As Washington wavers, Moscow falters, and Beijing takes sides, solely Europe has the credibility to maintain South Asia from sliding into nuclear chaos.
Bashy Quraishy :Secretary General – EMISCO -European Muslim Initiative for Social Cohesion – Strasbourg
Thierry Valle :Coordination des Associations et des Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience
The India–Pakistan battle stays one of many world’s most harmful flashpoints. The two nuclear-armed neighbors have a protracted historical past of wars, cross-border skirmishes, and deep distrust, with Kashmir on the core of their disputes. In latest months, tensions escalated after a terrorist assault in Pahalgam (Indian occupied a part of Kashmir) in April 2025, which India shortly attributed to Pakistan-backed militant teams. Although Pakistan requested for a global enquiry on this unlucky case and accepted a mediation supply by USA, India flatly refused. Instead, the Indian politicians and media began a ferocious marketing campaign of blame recreation to punish Pakistan, which resulted in unprovoked robust measures, together with suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and missile assaults on sixth May 2025 on mainland Pakistan, killing of many civilians and property destruction. Though a ceasefire was ultimately reached with the direct intervention of President Trump, India nonetheless maintains a state of battle via the continuation of its battle operation known as Sundoor. Pakistan then again has repeatedly known as for an exterior involvement to unravel the Kashmir challenge in addition to provoke a dialogue however Indian authorities of PM, Modi has rejected this plan of action.
Kashmir is an outdated unresolved challenge
The Kashmir battle has plagued South Asia since 1947, sparking wars in 1947, 1965, and 1999, and numerous clashes in between. While bilateral agreements such because the Simla Agreement (1972) and the Indus Waters Treaty (1960) created short-term stability, they haven’t resolved the underlying challenge of Kashmir. The United Nations has handed over a dozen resolutions on Kashmir since 1948, primarily via the Security Council, to deal with the dispute between India and Pakistan. Key early resolutions, akin to Resolution 39 (1948) and Resolution 47 (1948), established the UN Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) to mediate the battle and facilitate a plebiscite to find out Kashmir’s future. While later resolutions continued to deal with the dispute, they have been met with blended outcomes, although the UN nonetheless maintains a presence within the area.
India historically rejects any third-party mediation, together with UN and insists that disputes be resolved bilaterally, excluding Kashmir, which it claims to be a part of Indian territory. Pakistan, on its half has lengthy sought UN, EU and different worldwide efforts to unravel this challenge, in order that each neighbours can stay in peace and give attention to improvement as a substitute of wars.
So, the peace stays fragile. Amid international energy distractions—the U.S. seen as unpredictable beneath Donald Trump, Russia preoccupied with Ukraine, and China pursuing its personal strategic pursuits—the European Union (EU) may emerge as a impartial peace facilitator. The subsequent international disaster could not come from Ukraine or the South China Sea, however from the Line of Control. Europe nonetheless has time to behave. It signifies that the world’s most harmful border doesn’t want extra weapons, it wants a mediator. Europe could be that bridge.
Why Europe issues?
Europe has performed this position earlier than. From the Balkans to Northern Ireland, the EU has proven that when it leans on its strengths—diplomacy, delicate energy, and affected person consensus-building—it may carry adversaries to the desk. Unlike the U.S. or China, Europe has no geo-political or strategic curiosity within the South Asian battle. Its pursuits are clear and easy: stability, commerce, and non-proliferation. In a time when nationalist strongmen dominate, Europe represents guidelines, dialogue, and the concept that issues can nonetheless be solved at a desk as a substitute of a battlefield. Kaja Kallas, EU Foreign Policy Chief truly known as the scenario “very regarding”, saying the EU was making an attempt to mediate and produce tensions down. She additionally requested each international locations at the beginning of hostilities to point out restraint and have dialogue to ease the scenario. Later she welcomed the ceasefire. EU Spokesperson for the international affairs workplace additionally urged “fast steps” to de-escalate the scenario; recalling {that a} “negotiated, agreed and lasting, peaceable resolution” is required.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the EU, Rahim Hayat Qureshi, stated in euronews:
“The European Union is without doubt one of the pillars of the worldwide order. What we name the rules-based order. This incident isn’t just about India and Pakistan. This is about unilateralism versus multilateralism. We can’t permit states to turn into judges, juries, and executioners. Pakistan was open to worldwide mediation, respect and desires of the individuals involved. Europe has a rightful position. We urge our neighbour, India, to just accept intervention in order that we are able to mediate our points with peace and dignity.”
What the EU may do?
Europe doesn’t have to impose a grand peace plan; it must get inventive:
- Offer impartial floor: Brussels may host Track 2 dialogues—lecturers, civil society, and enterprise leaders from each international locations assembly away from the cameras.
- Rebuild belief: Help India and Pakistan restore suspended treaties just like the Indus Waters Treaty and help small, sensible agreements on water, commerce, and local weather cooperation.
- Use carrots, not sticks: The EU’s financial clout is actual. Tie commerce incentives and improvement cooperation to de-escalation and dialogue.
- Keep it quiet: India resists outdoors mediation, however Europe doesn’t have to make it a headline act. Quiet facilitation, backchannels, and chronic engagement could obtain greater than grand summits.
The obstacles are actual
Europe faces limits. India rejects exterior mediation outright. Pakistan could welcome it, however that doesn’t imply New Delhi will. The EU additionally lacks the army muscle of the U.S. or the monetary leverage of China. And let’s be trustworthy: Europe is distracted too, from Ukraine to inside divisions. But doing nothing is worse. Every flare-up threat spiraling right into a catastrophe, nobody can include. We all know that peace gained’t come from grand speeches, however from quiet rooms and trustworthy brokers.
A Call to Action
We imagine that Europe mustn’t anticipate Washington or Beijing to take the lead. It ought to outline its personal position: a quiet, regular, impartial facilitator that helps construct the delicate scaffolding of peace the place others solely fan flames. A particular envoy for South Asia, impartial areas for dialogue, and financial incentives for restraint might be the beginning.
The world can’t afford one other battle between India and Pakistan. The U.S. is unreliable, Russia is distracted, and China is self-interested. Only Europe has the neutrality and ethical authority to step in. If the EU needs to show it may nonetheless be a world peacemaker, there is no such thing as a higher take a look at than South Asia. The various is leaving two nuclear powers to settle scores on their very own—and the world already is aware of how that story ends.
The alternative is evident: Europe can both watch the subcontinent burn or assist douse the flames.
