An American think tank has warned that Pakistan’s disputes with India and Afghanistan could once again escalate into armed conflict in 2026, placing South Asia among the world’s most dangerous flashpoints.
The warning was issued by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in its latest report titled “Conflicts to Watch in 2026”, published by its Center for Preventive Action. According to the report, renewed armed conflict between Pakistan and India carries a moderate likelihood and moderate impact over Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which could push both nuclear-armed neighbours back towards military confrontation.
The report cautioned that escalating violence and coercive policies in occupied Kashmir could once again lead to direct military clashes between Islamabad and New Delhi, posing serious risks to regional stability.
Pakistan and India went to war in May after India launched an unprovoked attack on Pakistan following the attack on tourists in the IIOJK.
New Delhi maintains that the terrorists who killed 26 tourists in IIOJK’s Pahalgam were Pakistanis — a charge that Islamabad has denied and has also asked India to partake in a neutral investigation.
