The Indo-Pak peace treaty of 2004 failed to materialize, and General Pervez Musharraf’s out-of-the-box solution proposal faced skepticism. The Mumbai attacks in 2008 strained diplomatic relations, shifting the narrative toward terrorism rather than the Kashmir issue.
The narrative intensified India’s efforts to paint itself as a victim of terrorism, with global powers supporting its stance. The 20-year war on terror bled Pakistan economically and politically, but its successes in countering terrorism received little recognition.
Following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, Pakistan’s response to India’s actions in Kashmir remained tepid. The PTI government’s reluctance to capitalize on the international stage and its failure to take bold actions reflected internal weaknesses and compromises.
