On Monday, July 7th, Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal rejected India’s assertion that Pakistan’s military utilized support from China in its conflict with India last spring, according to reporting from Reuters. India’s claim came after the two countries exchanged missiles, drones, and artillery fire over four days of fighting in May. This conflict caused both sides to take military action and, in its wake, diplomatic relations between the two neighbors have dived to their lowest point in this decade. Both New Delhi and Islamabad moved to suspend treaties, limit travel between citizens, and suspend bilateral trade. The rising tensions in the region have dealt a blow to the respective populations of the two nations, increasing economic and psychological hardships.  

Countries that have been involved in the two nations’ relations have called for restraint from India and Pakistan. U.S. President Donald Trump said in May, “They’ve been fighting for many, many decades. I hope it ends very quickly.” A Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said in a statement, “China expresses regret over India’s military actions this morning and is concerned about the current developments…we call on both India and Pakistan to prioritize peace and stability, remain calm and restrained, and avoid taking actions that further complicate the situation.” Russia conveyed deep concern over the two nations’ military confrontations and called for severe restraint.  

While global leaders may advocate for an end to the increasing tensions between these two nuclear nations, it is up to the decision-makers and leaders in New Delhi and Islamabad to produce peace for their citizens. The leadership in the two countries has played a part in souring relations and consequently increased the hardships their people must face. As a result of border skirmishes and military escalation between the nations, civilians have been displaced and killed in the middle of clashes, according to the Center for Preventative Action’s Global Conflict Tracker.

Kashmiris were brought under lockdown by the Indian government and restricted from accessing phone and internet services, cutting off their communication with India’s public welfare services and the outside world. Violence in Kashmir in response to the loss of autonomy attributed to Kashmiris by the Indian government is a cycle that will continue if peaceful action is not taken at the federal level to prevent it. All this drastically brings down the quality of living for people in the region.

For the safety and welfare of Indians and Pakistanis as well as Kashmiris, it is important that regional military escalations end, and diplomatic ties strengthen. While those closest to the border bear the brunt of market and school closures during close air strikes, hardship also faces citizens furthest away. Disrupted global supply routes and allocation of resources away from trade towards military spending have been detrimental to Indians and Pakistanis. In an interview with Reuters, Pakistan’s finance minister has said that the economic fallout from the tensions with India was “not going to be helpful” to the country’s fragile recovery.

The conflict in May was due to missile strikes launched in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir. The strikes took place after two weeks of flare-ups between India and Pakistan following a terrorist attack in India-administered Kashmir. The attack killed 25 Indian tourists along the Line of Control. Pakistan denied Indian claims of involvement in the terrorist attacks. Despite this, New Delhi downgraded relations with Pakistan, which led to retaliatory diplomatic and military responses from both sides. India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire on May 10 after three days of military operations.

The situation between India and Pakistan is complex, producing further deprivation for citizens in the region. Conflict fosters hardship, which drives down the quality of living for Pakistanis and Indians alike, but the problem of conflict is not between Pakistani and Indian civilians. The true problem is between leaders who violate civil freedoms and stoke the flames of violence. Adherents to nonviolent civil disobedience should apply pressure to politicians in Islamabad and in New Delhi to continue diplomatic ties and discussions with their neighbors. Global observers and leaders must urge decision makers in the region to revive trading and travel efforts. Ongoing discussion and civil dialogue must prevail.