India-Pakistan war threat

The dividing line between war and peace is becoming increasingly obscure in India-Pakistan relations. Tension has increased over the last few days after a bloody incident in the disputed region of Kashmir.

Anxiety is on the rise as India and Pakistan mobilize troops and assume positions opposite to each other along the Kashmir border, claiming lives on both sides.

The worsening situation has sparked fears that the two countries could be dragged into an open war. The international community is holding its breath as these neighboring South Asian nations reach the peak of their strained relations.

Despite the over 50 years of hostility, India and Pakistan have shown no intention of making peace. Serious attempts to settle their dispute are not apparent. Conversely, both countries give the impression of further preparing themselves for an armed conflict.

What causes greater worry is the fact that India and Pakistan are developing very dangerous nuclear weapons programs. Their tremendous destructive capacity makes nuclear weapons a means of suicidal action.

Though Pakistan has denied U.S. and Indian accusations of supporting terrorism, the controversy over various issues relating to terrorism contributes to the intricacies of the India-Pakistan enmity. As long as the Kashmir crisis, as the root cause of all the problems, remains unsolved, the India-Pakistan animosity will continue to bear the potential for war.

-- Kompas, Jakarta