UK Parliament has warned for a possible threat of nuclear war in its 42 page research study, highlighting India of adopting an increasingly confrontational stance towards Pakistan over Kashmir conflict.
The report traces the current crisis back to the April 22 killings in Pahalgam, located in Indian-administered Kashmir, and follows developments through to the ceasefire agreement reached on May 10. It identifies India’s overnight air and missile strikes on May 6–7 as the main catalyst for the rapid escalation, which led to intense cross-border shelling until global intervention helped to calm the situation.
According to the briefing, India placed blame on Pakistan for the Pahalgam incident without offering conclusive evidence, and responded with strikes across the Line of Control that hit both civilian zones and military installations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and inside mainland Pakistan.
Pakistan denied involvement in the Pahalgam attack, called for an impartial international investigation, and responded with retaliatory measures, stating it would answer any future aggression in kind.
As tensions mounted, India halted bilateral trade, closed land borders, and even threatened to withdraw from the Indus Waters Treaty. Pakistan countered with reciprocal steps and hinted at abandoning the Simla Agreement of 1971.
UK parliamentary researchers concluded that Pakistan operated within the framework of international law and exhibited measured restraint, while India employed forceful tactics, threats, and unsubstantiated claims, further destabilizing the region. The report also criticizes New Delhi for ignoring UN resolutions on Kashmir and refusing mediation efforts proposed by the US, UK, and other international players.
Experts cited in the document argue that India’s use of the Pahalgam incident mirrors a familiar pattern—framing the conflict as a counterterrorism issue in order to strengthen its control over Kashmir while dismissing international mediation.
They caution that the root issue remains unresolved: India accuses Pakistan of backing militants, while Pakistan condemns Indian human rights violations in Kashmir. Despite the ceasefire, these deep-rooted tensions persist, leaving the region vulnerable to another, potentially quicker, escalation.
