Pakistan and India are countries with a pragmatic approach to foreign policy, which gives hope that a nuclear conflict between Islamabad and New Delhi will be avoided, a political scientist from Pakistan, Basim Reza, told Report.
At the same time, the political scientist believes that Indian media are trying to actively influence public sentiment, promoting the idea of an escalation of the conflict.
"Another alarming factor contributing to these rising tensions is public pressure - particularly in India, where the media has heavily influenced public sentiment, pushing the government to take punitive action against Pakistan for alleged cross-border involvement in terrorist attacks. This kind of emotionally charged environment is dangerous and must be handled with extreme caution, as any misstep between two nuclear-armed states could lead to devastation not only in South Asia but globally," he noted.
"In my view, both sides are pragmatic enough to avoid opting for the nuclear route. That said, in the case of nuclear-armed states, the possibility of weapons of mass destruction can never be entirely ruled out," he added. "One especially concerning factor is India’s repeated threats to unilaterally suspend the Indus Waters Treaty or block water flow into Pakistan. Such actions pose existential risks to Pakistan and could potentially serve as a trigger for extreme retaliatory measures," he said.
Speaking about the efforts of the international community, such as calls for restraint, the political scientist said they were insufficient: "While commendable, these efforts remain insufficient. What is urgently required is sustained and firm international pressure on both countries to act with restraint and resist domestic political or public pressure that could lead to military engagement."
In conclusion, Reza noted that the Indian government had created public opinion that was set for war, and the result could be some symbolic actions to calm public sentiment and maintain political support.