History Calls Pakistan’s Military – The Time Has Come for True Islamic Leadership

News:

The attack in Pahalgam in April 2025, where armed assailants killed 26 civilians and injured several others, has once again thrown Kashmir into the center of a complex political and ideological situation. While authorities immediately pointed to Pakistan-backed militant groups as responsible, the incident was quickly politicized and embedded in the broader narratives that have shaped Narendra Modi's rule for over a decade: a struggle between a Hindu nationalist state and its alleged enemies—both internal and external.

Comment:

The latest military confrontation between Pakistan and India at the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir has also highlighted the increasingly fragile geopolitical balance. The failed Indian offensives and Pakistan’s sophisticated counterattacks exposed weaknesses in India’s military capabilities, resulting in India seeking a ceasefire. This marks not only a tactical victory for Pakistan but also a potential strategic opportunity. For decades, Pakistan has invested in modern military technology and developed its capabilities with the help of, among others, China.

In contrast, India has relied on older technology, although it has recently received upgrades from Western partners such as France, 'Israel’, and the United States. The attack fit directly into the narrative the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has cultivated during its years in power. For the Modi government, the perpetrators were not just terrorists but symbols of a larger enemy—namely Islam and Muslims. Without waiting for a full investigation, Indian authorities placed blame on groups based in Pakistan, naming Lashkar-e-Taiba and its alleged front organization, The Resistance Front (TRF). Although TRF denied responsibility and credible evidence is lacking, the narrative was already cemented. The BJP, long adept at turning national crises into political capital, integrated the Pahalgam massacre into its political vision of Hindu Rashtra.

The inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya was the culmination of decades of sectarian politics. It was also a clear signal: in Modi’s India, Hinduism is state-sanctioned, while other religions are viewed with suspicion. Since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, Kashmir has been stripped of its autonomy and subjected to extensive administrative and military control by the Indian government.

What was once a region governed by Islamic justice and compassion has now effectively become a militarized zone, ruled from New Delhi and shaped by nationalist ambitions. Infrastructure projects such as the new railway bridge connecting Kashmir with mainland India are presented as symbols of progress. But in reality, these developments represent occupation—not integration. Arbitrary arrests, internet shutdowns, forced land seizures, and legal repression have become standard tools of governance in the region. Security is pursued at the cost of trust, and each new incident becomes both a justification for further repression and a sign of its inefficacy. This closely mirrors the tactics used by the Zionist occupation force against Palestinians for decades.

The consequences of the attack also reach beyond Kashmir. Almost immediately, the Modi government moved to suspend a central part of the Indus Waters Treaty—a cornerstone of India-Pakistan diplomacy since 1960. The threat to restrict water flow to Pakistan is both symbolic and strategic. It signals not only retaliation but also a willingness to use shared resources as weapons in political games.

The Pakistani elite continues to view the United States as an indispensable ally, but reality has shown that the U.S. is increasingly betting on India as its primary strategic partner in Asia. This is not only due to economic and military considerations but also India’s role in America’s strategy to contain China. Pakistan appears trapped between the interests of global powers—seeking American support on one hand, and growing Chinese cooperation through CPEC and military ties on the other.
Pakistan stands at a historic crossroads: continue as a pawn in great power strategies—or seize control of its destiny and uplift the Islamic Ummah. The liberation of Kashmir and the break from dependency on the United States are key to this strategic and ideological shift.

The current global upheaval is not merely a threat—but a golden opportunity for Islamic leadership and transformation. Pakistan should not seek the status quo or a ceasefire, but rather take a historic step by liberating all of Kashmir, securing control over its vital resources, and thereby assuming leadership in a world order in flux. This paves the way for a new era in which Pakistan plays a central role in establishing the Khilafah Rashidah (rightly guided Caliphate). This is a deep ideological vision that requires not only military strength and political leadership but the political will to challenge the existing world order.

The time has come for Pakistan to put an end to Modi’s vision of a Hindu Rashtra by uniting with Central Asian countries, liberating all of Kashmir, and establishing the Khilafah Rashidah on the ruins of the Ram Temple and the vision of Hindu Rashtra.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Mohib Abdullah