Back from the brink

THE May 10 ceasefire between India and Pakistan, following four days of cross-border hostilities, has temporarily pulled the subcontinent back from the brink. Triggered by the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam and India’s measured May 7 precision strikes targeting terror infrastructure across the border, the escalation underscored once again how fragile peace remains in the region. India’s kinetic response under Operation Sindoor sent an unambiguous message — terror emanating from Pakistani soil will be met with force, including targeting strategic assets like the vicinity of the Pak Army HQ in Rawalpindi. Yet, even as India displayed restraint calibrated to avoid a full-scale conflict, Pakistan’s repeated ceasefire violations show that the old habits persist. The truce, while welcome, is not a sign of enduring peace but a tactical pause.

What makes this ceasefire different is the international context. With the US stepping in as a mediator, and both countries evidently engaging via diplomatic and back-channel routes, there is room to hope that this moment might be leveraged for longer-term engagement. But India must tread with caution. Pakistan's invocation of dialogue should not be used to stall India's counter-terrorism posture. The Line of Control cannot remain a revolving door of infiltration and provocation. New Delhi must continue to combine strategic firmness with diplomatic readiness. Maintaining vigilance on the border, using real-time intelligence to counter infiltration and keeping the international community informed will be key. Back channels should explore risk-reduction mechanisms - such as reactivating military hotlines or pursuing updated border protocols — to prevent knee-jerk escalations.

Ultimately, a ceasefire is only as strong as the will to uphold it. For India, peace must never come at the cost of national security; it must always remain a strategic objective.