WASHINGTON: An analysis published by Foreign Affairs highlights the strategic dimensions of the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, noting that Pakistan successfully downed Indian fighter jets during the confrontation known as “Marka-e-Haq.”
The conflict marked one of the most serious military escalations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors in decades, involving sustained cross-border exchanges of drones, missiles, and artillery targeting military installations as well as urban areas.
In his 2026 State of the Union address, U.S. President Donald Trump emphasized Washington’s role in de-escalating the crisis, stating that timely intervention prevented the situation from escalating into a nuclear conflict.
While India has maintained its position that disputes with Pakistan remain bilateral, the scale and intensity of the four-day confrontation underscored the global stakes involved.
Since the crisis, both India and Pakistan have intensified military planning and capability development.
Leadership on both sides, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi, have outlined more assertive defense postures.
Pakistan’s military leadership has also signaled readiness to respond across extended ranges, reflecting a shift toward faster, more coordinated, and higher-intensity conventional warfare strategies without immediate reliance on nuclear escalation.
