Compiled by: Shruti Kapil, Head of Security & Mutual Dependence Desk and Pravar Petkar, Head of Strengthening Democracy Desk
In the aftermath of Pakistan’s drone and missile barrage and India’s intensifying Operation Sindoor, the Indo-Pak conflict has entered a volatile but strategically restrained phase.
This briefing cuts through the fog of ongoing skirmishes to examine the broader military, political, and societal implications of the standoff. It details India’s assertive yet calibrated military retaliation and its use of satellite intelligence and cyber capabilities, while spotlighting Pakistan’s asymmetrical strategy and growing internal military rifts. The report underscores India’s economic and defence superiority but warns that Pakistan’s nuclear posture and instability in Balochistan and Kashmir could trigger unintended escalations. Internationally, the UK is positioned as a key de-escalatory actor, though risks to domestic cohesion are rising—especially from diaspora-driven polarisation and religiously charged misinformation. The paper urges a proactive diplomatic strategy and domestic vigilance to contain the conflict’s ripple effects and avert wider destabilisation.
Read the full briefing here: India-Pakistan Tensions Key Developments & Future Risk Part 2
