India-Pakistan border skirmishes continued through January 2026 as fighting along the Line of Control in Kashmir showed no sign of abating. Both sides have maintained increased military presence since the Pahalgam attack in April 2025 that killed 26 civilians. Winter conditions have not stopped exchanges of fire, though snow has limited some operations in the high-altitude regions.
The continued violence comes despite international calls for de-escalation from the United States, United Nations, and other nations. Neither India nor Pakistan has shown willingness to return to the diplomatic dialogue that collapsed after the Pahalgam incident. The nuclear-armed neighbors remain locked in their longest period of sustained violence since the 2019 tensions.
We urge both countries to exercise maximum restraint and return to dialogue. Tensions between nuclear-armed states concern the entire international community.
Military Posture
Both India and Pakistan have reinforced their positions along the border, with additional troops and equipment deployed since the Pahalgam attack. Indian forces have conducted limited cross-border operations targeting militant launch pads, while Pakistani forces have responded to what they describe as unprovoked Indian aggression.
Civilian Impact
Civilians living along the border regions continue to suffer from the persistent violence. Villages near the Line of Control have experienced displacement as families flee areas of heaviest fighting. Schools and markets in contested areas have been closed for extended periods as safety concerns mount.