As reported, Elon Musk's social network began displaying users' locations and additional basic information, such as account creation dates and username changes. The goal is to enable the identification of fake behavior and bots impersonating real users, thereby improving credibility and transparency on the network. "We will provide people with enough context to determine if an account is authentic," the company said.

כולם שמים לחתונה האדומה ב-X ב-24 שעות האחרונות?

לאחר שהכריזו מוקדם יותר החודש על חשיפת המיקום של כל היוזרים ב-X, הפיצ׳ר נפתח לחלק מהחשבונות ואז נסגר לאחר מספר שעות (לי למשל הוא לא נפתח בכלל).

מה נחשף בינתיים?
בעיקר קמפיין ההשפעה של חשבונות אסלאם רדיקלי שמתחזים לחשבונות… pic.twitter.com/oe7guwSNGE

— Ella Kenan (@EllaTravelsLove) November 22, 2025

For example, user @noor_jomaa01 presented herself as a Gazan and raised tens of thousands of dollars, but it turns out her origin is actually from Nigeria. "Thanks to your support, we raised 42,000 dollars for our family in Gaza," she wrote alongside photos of her supposedly destroyed home. "Every donation and share is a lifeline. We still urgently need help with safe passage, medical treatment, and daily needs."

The prominent anti-Israeli X account "Khalisi," which was supposedly operated by a European user, was also exposed as an entity tweeting from Pakistan. Alongside this, numerous accounts of "journalists from Gaza" were exposed, who actually operate from the United States.

BREAKING: Thousands of "Palestinian" accounts posting daily about "starvation in Gaza" and "Israeli crimes" aren't based in Gaza.

You have manipulated for over two years. pic.twitter.com/hHjRtG98tM

— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) November 23, 2025

Hasbara activist Ella Kenan, who lit a torch on Israel's 76th Independence Day, wrote Sunday morning, "Huge accounts in the West whose main content is Israel, spreading blood libels and more are actually in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and various other 'world gems,' and more accounts of 'journalists' from Gaza are actually located in Turkey or other places, just not in Gaza. This is what an activist warfare arena looks like. Does the State of Israel have a response to this issue? (No)."

She published a series of radical tweets from Iran, Poland, and even an account that presented itself as American but actually operates from Turkey. "How unsurprising, will there be additional surprises?" Kenan wondered. "This is bizarre if true, but also not shocking."

The post X's location feature exposes fake Gaza accounts appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Earlier this week saw Kabul and an eastern market were targeted by alleged Pakistani bombing operations, according to Afghan authorities, though Islamabad has not claimed responsibility, AP reported. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told a press conference that 30 additional Pakistani personnel sustained wounds during the fighting. "The situation on all official borders and de facto lines of Afghanistan is under complete control, and illegal activities have been largely prevented," Mujahid stated, according to AP. Pakistani officials offered no immediate casualty confirmation.

Previous Pakistani strikes on Afghan locations targeted suspected hideouts in mountainous regions, but Saturday night's intense clashes underscore deepening bilateral tensions. Afghan Defense Ministry officials characterized the operations as "retaliatory and successful," warning that "If the opposing side again violates Afghanistan's territorial integrity, our armed forces are fully prepared to defend the nation's borders and will deliver a strong response," according to AP. Both the Torkham and Chaman border crossings, which serve as primary trade routes, remained closed Sunday, turning away Afghan refugees and other travelers.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the assault before Afghan casualty claims emerged, stating the military "not only gave a befitting reply to Afghanistan's provocations but also destroyed several of their posts, forcing them to retreat," AP reported. Pakistani security personnel shared unverified videos allegedly showing destroyed Afghan checkpoints, though media access restrictions prevented independent confirmation.

Regional powers intervened diplomatically, with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry urging "restraint, avoidance of escalation and the adoption of dialogue and wisdom to help de-escalate tensions and maintain the security and stability of the region." The kingdom recently finalized a mutual defense pact with Pakistan following Israel's attack on Qatar, apparently extending nuclear protection. Qatar also expressed concern regarding the escalating situation.

Afghanistan has never recognized the 2,611-kilometer (1,622-mile) Durand Line border separating the nations. Pakistan accuses Afghan authorities of harboring Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan members who conduct attacks within Pakistani territory, though Kabul denies permitting its territory for cross-border operations. An anonymous Pakistani security official told AP that Afghan forces opened fire across multiple Khyber Pakhtunkhwa districts, with Pakistani troops responding with heavy weaponry near Tirah and across the Nangarhar province frontier.

