In the wake of the attack on civilians in Pahalgam, India’s cross-border strikes reflect a growing global trend of reactionary violence disguised as self-defense. Without presenting evidence or accountability, Indian missiles and drones were sent deep inside Pakistan near civilian areas—echoing the same unchecked militarism seen by Israel’s actions in Palestine.
CODEPINK strongly condemns the use of “counterterrorism” rhetoric to justify occupation and military campaigns that devastate civilian populations — whether in Gaza or Kashmir. Governments must not be allowed to weaponize isolated acts of violence to grant themselves unchecked power to commit atrocities with impunity. The logic of overwhelming force, devoid of transparency or restraint, drags the world deeper into cycles of endless war — and closer to nuclear disaster.
If India is serious about eradicating cross-border terrorism, not exploiting the Pahalgam tragedy for political gain, it must share credible evidence with the international community that links the attackers to Pakistan. Escalation without transparency not only undermines justice—it risks triggering a catastrophic conflict between nuclear-armed states. India must choose transparency over blind retribution.
Kashmir remains a volatile flashpoint between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan. Yet the U.S. has armed India with over $24 billion in weapons since 2008. Now, Modi and Trump’s security pact—to address so-called ‘terrorism’—includes billions more in F-35 jets, recklessly fueling a conflict that could engulf billions in one of the most densely populated regions on Earth.
While India’s current actions are deeply concerning, so too is Pakistan’s repressive regime, which has crushed dissent, rigged elections, and silenced protest with brutal force. But one state’s authoritarianism does not give another authoritarian state the moral license to bypass justice and launch missile strikes under the so-called banner of democracy. International law must apply equally — or it applies to no one.
Today, Indian-occupied Kashmir is the most militarized zone on Earth, with over 750,000 Indian troops deployed. Kashmiris live under constant surveillance, repression, and fear. Since the partition of the subcontinent in 1947, India and Pakistan have now fought three major wars over this region. And since India’s revocation of Article 370 in 2019 — which stripped Kashmir of its autonomy — Modi’s Hindu nationalist government has accelerated its settler-colonial project. Kashmiris are now witnessing the forced demographic changes they feared: land grabs, residency law changes, and the expansion of settlements, reminiscent of Israel’s illegal occupation in Palestine.
India is enacting a dangerous nationalist agenda — one that further colonizes and terrorizes the Kashmiri people, while denying them their right to self-determination.
We at CODEPINK call on our elected officials and global civil society to work together to:
- End U.S. weapons sales to India and all governments responsible for genocide, occupation, and human rights abuses.
- Support an independent international investigation into the Pahalgam attack and India’s retaliatory strikes.
- Pressure both India and Pakistan to return to the negotiating table for inclusive, transparent peace talks — with Kashmiri voices at the center.
- Replace disproportionate, reactionary militarism with accountable diplomacy that prioritizes human life and international justice.
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