Media Missing the Mark: The Root Cause of India-Pakistan Tensions

Jonathan Spyer, Director of Research at the Middle East Forum, asserts that prevailing media narratives surrounding the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan fail to address the core issue. He argues that Pakistan's historical use of Islamist militant groups as instruments of state policy is the underlying cause of the current strife.

In an interview with ANI, Spyer noted the recent escalation and remarked on the involvement of the US administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in de-escalation efforts. He dismissed alarmist claims about impending warfare, drawing parallels to previous episodes of back-and-forth exchanges between the nations.

The crisis, triggered by the Pahalgam terror attack, highlights Pakistan's reliance on extremist groups, Spyer emphasized. India has responded by targeting terror infrastructure, despite Pakistan's denials and accusations of civilian casualties. With ongoing international diplomatic calls for calm, the situation remains precarious.

(With inputs from agencies.)