, but no casualties have been reported so far.

Indian forces were described as “swift and effective” in their response. As part of the security measures in the region, around 500 people were arrested and around 1,000 houses and some forest areas were searched. The regional authorities urged the security forces to act cautiously.

A complex web of allegations

India blames Muslim terrorists linked to Pakistan for the attack, while Pakistan denies any involvement. This precarious situation results in a series of escalations between the two nuclear states. India decided to suspend the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, while Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian airlines.

In addition, Pakistani citizens must leave India by Tuesday and several Indian diplomats have been declared unwanted by Pakistan. Visas for Indian citizens, except Sikh pilgrims, have been canceled, further reinforcing the border closure and trade halt.

Kashmir has been a disputed territory between India and Pakistan since 1947, with both states claiming the area for themselves. China urged both sides to show restraint, while experts did not rule out military escalation. The United Nations also appeals to both countries to exercise “the greatest possible restraint.”

Regional dimensions of the conflicts

Tense relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have also worsened, particularly since the end of 2023. On December 24, the Pakistan Air Force carried out strikes in Afghanistan's Paktika province, targeting suspected Pakistani Taliban (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan - TTP) hideouts. According to information from taz.de Around 50 people were killed, more than half of them women and children.

Afghan officials condemned the attacks as aggression, further straining the already complicated history and relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan. After another incident on December 28, in which Afghan Taliban units attacked Pakistani targets, 19 Pakistani soldiers and five Afghan civilians were killed. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, declared that a “red line” had been crossed.

The TTP is described by the United Nations as “associated with al-Qaeda” and is considered one of the biggest threats to Pakistan. It is estimated that the TTP has between 30,000 and 35,000 members. The situation at the border regions therefore remains tense and could easily worsen further unless diplomatic solutions are found.