On May 7, the Indian Armed Forces launched a series of air strikes at Pakistan. The attack was labeled “Operation Sindoor.” The regions of Kotli, Muzaffarabad and Bagh in Pakistan and some regions of Pakistan-administered Kashmir were affected by the strikes. The attack reportedly killed a three-year-old girl and two others and injured 35 more. This was confirmed by Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry of Pakistan.

The words used by the Indian government to describe the air strikes were “non-escalatory,” as well as “measured” and “targeted at terrorist bases,” phrases that are often utilized by the U.S. during war on terror campaigns.

The attacks from the Indian side were in consequence of the killing of 26 Indian civilians in Pahalgam in Indian administered Kashmir by “Islamists.” The Indian government did not seek to investigate the situation, nor did they resort to a diplomatic resolution. They launched the air strikes without any proof that the Islamists were directly connected to the Pakistan government.

The attacks came after the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, which gives India control over the waters of the three “Eastern Rivers” – the Beas, Ravi and Sutlej – which have a total mean annual flow of 41 billion cubic meters. Control over the three “Western Rivers” – the Indus, Chenab and Jhelu – which have a total mean annual flow of 99 billion cubic meters, was given to Pakistan by India in 1960.

From May 8 to May 9, the border regions between India and Pakistan, as well as adjoining territories saw heavy machine gun shelling. Several people have died on both sides of the border, particularly in Poonch and Uri, in Jammu and Kashmir. Reportedly 300 to 400 drone strikes were launched from the Pakistani side towards India, affecting 36 locations on the Line of Control from Leh to Sir Creek. There were blackouts in the states of Punjab, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir.

To understand the present situation in these regions, here is a short timeline:

20th century:

• The Partition of India in 1947 following India's independence from British rule led to the creation of two dominions, India and Pakistan (East and West).
• After the partition of India, both Pakistan and India claimed the region of Jammu and Kashmir. This resulted in a regional war after Pakistan launched an attack from Waziristan, ultimately resulting in a UN-mediated ceasefire and a “Line of Control” founded in 1962.
• The second Indo-Pak war in 1965, following Operation Gibraltar, the purpose of which was to create an insurgency in the Indian region of Kashmir, ultimately leading to the Tashkent declaration.
• In 1990s, the religious tensions led several religious minorities to leave the regions, primarily Kashmiri Pandits. The Indian Army carried out several atrocities against civilians in Jammu and Kashmir, extrajudicial killings, murder, rape etc.
• 1999 the Kargil war breaks out and leads to the defeat of the Pakistan Army .

Recent history:

• The Bharatiya Janta Party came to power in India in 2014 and accelerated the religious tensions between Hindus and Muslims, by working towards a Hindu-Nationalism (Hindutva) through public policy, limitations on access of resources, citizenship amendment for Muslims and religious minorities.
• Pulwana attack occurs in 2019, where 40 border security personnel (CRPF) are murdered by “Islamists” in Indian administered Kashmir
• As a retaliation to Pulwana, the Modi government removed the special status (Article 370) of Indian administered Kashmir [Jammu and Kashmir remained a union territory after it became a part of the region, meaning that it operated under some autonomy while still being part of the larger whole of the region] and made the region into a state, enforcing heavy governmental clampdown, increased military personnel as well as shutting down the internet and preventing assembly while enforcing curfews.
• In 2025 Waqf bill is introduced impacting the ability of Muslims to manage property and religious institutions, sparking religious riots in West Bengal.
• Murder of 26 civilians in Pahalgam (Jammu and Kashmir) by “Islamist” forces, leading India to escalate a military conflict with Pakistan without proof of involvement from the Pakistani government

Pakistan and India are neighboring countries with deep-rooted ties historically. The governments of these regions have political elites and billionaires that have utilized this moment to embolden themselves. The news media from India and Pakistan have misled the populations categorically.

While the tensions were at their highest, the private news media spread lies about the war, showing pictures from regions that were not even involved. For example, a news outlet from India utilized pictures from Iran showering missiles on Israel.

The Reliance foundation i.e. Ambani, took the opportunity to make money off of the war by trying to trademark “Operation Sindoor” and this was met with tremendous pushback from progressive and communist parties.

