By Afshain Afzal

Islamabad says it is time to give a befitting response to India to avenge India’s missile attacks on Pakistan on 6/7 May 2025. The high command in Pakistan after confirmation by India that it carried out un-provoked attacks on nine sites, decided to attack three times what India targeted. In this regard, Islamabad decided to select 27 positions inside India to target those elements who were behind the strikes, no matter it is Indian Armed Forces who behind the terrorist strikes.

Meanwhile, the National Security Committee (NSC) has allowed “total freedom” to the Armed Forces of Pakistan for taking “every possible” step in response to India’s un-provocative, deliberate and cowardly attacks on Pakistani civilians. The NSC has permitted Armed Forces under Article 51 of the UN Charter, which provide Pakistan the right to retaliate in self-defence to avenge the loss of innocent Pakistani lives and blatant violation of its sovereignty.

Interestingly, the Indian National Investigation Agency (NIA), which on 26 April officially took over the investigation of Baisaran mountaintop terrorist attack of 22 April 2025, till to-date has not finalized the investigation and still collecting evidence from general public so how Indian Armed Forces can carryout attack on Pakistan on mere suspicion without letting the investigation to finalize. One wonders what if the investigations takes to the conclusion that Indian Armed Forces themselves carried out Pahalagam attack to ensure Hindu event of 38-day annual Amarnath Yatra from 3 July to 9 August 2025, and inauguration of Kashmir Railway Line by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled on 3 July 2025, a success story.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of Pakistan in a statement said, “Pakistan reserves the right to respond, in self-defence, at a time, place, and manner of its choosing to avenge the loss of innocent Pakistani lives and blatant violation of its sovereignty. At least three commanders of Pakistan Army claims that they have rehearsed two plans “A” and “B”; a scenario where Pakistan carryout reciprocal attacks on India but though India defend itself but do not counterattack Pakistan, all things would stand normal but in a scenario where India carryout counter attack, Islamabad will officially announce war on India and plan to continue from three months to one year.  

Terrorism is menace but how long we can allow killing innocent masses without proper trial and confirmations. The United Nations and Human Rights organizations as well as civilized countries of the world must discourage inhuman practices or taking law into hands and there should be dialogue to resolve pending issues like right of self-determination to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. If we fail to resolve Kashmir issue this year, clouds of full fledge war between India and Pakistan cannot be averted. 

Pakistan must exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and avoid further escalation as it may threaten regional and international peace. But at the same time we must realize that unresolved dispute continue to pose even a bigger threat to regional peace and exacerbates the suffering of the Kashmiri people.