The post Afghan forces claim 58 Pakistani troops killed in border clashes appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

The researchers examined 86 books approved by the government. Among the key findings are consistent hostility toward Jews, use of antisemitic stereotypes in Islamic studies content, and portrayal of Jews as treacherous and lacking loyalty.

The study also found that Judaism is completely absent from sections dedicated to comparisons between religions, while Christianity, Hinduism, Confucianism, and Taoism are included. Israel is presented as a stubborn enemy of the Muslim world and blamed alone for the war in Gaza. The Holocaust is not mentioned at all, even in sections referring to Hitler's rule, which instead include praise and acclaim for the Nazi leader.

The report examined books in three educational provinces – Punjab, Sindh, and the Federal Council – in more than 80 subjects, including English, Urdu, Islamic studies, social sciences, history, geography, mathematics, science, home economics, and ethics. Additionally, isolated sections were found that encourage tolerance and recognition of diversity, but it appears the curriculum falls far short of UNESCO educational standards.

Marcus Sheff, CEO of the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education, noted that "the curriculum promotes consistent hostility toward Jews. Pakistan has a central regional role, with the status of a nuclear state and a large young population. Therefore, the implications are wide-ranging."

According to him, "the textbooks present Pakistan as leading the Muslim world and Israel as an enemy, and even place sole responsibility on it for the war in Gaza. What is learned in classrooms today will shape Pakistan's future relations with Israel and with the Jewish people. There is an urgent need for educational reform that includes inclusion, mutual respect, and education for peace."

The post Pakistan's schools indoctrinate students with Holocaust denial, Hitler praise appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

The two South Asian cricket powers commenced their latest encounter at the iconic Dhaka venue, where Pakistan maintains a formidable 19-2 advantage from their 22 previous T20I meetings. While the visitors have secured victory in five of seven matches played specifically in Dhaka, Bangladesh enters this contest with renewed confidence and the crucial benefit of home conditions that promise to level the competitive landscape significantly.

According to The Hindu, the most recent meeting between these teams occurred in May when Pakistan delivered a comprehensive 3-0 series victory on home soil. That dominant display represented a strong recovery for Pakistan following their disappointing series defeat in New Zealand, demonstrating their ability to bounce back from adversity with commanding performances against regional rivals.

Bangladesh approaches this opening fixture buoyed by their historic T20I series triumph in Sri Lanka, an achievement that has significantly elevated team morale and confidence levels. Under Litton Das' composed leadership, the squad has demonstrated improved balance and tactical awareness, with young openers Tanzid Hasan and Shamim Hossain contributing aggressive yet measured approaches that have consistently provided strong batting foundations.

The playing surface at Shere Bangla Stadium traditionally favors slower bowling, particularly spin, as matches progress through the innings. While pace bowlers may extract some early movement with the new ball, spin bowlers typically dominate the middle and death overs as pitch conditions deteriorate, with first-innings totals commonly ranging between 125-150 runs depending on batting execution and bowling quality.

Pakistan enters as the probable favorite based on their superior record and extensive international experience, but Bangladesh's home advantage and emerging young talent pool makes this series opener highly competitive. Weather conditions including high humidity and potential rain showers could significantly impact both batting and bowling strategies, with the toss decision potentially proving crucial as teams must adapt rapidly to evolving circumstances throughout the match.

Bangladesh Playing XI: Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das (captain & wicket-keeper), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman.

Pakistan Playing XI: Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Hasan Nawaz, Salman Agha (captain), Mohammad Nawaz, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Abbas Afridi, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed.

Key Match Developments: Taskin Ahmed recovered from an earlier dropped catch to successfully remove Pakistan's threatening opener Saim Ayub, providing Bangladesh with their first crucial breakthrough in the series opener.

The post Taskin Ahmed redeems early drop with key Saim Ayub wicket as Bangladesh bowls first in T20I appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

The Associated Press reported that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed concern during a Sunday phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian about the bombardment of facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. Pakistan maintains close relationships with Iran and backs its defensive actions against Israel, according to AP.

The dramatic reversal in Pakistan's stance occurred within 24 hours. Saturday night, Pakistani officials on the X platform praised Trump's "decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership" in defusing tensions between Pakistan and India following a tourist massacre in Indian-controlled Kashmir in April.

Relations between the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbors had deteriorated after the April attack, with both countries launching strikes against each other before intense diplomatic efforts led by the US resulted in a truce that Trump claimed credit for achieving.

