Experts warn that escalating tensions could fragment Pakistan

As tensions between India and Pakistan escalate, retired military officers and defense analysts are voicing concerns about the potential consequences of further hostilities. Sanjeev Srivastava, a prominent defense analyst, highlighted the dire internal situation in Pakistan, where independence movements in regions like Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan are gaining momentum. He noted that Pakistan's political instability and economic challenges may not withstand the severe ramifications of all-out war. Moreover, India’s military responses have been measured yet effective, aiming to counteract provocations from Pakistan, which include missile attacks, drone incursions, and aerial offensives. Retired Brigadier Vijay Sagar Dheman emphasized the necessity for India to adopt decisive military, economic, and diplomatic actions in response to a sequence of recent drone strikes targeting multiple regions in India. These assaults have driven home the urgency for a robust Indian response to defend national security. The Indian military showcased its readiness during the latest assault, neutralizing over 50 drones and demonstrating effective defense systems like the S-400. Retired Major General K.K. Sinha remarked on the precision of India's recent deep-strike operations that targeted significant Pakistani locations. He underscored the involvement of the Pakistani Army and the country's alleged role as a hub of global terrorism, asserting that these military strikes were both defensive and necessary given the context of Pakistan's ongoing aggression. Such provocations from Pakistan, particularly troubling is the coordinated drone attacks, lead to worries of a potential full-scale war. If tensions continue to escalate, experts are concerned that India might have no choice but to escalate its military response, which could have both regional and global implications, particularly concerning stability in South Asia.