The world was virtually shaken by yet another conflict between India and Pakistan when it was nursing multiple wounds inflicted by war between Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Hamas as well as those in Syria and Sudan. India Pakistan skirmish was surging at such a high pace that it was likely to transform any time to a full-scale war. Thanks to the mediation of Donald Trump, the US President that both the parties have agreed for a pause according to India. It has brought incredible relief to the people of both the countries, especially living in the bordering areas in particular and the whole world in general on account of two nuclear powers locking horns with each other.
It was triggered by dastard massacre of innocent 26 tourists including 25 Indian and one Nepali medical graduate Sudip Neupane by terrorists on April 22 who had gone to enjoy scenic Pehelgam in Kashmir. Mostly the Hindu males were killed after asking their religious adherence thereby erasing the vermillion powder or sindoor from their wives' forehead because Hindu ladies are forbidden to put on the red powder, a symbol of happy conjugal life, after the demises of their husbands. The terrorists refused to kill the ladies when requested to do so after they felt useless to live after seeing the cold murder of their husbands right in the front of their eyes. Instead, they told to convey the message to Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India.
India reminded Quicksilver of the Greek fame by quickly suspending Indus water treaty water in the first phase. In the second, it went ahead with Modi baptized Sindoor Operation destroying nine terrorist bases in Pakistan. It led to the death of more than 100 terrorists including fourteen relatives of one of the most infamous and dreaded terrorist Masood Azhar on 6th May, 2024. Pakistan was caught unawares as their air defense system could not intercept a single Indian missile. India, on the other hand, achieved hundred per cent success after Pakistan reciprocated with hundreds of Turkeys exported drones and missiles. The damage was so extensive that several relatives of those killed in the Pehelgam were satisfied with the revenge taken by the Government of India.
India have said that the postponement of the war came into effect after Pakistan reportedly went crying all around for it pledging for the cessation of terrorism and military misadventure. The deferral of the war was necessary for Pakistan after six of its air bases were struck by Indian Brahmo missile inflicting damages to varying degree, the most prominent being the creation of a huge crater in the Rahim Nur khan air base. Another version is that the war was entering into such a dangerous front that it led to the indispensability of the halt of war.
Kashmir has been the bone of contention between India and Pakistan since the British initiated partition in 1947. Consequently, British India was divided into two parts along the religious lines with Pakistan having Muslim and india, Hindu population. Kashmir had majority of Muslim population but it was under Hindu ruler Mr. Hari Singh. He faced several attacks from Pakistani infiltrated groups with the result that he sought for assistance from India. India helped Hari Singh on the condition of accessing to India to which Pakistan has been tirelessly objecting.
It has resulted in three major wars - those of 1948, 1965 and 1971. The 1948 war was fought from 20 October, 1947 till 1st January, for one year and 10 days. The cease fire was agreed with the mediation of the United Nations subject to the condition that a plebiscite would be held for the self determination of the people of Kashmir to opt between India and Pakistan. Pakistanis naturally smelt of victory due to the presence of majority of Muslim population. It has however not taken place so far intensifying the claim of Pakistan to date.
Widely known as the second Indo Pak War, the 1965 war erupted after Pakistan launched Operation Gibraltar through the infiltration of several of its soldiers to attack in Kashmir on 6th September. India launched a full-scale war over Pakistan which lasted for 17 days till the UN mandated cease fire was announced. It paved the way for Taskhent declaration. The Kashmir problem was however not addressed even this time.
The third Indo Pak War occurred in 1971 after Pakistan carried out genocide of the Bengalis in then the East Pakistan. Bengalis reciprocated through the inception of Mukti Bahini, the Liberation Army, to which Pakistan alleged India for its complicity. Pakistan attacked India in six of its military air stations with Operation Chengis Khan. Pakistan was squarely defeated and its army surrendered to India leading to the emergence of independent Bangladesh.
What will be the implications for Nepal? The night India invaded Pakistan in the 1947 war, Indian Muslim Army Commander Nasruallah Khan killed the Gurkha soldiers twice erasing the sindoor of several Nepali women, firstly, while sleeping and, secondly, pretending to have come for aid. He eventually joined the Pakistani military betraying the Indian army. In 1965 war, Nepal expressed its inability to Pakistan in preventing Gorkha soldiers from taking part in the war. In the 1971 War, Nepal had maintained a neutral stand. But it had to recognize Bangladesh after persuasion from India. Even in the present conflict, it tried to maintain neutrality with some parliamentarians requesting India for not using the Gorkha soldiers. But later, Nepal declared to fight against terror and support India.
Whilst the implication was mostly social and political in the past wars, it is likely to be economic this time if the Indo Pakistan war raises its ugly head again because it is just a pause and not a cease fire according to India. The trade deficit with India will further widen inviting economic hardship for the country especially when the national revenue is unable to meet the running expense.
