The recent revelations surrounding a Pakistani dossier have intensified the already strained relations between India and Pakistan. Here’s a comprehensive overview of the developments:
Pakistan’s Dossier Alleging Indian Involvement in Terrorism
In late 2024, Pakistan released a dossier accusing India of sponsoring terrorism within its borders. The document claims to provide “irrefutable evidence” of India’s involvement in planning, financing, and executing terrorist activities in Pakistan. Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that since 2001, the country has suffered over 19,000 terrorist attacks, resulting in approximately 83,000 casualties and economic losses exceeding $126 billion. The dossier alleges that India has been instrumental in these attacks and criticizes India for portraying itself as a victim of terrorism while allegedly perpetrating it.
India’s Response and Counter-Dossier
India has firmly rejected Pakistan’s allegations, labeling them as baseless and a diversion from Pakistan’s own support for cross-border terrorism. In response, India released its own dossier detailing Pakistan’s alleged support for terrorist organizations operating against India. This dossier includes evidence of Pakistan-based groups involved in attacks on Indian soil and underscores a pattern of cross-border terrorism that has long plagued bilateral relations.
Intelligence Revelations: ISI’s Espionage Operations
Indian intelligence agencies have uncovered a significant espionage operation led by Naushaba Masood, a Lahore-based travel agency operator with close ties to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Masood allegedly recruited Indian visa seekers by offering expedited visas and free trips to Pakistan in exchange for espionage and propaganda activities. Her operations reportedly facilitated the entry of approximately 2,500 Indians into Pakistan over six months, some of whom acted as informants. Investigations have also traced financial transactions through Pakistani bank accounts and exposed the misuse of Indian SIM cards for encrypted communication by Pakistani handlers.
Escalation: The Pahalgam Attack and Its Aftermath
On April 22, 2025, a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, resulted in the deaths of 26 Hindu tourists. India attributed the attack to Pakistan-backed militants, leading to heightened tensions between the two nations. In response, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, closed the Attari–Wagah border crossing, and expelled Pakistani military advisers from its High Commission in New Delhi. India also launched missile and air strikes on alleged militant camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, marking the deepest Indian strikes into Pakistani territory since the 1971 war.
India’s Civil Defence Preparedness
In the wake of escalating tensions, India conducted a nationwide civil defence mock drill, code-named Operation Abhyaas, on May 7, 2025. The exercise spanned 244 districts and included air-raid siren tests, blackout simulations, evacuation drills, and public training sessions. This large-scale exercise aimed to bolster civilian readiness against potential hostile threats, particularly in response to the Pahalgam attack.
Development Initiatives in Kashmir
Despite the tensions, India has continued its development initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir. On June 6, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a landmark railway project linking the Kashmir Valley to the Indian plains. The 272-kilometer line includes the world’s highest railway arch bridge over the Chenab River and aims to boost tourism and regional development. Modi emphasized that such development projects are part of India’s commitment to the region’s progress, despite attempts by adversaries to destabilize it.
Diplomatic Maneuvers and International Reactions
In response to the conflict, India launched a global diplomatic campaign to garner international support and redefine the narrative surrounding its actions. This effort aims to frame India’s strikes into Pakistan as counterterrorism measures following the Pahalgam attack. However, criticism at home suggests the effort is motivated by domestic political optics and reflects shortcomings in foreign policy. The United States and other international actors have called for de-escalation, leading to a ceasefire mediated on May 10, 2025.