NEW DELHI — The United States played a critical role in halting the May 2025 clash between India and Pakistan that could have escalated into nuclear war, analysts say. New Delhi responded angrily to the U.S. assertion, insisting the dispute is bilateral.
The 2025 confrontation was the most intense fight in recent memory between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Over four days, drones, missiles and heavy artillery hit military bases and urban areas.
Both countries are now rebuilding their military strategies. Their focus is on the ability to strike faster, from longer ranges and with more force in any future war. Procurement of advanced weapons, domestic technology development and structural military reforms are underway at speed.
India has adopted what it calls a “new normal” policy, saying it will strike with precision and severity and will not give weight to nuclear threats. Pakistan has issued its own warning, saying it can strike deep inside India.
Analysts said both sides now believe an intense conventional war will not escalate into nuclear conflict. But new technology, faster combat and disinformation have raised the risk of miscalculation. An unintended nuclear clash cannot be ruled out, they said.
One plausible scenario involves border military drills, misunderstandings, aircraft shoot-downs and tit-for-tat strikes that escalate rapidly. Military bases and even nuclear-capable installations could become targets, analysts said.
Fake news and propaganda on social media could further inflame the situation. Allegations of attacks on religious sites, threats to block water flows and clashes at sea could combine to push the situation beyond control.
The United States, China and other major powers could be drawn in directly or indirectly, complicating any diplomatic resolution, analysts said. Experts said urgent steps are needed now to prevent future conflict. Backchannel dialogue between India and Pakistan, confidence-building measures and faster communication systems could play a vital role. The United States and its allies also need a coordinated crisis-management plan to enable fast decisions and conflict control, they said.
The 2025 clash did not reach the nuclear threshold but laid a dangerous foundation for the future, analysts said. The next conflict could be faster, more intense and harder to control. Without proper preparation now, the risk of the fire spreading beyond control remains, they said.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report