What will it take to bring the governments of India and Pakistan to their senses? Once again, the two nuclear-armed neighbors are flirting with disaster. Tensions have been escalating since December, and they will continue to rise as summer approaches. Both governments appear to believe that war is impossible; ironically, that belief seems to encourage both sides to push harder still. Unless leaders in both countries recognize that miscalculation is possible, a horrific tragedy may be in the making.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since 1947, when the two nations gained independence. Two of the conflicts have been fought over the disputed territory of Kashmir. Islamic extremists have waged war against Indian authorities in Kashmir, determined to wrest the province from Delhi. India claims that the extremists are supported by Pakistan, a charge that Islamabad denies but is believed by many observers.
There had been hopes that the nuclear tests the two countries conducted in 1998 would prove sobering, and encourage the governments to reach a solution to the long-festering problem of Kashmir. Those hopes were dashed, however. Pakistani extremists have continued to try to infiltrate the disputed territory, bringing the two countries to the brink of war in 1999.