Amid Pakistan conflict, Modi must show strength ahead of elections

THE escalating border conflict between Pakistan and India is extremely alarming and it is only right that the world's major powers have insisted that the two heavily nuclear-armed countries settle their differences through calm negotiations, and not war.

Relations between the two neighbours and arch-rivals have deteriorated in recent weeks, and things reached a fever pitch on Tuesday as New Delhi carried out the first cross-border air strikes on Pakistan in nearly half-a-century. The clashes took place across a contested border in the disputed Kashmir region.

While it remains unclear as to whether the hostilities will somehow tone down or continue to rise in the days to come (the latter is more likely), the conflict takes place at a crucial time for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is eyeing a second term in office after a general election that is due to take place by May this year. (An announcement by the Election Commission on the exact poll date is due in the next couple of weeks.)