However, Pakistan's position shifted dramatically by Sunday, when officials told AP the strikes "constituted a serious violation of international law" and violated the International Atomic Energy Agency's statute. The condemnation highlighted Pakistan's support for Iran's right to self-defense against Israeli attacks.

The criticism followed a significant diplomatic meeting Thursday between Trump and Pakistan's powerful army chief, Asim Munir, at the White House. The session, lasting more than two hours, included Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff, the US Special Representative for Middle Eastern Affairs.

A Pakistani military statement indicated that detailed discussions took place regarding the "prevailing tensions between Iran and Israel, with both leaders emphasizing the importance of the resolution of the conflict," according to AP.

Pakistan quickly thanked Trump for his intervention in the India crisis, while New Delhi downplayed the American role and stated no external mediation was necessary for the Kashmir dispute, officials told AP.

The Himalayan Kashmir region remains divided between Pakistan and India, with both nations claiming the territory entirely. India accuses Pakistan of supporting armed groups in the region, allegations Pakistan denies.

The post Pakistan recommends Trump for peace prize, then immediately regrets it appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

For the first time in combat operations, Pakistan fielded Chinese J-10C fighter jets, representing the most advanced iteration of the aircraft nicknamed the "Chinese Lavi." The J-10 represents a Chinese fourth-generation multirole fighter developed by Chengdu Aerospace Corporation for the People's Liberation Army Air Force, serving as the cornerstone of Chinese aerial capabilities since the early 2000s.

Despite categorical denials from both Israeli and Chinese officials, the J-10 has long been linked to the defunct Israeli Lavi fighter program, terminated in 1987. Throughout the 1990s, intelligence reports documented technological collaboration between Israel and China, reportedly involving former Lavi project engineers providing technical assistance, transfer of aeronautical engineering expertise and avionics technology to Chinese manufacturers during their transition from aircraft replication to indigenous design capabilities. Both aircraft share remarkably similar aerodynamic characteristics including forward canard configurations, comparable fuselage architecture, and equivalent thrust-to-weight specifications.

Intelligence assessments from Western sources, including CIA analyses and the respected defense publication Jane's Defence, concluded during the 1990s that the J-10 "may extensively incorporate Lavi-derived technologies." Chinese J-10 aircraft demonstrated remarkable effectiveness against Indian Air Force platforms, with these fighters reportedly responsible for eliminating multiple Indian aircraft including French-manufactured Rafale jets, Russian-built Sukhoi SU-30MKI interceptors, and MiG-29 fighters. Pakistan simultaneously employed sophisticated Chinese air defense networks including HQ-9 surface-to-air missile systems that successfully engaged Indian aircraft operating at medium and high altitudes.

Pakistan became the inaugural international operator of the J-10C following its 2021 procurement decision, with aircraft entering operational service between 2022 and 2023. For Pakistani air commanders, the J-10C addresses India's qualitative aerial edge gained through Rafale acquisitions while countering the quantitative superiority of Indian Air Force operations, which maintains approximately double Pakistan's aircraft inventory. The J-10C combines advanced capabilities with cost-effectiveness, featuring PL-15 medium-to-extended-range air-to-air missiles capable of engaging Indian aircraft beyond visual range.

Confronting Pakistan's hybrid Chinese-American weapons portfolio, which incorporates US-supplied F-16 multirole fighters, India deployed its premier Rafale aircraft supported by defensive systems including Russian S-400 long-range surface-to-air missiles and domestically developed Akashteer integrated air defense networks, providing enhanced airspace monitoring and control capabilities. Despite these preparations, Indian forces encountered sustained drone and precision-guided munition attacks from Pakistani forces employing Turkish Bayraktar unmanned combat aerial vehicles and sophisticated electronic warfare countermeasures.

Throughout the engagement, Pakistani military officials claimed responsibility for destroying five Indian combat aircraft, including three Rafale fighters. Beyond these claimed aerial victories, the global aviation community expressed astonishment at witnessing large-scale multi-aircraft engagements resembling classical dogfighting scenarios previously considered obsolete. The most recent significant air-to-air combat operations occurred over four decades ago, precisely 43 years earlier, during Operation Peace for Galilee, where Israeli Air Force pilots achieved a decisive 89-to-zero victory ratio against Syrian Air Force opposition. Similar aerial engagements occurred during the Iran-Iraq conflict throughout the 1980s and limited encounters during the Azerbaijan-Armenia hostilities in the 1990s. Traditional air combat scenarios materialized during the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict (1998–2000) featuring Soviet-era aircraft including Eritrean MiG-29 fighters opposing Ethiopian Sukhoi Su-27 interceptors.

