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Title: India-Pakistan Conflict: A Timeline of Tensions and Turning Points (1965–2025)

The India-Pakistan conflict remains one of the longest-running rivalries in the world. Since the Partition in 1947, both countries have experienced wars, border skirmishes, political stand-offs, and peace overtures. From 1965 to 2025, the conflict has seen dramatic shifts—military engagements, nuclear brinkmanship, and intermittent dialogue—all unfolding under the global gaze.

1965: The Second Indo-Pak War

In 1965, Pakistan launched Operation Gibraltar, aimed at infiltrating forces into Jammu and Kashmir to incite rebellion against Indian rule. India responded with full-scale military retaliation. The war lasted over five weeks and resulted in thousands of casualties. It ended with the Tashkent Agreement, brokered by the Soviet Union, but the peace was short-lived.

1971: War and the Creation of Bangladesh

Tensions erupted again in 1971, but this time the focus shifted to East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). India supported the Bengali liberation movement against the oppressive West Pakistani regime. The Indo-Pak war in December 1971 ended with a decisive Indian victory and the creation of Bangladesh. Over 90,000 Pakistani troops surrendered, making it one of the largest surrenders since World War II.

1980s–1990s: Insurgency and the Kargil Conflict

The 1980s saw rising militancy in Indian-administered Kashmir, which India blamed on Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI. Tensions escalated through the 1990s.

In 1999, just months after both countries conducted nuclear tests (in 1998), Pakistani soldiers and militants occupied high-altitude posts in Kargil, Jammu and Kashmir. India launched a military campaign to flush them out. The Kargil War resulted in a clear Indian victory but highlighted the dangers of nuclear-armed neighbors engaging in direct conflict.

2000–2010: Terrorism and Peace Talks

This decade was marked by a mix of attempted diplomacy and terror attacks. High-profile incidents included:

2001 Indian Parliament attack: Led to massive military mobilizations.

2003 ceasefire agreement: Temporarily stabilized the Line of Control (LoC).

2008 Mumbai attacks: Carried out by Pakistani-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, it killed over 170 people and derailed peace efforts.

Despite backchannel diplomacy and cultural initiatives, mistrust deepened.

2011–2020: Cross-Border Tensions and Surgical Strikes

In this era, conflict transformed from conventional warfare to hybrid and psychological warfare:

2016 Uri attack: Four Indian soldiers were killed by Pakistan-based militants. India responded with “surgical strikes” across the LoC—a new strategic shift.

2019 Pulwama attack: A suicide bombing killed 40 Indian paramilitary personnel. India responded with airstrikes in Balakot, claiming to hit terror camps—a dramatic escalation.

Pakistan retaliated with air strikes, and a dogfight led to the capture (and later return) of an Indian pilot, Abhinandan Varthaman.

These events marked the highest military tensions since Kargil, though open war was avoided.

2020–2025: Emerging Challenges and Diplomatic Openings

The early 2020s saw both nations preoccupied with internal challenges—COVID-19, economic downturns, and political transitions. However:

In 2021, a reaffirmation of the 2003 ceasefire brought temporary relief along the LoC.

Backchannel diplomacy resumed through Gulf states like the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

India’s revocation of Article 370 in 2019, which gave Jammu and Kashmir special status, remains a sore point in bilateral relations.

By 2024–25, while no formal peace agreement exists, both countries have maintained relative calm with fewer skirmishes, more trade talks, and renewed sports exchanges like cricket matches.

The Path Forward

The India-Pakistan conflict from 1965 to 2025 has been a turbulent journey through war, nuclear brinkmanship, and fragile diplomacy. While deep-rooted issues—especially over Kashmir—remain unresolved, there is growing recognition that peace is essential for regional development.

People-to-people contact, economic collaboration, and pragmatic leadership on both sides could pave the way forward. As the world becomes more interconnected, the pressure to move beyond conflict is greater than ever.