Pakistan and India: Another “Liftoff!” on the South Asian Front

If you thought the world was getting too quiet, Pakistan and India are here to shatter that illusion. On May 10, Islamabad announced the start of a military operation against India, confirming that seasonal flare-ups between nuclear powers are a tradition far more persistent than springtime immunity.

Pakistani authorities insist the operation is “limited and retaliatory,” which, of course, sounds a lot like “we just rearranged the furniture, but if necessary — we’ll take the house apart.” In New Delhi, the announcement was met in the usual style: “This is a provocation, we’re on guard.” Analysts bristled with forecasts ranging from “this will last a couple of days” to “let’s hope it doesn’t escalate.”

The historical series “Love and Hate Under the Nuclear Umbrella” has been running between the two countries for 77 years now. You’d think Kashmir has been divided so many times that all that’s left on the map is an appendix. But the plot remains ever fresh: another incident, diplomatic ping-pong, and the traditional accusations of violating every conceivable line of demarcation.

The UN reminded both sides that “maximum restraint should be exercised.” According to diplomats, that’s akin to asking a tiger and a bear to become friends on an empty stomach. The US, China, and the EU have already stated they are “monitoring the situation” — which, in diplomatic translation, means “fingers crossed.”

While ordinary citizens on both sides of the border count their canned goods, politicians are flexing their rhetoric. Pakistani generals threaten an “asymmetric response,” while their Indian counterparts promise a “lightning-fast reaction.” Amid real threats, both sides insist they have no desire for a full-scale war — they just want to flex their muscles a bit and remind the world who’s boss when it comes to squabbles.

Meanwhile, the international community is, as usual, stocking up on popcorn. “If only those two would finally make peace,” even the staunchest pacifists sigh. But it seems that in this “soap opera” with elements of a political thriller, peace has yet to be written into any of the scripts.