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Following the deadly attack on April 22, 2025, in the Baisaran area near Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir—where 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists, tragically lost their lives—tensions between the two neighboring countries have sharply escalated. The incident is regarded as one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in Kashmir since the year 2000. Despite urgent calls from the UN Secretary-General for “restraint,” the signs of de-escalation remain worryingly absent.
At a time when global peace is already under immense strain, the prospect of war between two populous and nuclear-armed nations is not only alarming—it is potentially catastrophic.
War has no winner. It kills both soldiers and civilians, destroys infrastructure, and devastates the environment. If chemical or biological weapons are employed, the damage to the land and ecosystems may persist for generations.
Resources that should be directed toward education, healthcare, and social well-being are instead funneled into the arms trade—an industry that profits from destruction and death.
Moreover, wars curtail civil liberties and suppress political freedoms. Elections are postponed, states of emergency declared, and the rule of law is compromised. And after the guns fall silent, former military elites too often return in civilian clothing to dominate public life, leaving nations hostage to the very forces that led them into war.
Another devastating consequence of war is mass displacement. Armed conflict forces millions to flee, turning ordinary citizens into refugees and internally displaced persons. The global refugee crisis worsens, placing tremendous strain on neighboring countries and international institutions. And yet—all of this is preventable.
If, instead of generals and warmongers, those committed to peace and public welfare are allowed to lead, a different future is possible.
The Roya Institute warns against nationalist rhetoric and propaganda—whether delivered through politics, religion, or culture—that seeks to inflame public sentiment and justify violence. History teaches us that wars often begin with a single manipulated incident or inflammatory speech—but once ignited, conflicts are difficult to end. What was expected to last a week can easily last a decade.
We call on all peace-minded individuals and institutions—religious leaders, civil society organizations, human rights defenders, environmental activists, academics, artists, and independent media—to rise above the drums of war. Let wisdom, compassion, and restraint guide us toward peaceful alternatives.
Peace is not merely a choice—it is an urgent necessity.
Let us act before it’s too late.