India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed states and historic adversaries, engaged in military confrontation this past week. The escalation in violence can be traced back to a February 14 attack by Islamist insurgents on Indian paramilitary troops in the disputed Kashmir region which killed 40 Indian soldiers. India launched strikes on the group inside Pakistani territory after it accused Pakistan of supporting the militants. Pakistan responded by shooting at an Indian fighter jet. The Indian pilot ejected and was captured by Pakistani forces.
Pakistan has said that it will free the pilot, following a request from India. Pakistan, however, did use the pilot’s capture extensively for propaganda purposes, with showings of the pilot’s comments of how well Pakistan was treating him widely circulating on Pakistani media.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke to officials from both countries in an attempt to stave off tensions. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan also called for the de-escalation of tensions, saying “De-escalation should not be understood as a sign of weakness...These tensions do not benefit Pakistan or India.”
