With global instability intensifying, the number of active conflicts continues to fluctuate. According to the Geneva Academy, there are currently 110 recognized current-armed conflicts, with the most recent conflict that has “fallen” being the Indo-Pakistani conflict.
Yet, such conflicts go beyond the surface value of aggression and escalate the international scene in a multitude of ways.
Although classified as such, the Indo-Pakistani conflict is far from “recent”: tensions first arose in the early 1900s after England permitted the newly formed Dominion of India to take full control of the subcontinent after nearly 200 years of British imperial rule.
What immediately followed was the 1947 Partition, which carved new national borders and land between India and Pakistan.
Although seemingly diplomatic, what ensued after the 1947 Partition led to an estimated total of deaths in the millions, including migrant massacres; in addition, there was growing civil unrest, ultimately escalating into the First Indo-Pakistani War. This conflict only ended after the United Nations’ intervention.
Yet, this was not the end of the quarrel between India and Pakistan, as throughout the middle to late 1900s, the second and third Indo-Pakistani wars began and ended with both foreign and domestic mediation.
Just a year before the turn of the 21st century, the Kargil conflict began with the Pakistani infiltration of Indian borders. It saw a quick escalation when President Clinton threatened Pakistan with nuclear war, which prompted Pakistan to withdraw.
Nearly 20 years later, as of this April, Pakistan and India have been in diplomatic and physical conflict. On April 22, a terrorist attack by The Resistance Front, a Pakistani terrorist group, occurred in Pahalgam, India. Around 26 men were killed; they focused on Hindu tourists, as well as a Christian and a Muslim.
On May 1, India took diplomatic action against Pakistan. The Indian government suspended two treaties/contracts that enabled air travel, immigration and visas between the two countries.
A few days later, on May 7, India initiated Operation Sindoor, a series of shelling and missile strikes on terrorist positions within Pakistan.
In two days, the Pakistani government returned with 400 drones in 2 main strikes. The conflict ended after 3 days of drone, missile strikes and shelling. The prime mediator between the two countries was United States President Trump, who urged a diplomatic resolution.
But how do the students feel about the conflict? Cristian Garcia ’28 believes that the U.S. intervention was necessary to the prompt end of the conflict and reminds the world that we are the dominant power, and have not lost that title on the “world stage”.
On the contrary, William Och ’27 believes the conflict did not end just because of the US intervention but because of a multitude of factors. Och said, “In my years at Loyola, I have learned many things that contribute to the context of this conflict,” and “Learning about the core differences of both countries based on their different religions of Hinduism and Islam and seeing how those differences came to a head in my AP World class.”
Early 1900s Indian civil rights activist, Mahatma Gandhi said, “An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.”. This has only proven to be true. In the past eight decades, millions of Pakistani and Indian civilians and soldiers have been killed and even more displaced.
Understanding the deeper, long-standing religious and land disputes between India and Pakistan is important to recognizing why even brief escalations, like the one seen this past month, can quickly get out of control. Both nations have nuclear weapons, so any conflict between them isn’t just a regional issue, but a global concern. The stakes are really high, and so are the emotions attached to this historical rivalry.
As for students at Loyola, the main contribution that we can make is our support for the displaced and suffering. In the future, many of us will become politicians and figureheads, and I hope that with this influence, we will only use it for good and help prevent or deter conflicts of this nature from ever happening.
