War on the Horizon? India and Pakistan Play "Chess" with Nuclear Pieces

It seems that spring in South Asia is a traditional season of flare-ups not only for allergy sufferers, but also for geopolitical passions. India and Pakistan are once again deciding whose turn it is to stare into eternity through the sights of missile launchers. This time, the reasons are the usual ones—old grievances, new statements, and perhaps boredom with prolonged stability.

Experts, accustomed to reading between the lines and counting billions borrowed for defense, predict: the likelihood of conflict is now higher than ever. Still, these forecasts are reminiscent of an old Indian spice—add a bit more heat, so your conversation partner starts coughing.

Delhi insists that it’s not their "peaceful" satellite launches (with a nuclear edge) provoking anyone, but rather their restless neighbors who "always seem to misunderstand something." Islamabad responds with its favorite move: "We have the bomb, and we know how to use it!" Once again, the UN prepares resolutions, while the international community stocks up on valerian drops.

As the leaders of both countries dive into their favorite national game of "who blinks first," millions of people in the region brace for the worst, and the rest of the world readies itself for new jokes about diplomats with nervous tics.

Let’s hope this dispute ends with yet another "deep regret," not a nuclear fireworks display. After all, unlike in chess, you can’t bring back a captured queen here.