Madrid-India-Pakistan relations have experienced one of the most sensitive moments over the years. The Monday terrorist attacks in the Kashmir region administered by India have led to 26 deaths and tensions have risen significantly in one of the world’s most unstable regions.
The attack, which targeted a group of tourists in the mountain town of Pahargam, has been described by authorities as the most deadly attack on civilians in the area in the past 20 years.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised that all involved will be punished, including those who worked with the attackers. New Delhi accused Pakistan of supporting what it calls “cross-border terrorism.” India, which considers itself a victim of terrorism born from neighbors, is stepping up its diplomatic and security measures.
In response, Islamabad denied its involvement in the attack, denounced what it viewed as political exploitation of the incident. At the same time, Pakistan rejected the Indian government’s decision to unilaterally suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, the major water-sharing treaty that regulates the use of this important resource between the two countries. This action has been interpreted by Pakistani authorities as an “act of war” and further expands tensions.
Both countries, which possess nuclear weapons, are taking diplomatic steps to tackle the situation. India has closed its main border crossing with Pakistan and withdrawn troop attachments from diplomatic missions in Islamabad. Furthermore, both governments have suspended visas for citizens of neighboring countries, creating a new atmosphere of hostility.
The Kashmir conflict is an area with a large Muslim population whose sovereignty has been challenged since the division of the subcontinent in 1947, and remains a constant source of friction between the two countries. The latest escalation creates fear that a new, open crisis could once again endanger the stability of South Asia, home to more than 1.6 billion people, in addition to strategic resources.
Dramatic scales and local results
On Wednesday, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the Indian Cabinet Security Committee implemented a series of dramatic measures. Among them, the number of diplomats in embassies in both countries fell from 55 to 30, and the Indus Water Treaty was suspended. The treaty, which governs the shared use of water resources between India and Pakistan, is considered the basis for cooperation and stability in the region, and its halt has heightened tensions.
Furthermore, India closed the only active border between the two countries and ordered all Pakistani citizens who had entered India through this intersection by May 1.
These measures were taken by India in response to attacks and accusations from Pakistan, but have not been well received in Islamabad. In response, Pakistan’s National Security Committee warned that India’s attempt to change the flow of the Indian river would be considered a hostile act and constitute a declaration of war. Pakistan immediately halted all trade with India, passing through third countries using its territory and closing airspace for all Indian flights.
Iran’s role: mediator and bridge between two neighbors
In this growing and tense environment, Iran, which maintains good relations with both countries, offers its position as a mediator to prevent the situation from becoming caught up in open conflicts. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragut has expressed his willingness to promote understanding between India and Pakistan. In a message published on social media, Araguchi emphasized that Iran considers both countries as “brothers and neighbors” and has deep-rooted ties over the centuries.
“India and Pakistan are Iranian brothers and neighbors, and their relationships have deep roots in cultural and civilized connections dating back hundreds of years. We, like our other neighbors, consider them as our top priorities,” said Araguchi, who emphasized the importance of good relations and regional cooperation.
This approach underscores Iran’s view that conflict between India and Pakistan must be avoided at any cost. After years of ties with both India and Pakistan, the Iranian government has provided mediation as a practical alternative to escalating tensions. From an Iranian perspective, open conflicts are not only harmful to regional stability, but could have a global impact given the nuclear capabilities of both countries.
Iran: A mediator with deep ties to India and Pakistan
In the past, Iran has provided mediation as an alternative to proposals from other international stakeholders, such as Saudi Arabia, which also expressed interest in affecting subcontinent dynamics. Iran’s proposal stands out in its practical approach, based on the historical positive relationships that Iran maintains with both India and Pakistan. Unlike other countries, Iran tried to maintain neutrality, providing space for dialogue rather than directly involved in internal conflicts with its neighbors.
Tehran believes that its role as a mediator could be more effective and acceptable to both sides due to its geographical location, cultural proximity and the historical relationship it has cultivated in both countries. For example, Pakistan is one of Iran’s major trading partners in the region, but relations with India have improved significantly in recent years, particularly due to strengthening regional relations, such as cooperation at Chabahar port in southeastern Iran.
Sharing interest: Preventing escalations
The concern that the situation could swirl into a wider conflict is not without merit. Both India and Pakistan own nuclear weapons, and the conflict between them can have catastrophic consequences. This is for stability not only locally but also globally. In this context, Iranian mediation has emerged as an important and viable option with the aim of avoiding large-scale conflicts.
Despite the historical and political tensions between India and Pakistan, Iran has been independently erected to serve as a bridge for both countries thanks to years of friendly relations with the two countries. Iran has demonstrated its commitment to peaceful conflict resolution in the past, and has achieved success in other regional conflicts. Its approach, based on mutual respect and diplomacy, makes it an attractive and reliable mediator.
Tehran reiterated that it is ready to provide a “good office” to promote deeper, more productive dialogue between India and Pakistan. This commitment underscores Iran’s belief that diplomacy and negotiations are the only effective means of resolving longstanding conflicts and ensuring peace and stability in the South Asian region.
Tensions between India and Pakistan are one of the main threats to peace and stability in South Asia. Given the severity of the situation, Iranian mediation presents an opportunity to avoid catastrophic conflict. Iran’s role is equipped with a dialogue capacity and commitment to regional stability, providing a pathway to eliminate tensions and promote a peace process that benefits both countries.
At this critical moment, stakeholders must recognize the importance of dialogue and mutual understanding. As an impartial mediator, Iran can play an important role in preventing the situation from turning into an open conflict that not only endangers local peace, but also risks the well-being of its population and global balance.