The Indian government has stated that in the early hours of May 7^th, the Indian armed forces commenced ‘Operation Sindoor’, characterised as a “focused, measured, and non-escalatory” strike aimed at targeting “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan, including areas of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The alleged purpose of this operation was to seek retribution for the terror attacks that occurred in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on April 22, 2025.

Alternative Viewpoint strongly condemns the military actions undertaken by the Indian government that target Pakistani civilians under the guise of pursuing terrorists.The x-handle of the Additional Directorate General of Public Information, IHQ of MoD (Army), celebrates this unjust assault as “justice served”. However, the lack of information regarding the arrests of the militants responsible for the terror attacks in Pahalgam prompts us to question the nature of justice that is claimed to be achieved by taking the lives of unarmed civilians, including children. Moreover, it is unsurprising that India’s boastful military actions receive endorsement solely from Israel, a state with a notorious history of massacring unarmed civilians, including children, in Palestine and beyond.

It is also reported that at least 10 Indian civilians were killed and 40 were injured, mostly in Jammu’s Poonch sector, as Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling across the Line of Control in response to India’s Operation Sindoor.

We are opposed to any form of warmongering and urge the working people of the region to reject the war hysteria incited by both states. Indeed, actions taken by India and retaliatory measures from Pakistan have the potential to escalate into a full-blown war, including the risk of nuclear aggression. Any nuclear exchange between these armed neighbours could lead to widespread destruction and irreversible climatic consequences for the region.

An attack by militant groups resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir. Rather than accepting moral responsibility for the serious security lapses that led to this tragic incident, the Indian government appears to have exploited the situation to incite panic, frenzy, war hysteria, jingoism, and a new wave of Islamophobia. Over the past week, Indian media outlets have been fabricating a new falsehood about Pakistan each day. These media channels have morphed into war rooms, stirring up millions of citizens across the country. This phenomenon has been deliberately orchestrated to divert the attention of the working masses from the real crises facing the country, namely growing unemployment, inequality, poverty, and various forms of deprivation. The announcement of mock drills across the country to “strengthen civil defence preparedness” will only exacerbate strong anti-Pakistan sentiment and Islamophobia.

Narendra Modi has already announced the granting of ‘full freedom’ to the army, a move that appears to aim at subverting democracy and promoting militarism while also shifting responsibilities onto the armed forces in the event of any devastation.

We express our shame and indignation at how a segment of the Indian left and liberals in the country are actively endorsing the warmongering actions of the Indian state. This act of capitulation will only serve to empower the expansionist Indian state, encouraging it to engage in further acts of aggression both domestically and internationally. Any support for Indian military actions will, among other consequences, weaken the struggle for secularism within the country.

The name “Operation Sindoor” conjures associations with patriarchy, the ownership of women, “honour killings”, chastity, the sacralisation of marriage, and other similar obsessions linked to Hindutva. The message of militarisation, jingoism, patriarchy, and Hindutva is unmistakable.

We believe that even if the military actions target “terrorists” and their “camps” in Pakistan, war or warmongering can’t solve the contentious issues and reduce the hostility that is responsible for terrorist attacks in the region. Wars, jingoism and bellicosity strengthen the ruling classes across the border to the detriment of the population. This situation will further deepen the communal hatred and polarisation that has already reached alarming proportions in the region. The governments of India and Pakistan must cease all forms of armed hostilities immediately. We call upon the working people of both countries to reject the war hysteria and militarism and raise their voices for peace, solidarity and unity. Only popular pressure from below can compel the two states to seek meaningful dialogues and resolve issues.

Finally, we support the struggle of the people of Kashmir for their right to self-determination and liberation from all forms of exploitation and oppression.

Long live the unity of the working people of the region!

Alternative Viewpoint, May 7, 2025