The preceding air-to-air combat encounter – preceding the current confrontation – occurred between Indian and Pakistani forces in February 2019. An Indian MiG-21 pilot was shot down and subsequently captured within Pakistani territory. Pakistani officials claimed additional F-16 aircraft destruction, though Indian authorities disputed these assertions. Such aerial combat scenarios have become increasingly uncommon in contemporary warfare, particularly between nations operating modern air forces, as current conflicts typically rely on standoff missile systems, unmanned platforms, and integrated air defense networks. Consequently, manned aircraft-versus-aircraft engagements have virtually vanished from modern battlefields. Whether the India-Pakistan confrontation signals their return remains a compelling strategic question. Several experienced fighter pilots within our air force community would welcome the revival of air combat artistry, long considered the ultimate expression of military aviation prowess.

Returning to current developments, Indian officials declined to authenticate Pakistani shoot-down claims while questioning their accuracy and verification. The bilateral conflict featured intensive information warfare campaigns as both governments attempted to shape domestic and international narratives through disinformation campaigns and selective intelligence disclosure.

From an Israeli strategic perspective, an unprecedented situation emerged involving Israeli-developed or allegedly Israeli-influenced weapons systems operating on opposing sides. Countering the "Chinese Lavi," Indian forces deployed diverse Israeli-supplied capabilities including the Barak 8 surface-to-air missile system – a collaborative Israeli-Indian development program. While extensively deployed throughout Indian military services, foreign intelligence sources suggest Pakistan acquired modified versions through third-party channels. Barak 8 collaborative development commenced between 2006 and 2009, with initial naval systems delivered to Indian Navy operations in 2016 and terrestrial variants provided to Indian Air Force units in 2017. Barak 8 technology has become integral to India's layered air defense architecture, currently deployed across naval vessels, ground-based installations, and under evaluation for airborne integration.

The HAROP loitering munition system – professionally classified as a "kamikaze" attack drone manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries – enabled Indian forces to conduct precision strikes against designated Pakistani installations.

Pakistani forces countered with Turkish-supplied systems including Bayraktar TB2 armed unmanned aerial vehicles used against Indian positions, incorporating sophisticated tactical approaches such as coordinating drone flights with civilian aircraft to complicate interception procedures, alongside KORAL electronic warfare platforms that enabled Pakistani operators to disrupt Indian radar and communications networks throughout the engagement.

A significant geopolitical development with potential regional and global implications involves how this latest India-Pakistan confrontation demonstrates shifting regional power equilibrium, featuring expanded Chinese and Turkish influence against declining traditional Western and Russian arms supplier dominance. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Turkey, pursuing regional and potentially global power projection ambitions, has intensified efforts to establish strategic presence throughout South Asia, with this conflict providing valuable expansion opportunities. Despite substantial Indian investments in advanced Western military systems, the confrontation exposed coordination deficiencies and inadequate responses to emerging threats including unmanned systems and electronic warfare capabilities.

Enhanced Turkish involvement establishes an additional competitive dimension against Israeli regional engagement, primarily manifested through advanced systems provision to Indian forces. Israel maintains its central regional security role, though current circumstances underscore requirements for enhanced oversight regarding sensitive technology proliferation. Future developments indicate continued regional arms competition emphasizing cyber warfare capabilities, electronic countermeasures, and advanced unmanned systems development as competing powers pursue technological and strategic advantages.

The post How Israel won the Indian-Pakistani war, and why it matters appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Video: Pakistan accuses India of using Israeli-made suicide drones in attacks

In a strongly worded statement, a spokesperson for the Pakistani army said: "India is paying a heavy price and will continue to pay for its shameless aggression." According to the spokesperson, Pakistan's air defense systems intercepted 12 Israeli-manufactured Harop drones, made by Israel Aerospace Industries.

Images and videos circulating on social media appear to show several strikes within Pakistan, including what seem to be military installations belonging to the Pakistani army.

The post Pakistan accuses India of using Israeli-made suicide drones in attacks appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Intense fighting between India and Pakistan erupted during the night hours from Tuesday to Wednesday when the Indian Air Force attacked at least nine terrorist organization targets inside Pakistan as part of "Operation Sindoor" declared by New Delhi. However, Pakistan may have recorded at least one achievement during the nighttime operations. Images and videos uploaded to social media show what appears to be the crash of an Indian Air Force aircraft in the Punjab region.

