India-Pakistan Escalation Scenarios

STRATEGIECS Team
May 6, 2025

India and Pakistan stand on the brink of a new military confrontation following an armed attack in Kashmir that triggered a series of reciprocal retaliatory measures. The crisis has now escalated beyond a regional conflict, becoming entangled in the broader international rivalry between the United States and China. New Delhi is strategically aligned with Washington, while Islamabad remains a key partner of Beijing. As a result, India and Pakistan face two options: either wage a war of attrition that threatens regional stability or engage in a limited military escalation that leads to a temporary truce.