NEITHER WAR NOR PEACE: THE ENDURING CONFLICT OF PAKISTAN AND INDIA

This work analyses the escalation of the India–Pakistan conflict in 2025 and its regional and global consequences. Rather than viewing the crisis merely as a bilateral standoff, it is considered as a complex geopolitical challenge shaped by historical grievances, nuclear deterrence dynamics, internal politics and shifting regional alliances. The aim is to develop a more nuanced understanding of the crisis through a balanced, multidimensional approach that prioritises critical analysis over attribution of responsibility. Drawing on qualitative research and process-tracing methods, the study evaluates the evolution of this conflict across time, comparing current developments with earlier episodes of tension. It draws from a wide range of sources, including the latest academic literature, diplomatic communications, media discourse, and think tank assessments. Particular attention is paid to how national narratives, crisis management patterns, and public perception influence the trajectory of escalation or de-escalation. The work also reflects on the broader implications of the conflict for international security, given that both Pakistan and India are nuclear-armed states. The risks of miscalculation or limited war escalating into a broader catastrophe remain acute. In this regard, the potential roles of third parties, especially Türkiye, are analysed. Türkiye's evolving foreign policy, diplomatic tradition and regional engagement position it as a potential mediator in the resolution of international tensions. Unlike most Western-centric accounts, this research effectively contextualises the crisis by examining Türkiye's historical and strategic alignment, its role in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and its potential diplomatic opportunities. The study addresses the security concerns of both sides equally sensitively across five scenarios, emphasising the urgent need to restore diplomatic channels and multilateral dialogue.