BIG: It appears India indeed lost a Rafale fighter jet tonight, shot down by Pakistan.

Locals in Aklian Kalan village, Punjab, filmed parts of a French MICA missile still attached to its launcher— just 20 km from Bathinda AFS, home to No. 17 Rafale & No. 380 NETRA squadrons. pic.twitter.com/ylTA6KGW3l

— Clash Report (@clashreport) May 7, 2025

Experts have identified fragments of a French-manufactured MICA missile in the videos of the aircraft wreckage. This air-to-air missile is used by "Rafale" jets, the most advanced fighter aircraft in the Indian Air Force arsenal, which India purchased from France in a massive deal in 2022. The Rafale is renowned for its exceptionally high maneuverability and advanced systems that enable early detection of battlefield threats.

While experts note that the missile found at the crash site could also be compatible with the Mirage 2000, another French-manufactured fighter aircraft in service with the Indian Air Force, the crash location provides additional evidence. The incident occurred near the base of Squadron "Netra" number 17, which specifically operates Rafale aircraft, strongly suggesting that the advanced jet was indeed the one brought down.

Videos circulated on social media also showed another crash involving a JF-17 aircraft manufactured in China. This multipurpose fighter jet serves in the Pakistani Air Force, and an Indian military blogger claimed it was shot down while attempting to penetrate Indian airspace.

The overnight operations mark a significant escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, with both sides potentially suffering aircraft losses. Neither country has officially confirmed the downing of their respective aircraft, leaving social media and defense analysts as the primary sources of information regarding the aerial confrontations.

The post Rumor of war: Did Pakistan manage to down India's fighter jet? appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Intense shelling and loud explosions heard in two border areas of Indian Kashmir.

Video from Pakistan pic.twitter.com/2L3wCsW1l1

— MAKS 24 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) May 6, 2025

In New Delhi, the Indian military confirmed it had launched a campaign dubbed "Operation Sindoor," stating its forces had targeted nine locations within Pakistan. "We acted in a measured and calculated manner to prevent escalation," the Indian government said in a statement. Indian officials further asserted that no Pakistani military bases were targeted in the strikes.

India's military released a statement claiming that the attacks were "precision strikes" against terrorist training camps located inside Pakistan.

Pakistan's armed forces have promised a response to the Indian attack, which comes after weeks of rising tensions following a terrorist attack on Indian soil. A message posted on the Indian military's X social media account read: "Justice has been served."

Eyewitnesses told Reuters that loud explosions were heard in the mountainous regions of northern Pakistan, and air raid sirens were activated in Muzaffarabad. Additional footage circulating on social media showed plumes of smoke rising from a built-up area within Pakistan.

The post India begins military operation in Pakistan appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

The current crisis was sparked by a deadly terror attack last week, in which Islamist gunmen opened fire on a group of Indian tourists in a valley near the town of Pahalgam, in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Twenty-six Indians were killed and 17 others wounded in one of the deadliest attacks in India in decades. A previously unknown group calling itself the Resistance Front claimed responsibility on social media. Indian officials privately identified it as a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, an Islamist terrorist organization based in Pakistan. While India has yet to produce definitive proof linking Pakistan to the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week vowed "severe punishment" and pledged to strike any location that harbors terrorists, though he refrained from naming Pakistan directly.

Since the April 22 attack, India has taken a series of steps to pressure Pakistan: authorities canceled entry visas for Pakistani citizens and ordered them to leave the country immediately, launched a broad crackdown in Kashmir that has seen hundreds of Muslims arrested, and announced plans to disrupt river flows from India to Pakistan, an action Islamabad described as "an act of war." At the same time, Modi launched an international diplomatic campaign, meeting with more than 100 foreign diplomats in New Delhi to rally support for India's stance against terrorism. While India has so far received broad diplomatic backing, no major powers have publicly called on the two sides to show restraint, in part because they are preoccupied with other global crises.

As cross-border fire continues along the Line of Control and both countries harden their positions, the situation remains volatile and dangerous. Experts warned this week that even a limited military operation, such as pinpoint airstrikes or special forces raids across the border, could quickly escalate between the nuclear-armed rivals.

The roots of conflict: Kashmir and the Partition of India

To understand why tensions between India and Pakistan repeatedly spiral into violence, one must look back at the origins of their long-standing conflict. More than 75 years after the partition of British India, the two neighbors remain locked in a bitter and explosive dispute over Kashmir, a conflict that has fueled wars, sparked terrorism, and turned the region into one of the world's most dangerous flashpoints.

