India-Pakistan Conflict: Missile Test, UN Pressure, and a Glimmer of Diplomacy

India-Pakistan Conflict: Missile Test, UN Pressure, and a Glimmer of Diplomacy

Date: May 14, 2025

By: [India-Pakistan]

Location: New Delhi / Islamabad

Tensions between India and Pakistan remained dangerously high on Tuesday as both countries ramped up military posturing while the United Nations stepped up diplomatic pressure to prevent the crisis from spiraling out of control.

In a development that alarmed regional and global security observers, Pakistan test-fired a short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile early this morning, just hours after India conducted a high-altitude combat exercise near the Ladakh sector. Both sides insist these moves were “routine,” but analysts believe they were calculated shows of strength meant to deter further aggression.

Missile Test Adds Fuel to the Fire

The Pakistani military confirmed it successfully tested the Ghaznavi missile, capable of carrying conventional and nuclear warheads. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the test was “pre-planned” and intended to demonstrate the country’s “credible minimum deterrence” doctrine.

Indian media outlets, however, called the launch “provocative,” with former military officials warning that it “undermines regional stability.” In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement expressing “grave concern” and called on Pakistan to “avoid escalatory moves.”

Earlier, India had conducted a high-altitude air drill involving Mirage-2000 and Su-30MKI fighter jets. The Indian Air Force said the exercise was part of “operational preparedness,” but its timing—less than 48 hours after a deadly LoC exchange—suggested a clear message to Islamabad.

Rising Toll Along the Border

Skirmishes have now entered their second week, and both countries continue to report casualties. In India’s Uri sector, two more soldiers were killed in mortar shelling allegedly launched from the Pakistan side. Pakistan’s army claims Indian shelling struck a school building in the Haveli district of Azad Kashmir, injuring six children.

The Indian government has begun deploying mobile hospitals in high-conflict areas, while Pakistan has called on international humanitarian agencies to provide aid in civilian-hit zones.

Thousands of families have now been displaced on both sides of the LoC. Local authorities are setting up emergency relief camps, but access remains difficult due to ongoing military operations.

UN Increases Pressure, Proposes Mediation Framework

In a rare move, the United Nations Security Council issued a joint statement late Tuesday, calling for “immediate cessation of hostilities and urgent resumption of bilateral dialogue.” The statement emphasized the risks of “miscalculation between nuclear-capable states” and appealed to both sides to allow UN observers to assess the humanitarian impact along the LoC.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres proposed a five-point mediation framework, which includes:

Immediate ceasefire and troop de-escalation.

Restoration of diplomatic channels at the ambassadorial level.

Humanitarian corridors along conflict zones.

A regional peace summit hosted by a neutral country.

Creation of a South Asia Conflict Prevention Task Force.

Both New Delhi and Islamabad have so far responded cautiously. India reiterated that it does not accept third-party mediation, while Pakistan welcomed any peace effort that “acknowledges the suffering of Kashmiris.”

Civil Society and Global Voices Push for Peace

As the threat of further conflict looms, public pressure for peace is mounting. In Islamabad, over 2,000 students and professionals gathered for a “Candlelight Call for Calm,” demanding an end to the fighting. In India, Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi issued a statement urging the governments to “listen to the people, not the provocateurs.”

Media houses in both countries have published joint editorials under the banner “Voices Across Borders,” calling for immediate restraint and a return to diplomacy. The initiative, backed by Indian Express and Pakistan’s Dawn, marks a rare show of journalistic unity in times of conflict.

Tech, Economy Begin to Feel the Pressure

The war of words and weapons is beginning to impact the economy more visibly. Major tech companies in Bangalore and Karachi reported reduced productivity and disrupted communications due to internet slowdowns, suspected to be linked to national security operations.

The Sensex and KSE-100 indices both declined for a third straight day. Meanwhile, India’s foreign investment inflows dipped slightly, and Pakistani exporters raised concerns over delayed shipments and trade route blockages.

Oil prices in South Asia have surged as supply routes near the Pakistan-India border face potential disruptions. The Indian government has begun emergency procurement from Gulf nations, while Pakistan is seeking alternative supply agreements with Iran and China.

A Sliver of Hope: UAE to Host “Shadow Dialogue”?

Despite the hardened public stances, diplomatic whispers suggest that quiet progress may be underway behind the scenes. According to sources in the United Arab Emirates, both Indian and Pakistani intelligence officials are in Abu Dhabi for what is being called a “shadow dialogue”—an informal meeting to explore a possible ceasefire framework.

Neither government has confirmed this, but the UAE has played a mediating role in the past. If true, the dialogue may offer the only current path out of the escalating standoff.

⚠️ The World Holds Its Breath

With the threat of conflict escalating each day, the need for dialogue, de-escalation, and diplomacy has never been greater. As soldiers exchange fire and civilians suffer in silence, the global community waits—hoping that reason and restraint will prevail over revenge.