Following a series of intense retaliatory strikes between India and Pakistan, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for an emergency meeting of the National Command Authority (NCA), the body that oversees decisions regarding Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. This move comes after Pakistan suffered significant damage in the wake of what it describes as unprovoked Indian aggression. Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors have escalated dramatically, marking the worst fighting in over two decades.
The recent escalation began after an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 Hindu tourists. India claimed that two of the three suspects in the attack were Pakistani nationals, a charge Pakistan denied. Subsequently, India launched what it called "precision strikes" against "terrorists" across the Line of Control (LoC) and within Pakistan's Punjab province. Pakistan swiftly condemned these strikes as a "blatant act of war" and promised retaliation.
Pakistan's military reported that the Indian strikes resulted in civilian casualties, putting the death toll at 26 with 46 injured. In response, Pakistan claimed to have shot down several Indian jets and struck Indian military targets, including a BrahMos storage site near Beas, the Pathankot airfield, and the Udhampur Air Force Station. India has not yet commented on these claims. Pakistan also alleges that Indian jets damaged infrastructure at a dam in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, which it asserts is a violation of international norms.
Amid these developments, Prime Minister Sharif convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC). The NSC authorized the military to respond to India's actions and called on the international community to hold India accountable for violating international norms and laws. Sharif has also denounced India's actions as "cowardly" and asserted Pakistan's right to respond robustly, stating that Pakistan "will take this war to its logical conclusion".
The situation remains highly volatile, with both sides engaging in a dangerous cycle of escalation. India has maintained that its actions were targeted and non-escalatory, aimed at preventing terrorist attacks. However, Pakistan views India's actions as a grave violation of its sovereignty and has vowed to retaliate. The summoning of the NCA meeting underscores the seriousness of the situation and the potential for further escalation.
The international community is watching the situation with growing concern, as any further escalation could have devastating consequences for the region and beyond. The current crisis highlights the urgent need for dialogue and de-escalation to prevent a full-blown conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