The Trump administration met with their counterparts in Pakistan and India. On May 9, the Pakistani government received over $2 billion in aid from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), despite the Indian government arguing against this. Pakistan in the past has received several IMF loans, and it is in a phase of a debt trap due to these predatory loans. There were real fears the loan would bolster the war effort.

The Pakistani government grew closer to the United States after the removal of Imran Khan from office and his subsequently being sent to jail. The current prime minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, is seen as a keen ally of the U.S. while maintaining key relationships with China through the Belt and Road Initiative.

The Trump administration met with their counterparts in India and later proclaimed that “India will drop tariffs to nothing,” meaning import tariffs on American commodities would be reduced to zero. This figure was then adjusted to two-thirds. India is an ally the United States and, in recent times, has become a close ally of Israel. India and Israel have had trade and military exchange in the past. The pro-Indian government driven social media has also voiced open support for the governments of Israel and the U.S. during the genocide in Gaza. India is also a participant in the BRICS (Brazil Russia India China and South Africa) formation, leaving it in a strange and contradictory political position with the other constituents of the formation.

The unprecedented attack on Pakistan by India has led to the death of several on both sides of the border. Pakistan and India are both nuclear powers, but they are also 105th and 109th respectively out of 127 countries in the world hunger list. Both South Asian countries are in a phase of deep economic decline; unemployment is at an all-time high while health care and educational access is at an all-time low. Neither country can afford a war between themselves nor a war that involves other regional powers too.

Continuation of the war would lead to a severe decline in the wellbeing of both countries, while benefitting imperialist countries like the United States and the United Kingdom.

A ceasefire, though necessary, should be utilized to build a concrete peace plan that handles religious extremism delicately with cross-border participation.

#Opinion #Commentary #International #India #Pakistan

Previously, on March 1, the heads of 22 diplomatic missions, including those of EU member states, released a joint letter urging Pakistan to support a resolution in the United Nations General Assembly condemning Russia's intervention in the Ukraine.

Following this, on March 4, Pakistan became the first country to officially sign a huge trade deal with Russia at a time when Moscow has come under severe criticism. As part of the agreement, Pakistan would import 2 million tons of wheat as well as natural gas from Russia, a deal worth several billion rubles.

At a rally on March 6, Imran Khan said, “What do you think of us? Are we your slaves?” in response to the critiques of Pakistan starting its trade in wheat and natural gas with Russia and not condemning the country because of the intervention in Ukraine.

At a rally on March 27, Khan spoke of an official communiqué sent by the U.S. that threatened his position. Khan would then contact and summon U.S. diplomat Donald Lu (Assistant Secretary of State for the South and Central Asian Affairs), the author of threat letter to Pakistan.

Imran Khan dissolved the National Assembly of the parliament in the face a no-confidence motion, citing that there was foreign interference within Pakistan's politics. This would be met with intense support for Khan with chants inside the parliament such as “Amrika ka Jo yaar wo hain gaddar” (the friends of America are traitors).

The Supreme Court of Pakistan however reinstated the ruling on Thursday, April 7 ,stating that dissolution of the parliament was illegal and proceeded to restore the National Assembly. Khan was removed from office on April 10.

During Khan's tenure ties with China improved and the CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor), a project worth $62 billion, was established. This would rapidly upgrade Pakistan's required infrastructure and strengthen its economy by the construction of modern transportation networks, numerous energy projects, and special economic zones. This was a welcome and marked change in Pakistan from the IMF-led debt entrapment that the country was so used to, and which devastated the country's economic landscape.

These close ties with China and Russia came to the attention of the Western countries, especially the United States. It can be believed in no uncertain terms that this was a regime change effort by the U.S. that ultimately removed Imran Khan from office.

#Pakistan #PeoplesStruggles #ImranKhan

Minneapolis, MN – The political secretary of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Steff Yorek, expressed condolences to the people of Belgium and Pakistan, especially those who lost family or loved ones in the March 22 Brussels bombings, the March 27 Lahore bombings, and others who suffered in similar anti-people attacks.

