People look at a part of an unidentified aircraft in Pampore, Pulwama district, Jammu and Kashmir, India on May 7, 2025.
Fresh Pakistan-India Military Exchange 'Exactly Why Nuclear Weapons Must Be Eliminated'
Nobel-winning nuclear abolition group called on "the international community to redouble efforts toward disarmament through the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons."
Fear of potential war between India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed nations, rose after India launched deadly strikes on Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir early Wednesday local time—prompting the nuclear nonproliferation group the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons to call for de-escalation between the two countries.
In retaliation on Wednesday, Pakistan shot down several Indian aircraft. The fighting is the latest in escalating tensions that have risen since last month's Kashmir massacre. India has blamed Pakistan for the April 22 attack in which armed militants killed tourists in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, while the Pakistani government has called for a "neutral" probe.
Both countries control parts of Kashmir but claim it in full.
"A nuclear exchange between India and Pakistan would cause millions of immediate deaths in the region and have global consequences," said executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) Melissa Parke in a Wednesday statement.
Parke pointed to a study published in 2022 in Nature Food, which found that even a more limited nuclear war between the two countries could have devastating consequences for global food supplies and could lead to the deaths of a sizable portion of the world's population. The authors of the study also estimated that more than 2 billion people could die from nuclear war between India and Pakistan due to famine.
"No country would be spared. No government can protect its people from the consequences," said Parke.
"This is exactly why nuclear weapons must be eliminated. ICAN calls on both governments to show restraint and de-escalate, and calls on the international community to redouble efforts toward disarmament through the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons," Parke continued. "The only way to guarantee these weapons are never used is to ban and eliminate them."
The U.N. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is a global agreement that bans the possession, use, and testing of nuclear weapons. The treaty has 94 signatories and 73 state parties, though neither Pakistan nor India have signed or are a party to it.
ICAN won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize in part due to its work on the treaty.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Fear of potential war between India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed nations, rose after India launched deadly strikes on Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir early Wednesday local time—prompting the nuclear nonproliferation group the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons to call for de-escalation between the two countries.
In retaliation on Wednesday, Pakistan shot down several Indian aircraft. The fighting is the latest in escalating tensions that have risen since last month's Kashmir massacre. India has blamed Pakistan for the April 22 attack in which armed militants killed tourists in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, while the Pakistani government has called for a "neutral" probe.
Both countries control parts of Kashmir but claim it in full.
"A nuclear exchange between India and Pakistan would cause millions of immediate deaths in the region and have global consequences," said executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) Melissa Parke in a Wednesday statement.
Parke pointed to a study published in 2022 in Nature Food, which found that even a more limited nuclear war between the two countries could have devastating consequences for global food supplies and could lead to the deaths of a sizable portion of the world's population. The authors of the study also estimated that more than 2 billion people could die from nuclear war between India and Pakistan due to famine.
"No country would be spared. No government can protect its people from the consequences," said Parke.
"This is exactly why nuclear weapons must be eliminated. ICAN calls on both governments to show restraint and de-escalate, and calls on the international community to redouble efforts toward disarmament through the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons," Parke continued. "The only way to guarantee these weapons are never used is to ban and eliminate them."
The U.N. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is a global agreement that bans the possession, use, and testing of nuclear weapons. The treaty has 94 signatories and 73 state parties, though neither Pakistan nor India have signed or are a party to it.
ICAN won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize in part due to its work on the treaty.
- India's Ruling Party Turning Kashmir 'Into a Black Hole,' Critics Claim, as Fears of Widespread Conflict Rise ›
- UN Chief Urges 'Maximum Restraint' as India-Pakistan Tensions Flare After Kashmir Massacre ›
- 'Escalation Risks Catastrophe': Restraint Urged as Pakistan Vows to Avenge Indian Strikes | Common Dreams ›
- India and Pakistan Agree to 'Full and Immediate' Cease-Fire After US Talks | Common Dreams ›
- Watchdog Warns of Growing Global Threat as Nuclear-Armed Israel Attacks Iran | Common Dreams ›
Fear of potential war between India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed nations, rose after India launched deadly strikes on Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir early Wednesday local time—prompting the nuclear nonproliferation group the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons to call for de-escalation between the two countries.
In retaliation on Wednesday, Pakistan shot down several Indian aircraft. The fighting is the latest in escalating tensions that have risen since last month's Kashmir massacre. India has blamed Pakistan for the April 22 attack in which armed militants killed tourists in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, while the Pakistani government has called for a "neutral" probe.
Both countries control parts of Kashmir but claim it in full.
"A nuclear exchange between India and Pakistan would cause millions of immediate deaths in the region and have global consequences," said executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) Melissa Parke in a Wednesday statement.
Parke pointed to a study published in 2022 in Nature Food, which found that even a more limited nuclear war between the two countries could have devastating consequences for global food supplies and could lead to the deaths of a sizable portion of the world's population. The authors of the study also estimated that more than 2 billion people could die from nuclear war between India and Pakistan due to famine.
"No country would be spared. No government can protect its people from the consequences," said Parke.
"This is exactly why nuclear weapons must be eliminated. ICAN calls on both governments to show restraint and de-escalate, and calls on the international community to redouble efforts toward disarmament through the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons," Parke continued. "The only way to guarantee these weapons are never used is to ban and eliminate them."
The U.N. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is a global agreement that bans the possession, use, and testing of nuclear weapons. The treaty has 94 signatories and 73 state parties, though neither Pakistan nor India have signed or are a party to it.
ICAN won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize in part due to its work on the treaty.
- India's Ruling Party Turning Kashmir 'Into a Black Hole,' Critics Claim, as Fears of Widespread Conflict Rise ›
- UN Chief Urges 'Maximum Restraint' as India-Pakistan Tensions Flare After Kashmir Massacre ›
- 'Escalation Risks Catastrophe': Restraint Urged as Pakistan Vows to Avenge Indian Strikes | Common Dreams ›
- India and Pakistan Agree to 'Full and Immediate' Cease-Fire After US Talks | Common Dreams ›
- Watchdog Warns of Growing Global Threat as Nuclear-Armed Israel Attacks Iran | Common Dreams ›