Pakistan Tenses for India’s Response to Pahalgam Attack: Will Trump Intervene?
PM of India and Pakistan Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif respectively & Indus River in Background (Image credit X.com)
Marco Rubio to Dial New Delhi, Islamabad amid India-Pakistan Tension
By Manish Anand
New Delhi, April 30, 2025: Pakistan’s political leadership and Indian television channels share a rare alignment, both seemingly convinced that conflict is imminent following the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan has begun preparing for a potential Indian military response, with some analysts suggesting Islamabad aims to draw U.S. President Donald Trump into the South Asian crisis to reassert its strategic relevance to Washington.
Indian television, meanwhile, appears eager for war rhetoric, driven by the pursuit of higher viewership ratings. Anchors face pressure to boost ratings, with some reportedly dropped when their shows underperform.
Trump, focused on his first 100 days in office, has delegated diplomacy to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has been tasked with engaging both New Delhi and Islamabad. Rubio, however, holds a lower rung in the Trump administration’s foreign policy hierarchy, outranked by Vice President JD Vance and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff.
During a recent visit to India, Vance emphasized Washington’s interest in expanding arms sales to New Delhi. India has acquired significant U.S. military hardware in recent years, though much of it remains untested in combat.
Strategic affairs analyst Michael Kugelman believes India seeks to establish a stronger deterrence against Pakistan. “There’s a sense in India that deterrence has not been fully restored in past conflicts, and this time it must be decisive,” Kugelman wrote in a post on X.
In India, the opposition Congress party appears to be goading Prime Minister Narendra Modi toward a hardline stance. A cryptic post on Congress’ X account featuring a headless politician was widely interpreted as a jab at Modi’s leadership.
In Pakistan, jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan has also weighed in. From his cell, Khan posted a lengthy statement on X, reportedly relayed through his lawyers, offering full support to the Pakistani military. He sharply criticized Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his brother, Nawaz Sharif, accusing them of stashing wealth in India. Some speculate the post reflects the influence of Pakistani Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir, who faces mounting challenges.
Munir, often described as one of Pakistan’s weakest army chiefs, confronts threats on multiple fronts: India’s potential military actions, Afghanistan’s Taliban pushing for a redefined Durand Line, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan attacking military targets, and the Balochistan Liberation Army targeting Chinese infrastructure projects.
Islamabad’s best hope may be for Trump to shift focus from domestic priorities and urge Modi to de-escalate. Pakistani newspaper editorials, however, reflect growing pessimism, with many bracing for a turbulent period ahead.
Follow The Raisina Hills on WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn
About The Author