Yorek stated, “We stand in solidarity with the people of Belgium and Pakistan, and send out condolences to the families and friends of the victims. We condemn those responsible for these attacks on the innocent, be the attacks in Belgium, Pakistan, Turkey, Nigeria, Iraq, Lebanon, or anywhere else.”

“Unfortunately, reactionary, racist and anti-immigrant forces are attempting manipulate people’s grief, concern and fear to promote an agenda of war and repression. Politicians such as Trump and Cruz are working overtime to fan the flames of Islamophobia and using the attacks in Belgium as a pretext to urge more repression against American Muslims and Arab Americans. We reject this,” Yorek continued.

“The U.S., Western imperialist powers and their partners in the Middle East such as Israel and Saudi Arabia have set the region on fire by waging cruel, brutal and destabilizing wars, in Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen. We can see the results everywhere we look and we cannot allow this to continue. We need to do more to more to build the anti-war movement and we will make every effort to shut down bigots like Donald Trump,” Yorek concluded.

#UnitedStates #PeoplesStruggles #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganization #Belgium #Pakistan #Socialism

Chicago, IL – 200 people marched against Boeing Company on Sept 28. Many participants and organizers from that march met for a conference the following day to share skills, experiences and knowledge that will help strengthen the movement against drone warfare.

50 of the protesters came from other states around the Midwest, from groups like the Wisconsin Coalition to Ground the Drones & End the Wars, the Minnesota-based groups Anti-War Committee, Women Against Military Madness and the Brainerd Area Coalition for Peace as well as others from Michigan, Indiana and Missouri. The Anti-War Committee-Chicago (AWC) had called for the march and the groups were joined by the ANSWER Coalition, the Syrian American Forum, U.S. Palestinian Community Network and other Chicago organizations.

The Boeing headquarters was the destination for the marchers. Boeing has been targeted by the AWC because they are vying for a Pentagon contract to build a new combat drone. Boeing is the second largest arms manufacturer in the U.S.

Combat drones have become controversial in the past two years in part because the Obama administration has sent drones to assassinate American citizens in Yemen. According to Medea Benjamin, founder of the anti-war group Code Pink, the majority of drone victims in Pakistan are not 'high level Al Qaeda' leaders but civilians, including many children. Benjamin, who has organized delegations to Pakistan and Yemen, was the keynote speaker at the conference and protest.

Thousands of people watched and dozens took videos as the march, complete with a band, puppets and several banners, went through a park and a shopping district on its way to Boeing headquarters. Upon reaching its destination, the group placed child-sized coffins on Boeing's property. Kait McIntyre, an organizer with Anti-War Committee-Chicago, explained, “The child-sized coffins we placed at Boeing's doorstep represent over 178 children that have been killed as a result of U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan and Yemen and the countless more whose blood will be on Boeing's hands if it wins this military drone contract.”

#ChicagoIL #AntiwarMovement #USImperialism #BoeingCorporation #drones #Pakistan #Yemen

Fort Worth, TX – About 60 people gathered here at the U.S. District Court building, March 29, to demand “Free Aafia Siddiqui!” Dr. Siddiqui is a Pakistani woman who was kidnapped in Pakistan and tortured. She is now a political prisoner held in a Texas prison.

Among the speakers at the protest was former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark.

Jess Sundin, who is one of the anti-war activist raided by the FBI in 2010, told the crowd, “It's an honor to stand with you today, to demand justice for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. Her imprisonment stands as a shameful example of the crimes carried out by the U.S. government across the globe in the interests of empire and under the banner of the so-called war on terror.”

A statement from the Committee to Stop FBI Repression notes that nearby Carswell federal prison is where the U.S. holds its women political prisoners, including for Dr. Siddiqui, activist attorney Lynn Stewart, and the Colombian rebel “Sonia” – Anayibe Rojas Valderrama.

Sundin said, “We stand with Colombian revolutionary ‘Sonia’, people's attorney Lynne Stewart, and environmentalist Marie Mason, all imprisoned right here in Carswell.”

#FortWorthTX #PoliticalPrisoner #AnayibeSoniaValderrama #CommitteeToStopFBIRepression #DrAafiaSiddiqui #InjusticeSystem #Pakistan