Overview

• India’s defence leadership escalated rhetoric, with Army Chief Gen. Upendra Dwivedi warning Pakistan could lose its place in history and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh calling for oversight of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.
• Pakistan’s Foreign Office condemned the statements as irresponsible, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned of mutual erasure in any conflict, and the military’s ISPR reiterated credible deterrence.
• Commentary highlights heightened risk of miscalculation between two nuclear states due to inflammatory public messaging and weak crisis-communication channels.
• Conflicting accounts of a three-day clash in May 2025 persist, with Pakistan asserting it downed Indian aircraft and India disputing specific losses.
• Analysts urge a shift from reactive rhetoric to proactive diplomacy, including arms-control dialogue, revived Track II engagement, and narrative efforts to reduce regional tensions.