When India gained independence from Britain in 1947, it was divided into two new nations: Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan. Initially, the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, with a Muslim majority and a Hindu ruler, sought to remain independent. But after tribal militias from Pakistan invaded, the ruler chose to accede to India, triggering the first war between the two countries.

The result was an unresolved division of Kashmir: India controls about two-thirds of the region, Pakistan the rest, and both claim it in full. Not much has changed in the decades since. Military clashes, terrorist attacks, and cross-border skirmishes have become routine.

India accuses Pakistan of supporting Islamist terrorist groups seeking either Kashmiri independence or its annexation to Pakistan. Islamabad, in turn, claims it merely supports the right of Kashmiris to self-determination and calls for a UN-backed plebiscite, a step India rejects.

Tensions have flared repeatedly, and have only intensified since India became a nuclear power in the 1970s and Pakistan followed suit in 1998. Every major confrontation since then, especially the Kargil War in 1999 and the Pulwama bombing in 2019, has carried the real risk of catastrophic escalation.

A history of wars and clashes

Military raids, police crackdowns and terrorist attacks have plagued the two countries since the first India-Pakistan war of 1947–1948, which ended in a UN-brokered ceasefire along the Kashmir frontier.

Since the last full-scale war in 1999, Kashmir has remained one of the most heavily militarized zones in the world. The two countries have approached the brink of war several times, including in 2019, when at least 40 Indian paramilitary troops were killed in a suicide bombing in Kashmir. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, which was claimed by the Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed. Pakistan said the group had been formally banned, but Indian and US officials claimed it remained active.

In response to the 2019 bombing, India launched airstrikes deep inside Pakistani territory. Pakistan retaliated by shooting down an Indian fighter jet and capturing the pilot, who was later released as a goodwill gesture. That same year, the Modi government revoked the autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir, bringing it under direct federal rule.

What lies ahead?

The greatest concern following last week's events in Kashmir is not just that India and Pakistan may be on the verge of another confrontation, but that such a conflict would add fuel to a world already beset by wars and tensions. With Russia and Ukraine still at war in Europe, Israel battling Iranian proxies, and China posing a constant threat to Taiwan, the Kashmir crisis has erupted while major powers are focused elsewhere.

International analysts speculated this week that India may be weighing a "surgical" military response, limited airstrikes, cross-border commando raids, or targeted attacks on terror infrastructure near the frontier. Such actions would aim to project strength and satisfy domestic calls for revenge without triggering a full-blown war.

But a limited operation may not remain limited. Pakistan's defense minister explicitly warned that any Indian action would be met with an equal or more severe response. With nationalist fervor running high in both countries, and as forces continue to exchange fire across the Line of Control, the risk of rapid escalation is real.

Both countries possess nuclear arsenals. Although their leaders have previously avoided crossing the nuclear threshold, the pace of events and public pressure could lead to an uncontrollable descent into war. As Pakistan finds itself diplomatically isolated, and India enjoys broad international sympathy while the world is distracted, New Delhi might conclude that it has more room to maneuver than ever before, a dangerous imbalance that could end in catastrophe.

How the crisis affects Israel?

Israel is not directly involved in the South Asian conflict, but it does have significant interests in the region. In recent years, it has developed increasingly close ties with India, especially in defense, technology, and intelligence. A major conflict could turn India inward, delay strategic joint projects, and temporarily freeze its growing role in global affairs, including in the Middle East, where Indian and Israeli interests often align.

At the same time, Israel is likely watching developments in Pakistan closely, not only because of its nuclear capabilities but also due to its ties to extremist Islamist groups. Security and strategic research centers have warned that instability in Pakistan, especially if triggered by military defeat or economic collapse, could strengthen jihadist movements within the country and destabilize the wider region, including Iran, Afghanistan and the Arabian Peninsula.

Though rare, the possibility of nuclear use is not merely theoretical. In a worst-case scenario, an uncontrolled descent into war could lead to a nuclear exchange, catastrophic not only for South Asia but for the entire world. The humanitarian toll would be immense, and radioactive fallout could spread far beyond India and Pakistan. Studies suggest that even a limited nuclear exchange could disrupt global climate patterns, cause temporary global cooling, and cripple agriculture and trade worldwide, impacts that would not spare the Middle East or Israel. Fortunately, this remains an extremely unlikely scenario, and both governments appear acutely aware of its devastating consequences.

The post India and Pakistan on brink of war: How the region edged toward nuclear escalation appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.