[Today’s Prayer] 'War is about to break out' India-Pakistan conflict escalates, countries step up to 'dissuade'

The conflict between India and Pakistan is intensifying following the terrorist attack targeting tourists in the disputed region of Kashmir. As the two countries are taking a hard-line stance and the military crisis is escalating, countries around the world are also trying to dissuade them.

According to AFP and Reuters on the 6th (local time), the Pakistani military announced that it had test-fired a short-range surface-to-surface missile the day before amid escalating conflict with India. This was another missile launch test about two days after the test-fire of a 450km-range missile. The

Pakistani military said that this launch was "intended to verify the operational readiness of the troops and key technologies such as the missile's precision guidance system." Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who canceled his scheduled visit to Malaysia, also emphasized that "the successful launch of this exercise clearly demonstrates Pakistan's strong defense capabilities."

As Pakistan, which shares a border with India, conducts missile launch drills, India is also reportedly planning to conduct mock drills in several states on the 7th. A source who requested anonymity told Reuters that the drills will include training on how to issue air raid warnings, develop evacuation plans, and respond in the event of an attack.

India and Pakistan have already sealed their land borders and halted trade. They have banned each other's airlines from flying over their airspace, and small-scale skirmishes have continued along the Line of Actual Control (LoC), the de facto border between the two countries, for more than 10 days. Relations between the two countries are at their worst, as Pakistan's intelligence service said, "There is no communication channel with India."

Kashmir, home to about 15 million people, is divided between India and Pakistan. Both countries claim sovereignty over the Muslim-majority region. Last month, a shooting attack targeting tourists occurred in Pahalgam, a tourist destination in Indian-administered Kashmir, killing 26 people. India has pointed to Pakistan as the perpetrator. Pakistan denies involvement and is demanding an independent and fair investigation.

The two countries, which have already fought several wars over Kashmir, are taking an unprecedentedly hard-line stance this time. India has suspended the Indus River Treaty, which was maintained during past conflicts, and recently blocked some of its tributaries. Pakistan has criticized this as a de facto act of war and is strongly protesting, saying, “We will use all forces, including conventional and nuclear powers.”

Countries around the world have also come forward to dissuade him, fearing that the worst-case scenario could occur if the conflict between the two nuclear powers escalates further.

Source: News

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Loving God, we hear of the escalating conflict between India and Pakistan following the terrorist attack in the disputed territory of Kashmir, the escalating military crisis, and the outcry from the rest of the world. You, the King of India and Pakistan, are the only one who can rule over these lands. May the love of Jesus reign in the midst of two peoples, India and Pakistan, who no longer seek to turn against each other for their own gain.

May India and Pakistan, who have hated and fought each other for so long over Kashmir, throw off the heavy burden and the sin that binds them, and run with endurance the race that is set before us. May India and Pakistan be restored to the Gospel alone!

As the world watches the conflict between India and Pakistan and tries to resolve it in human ways, we believe that only the gospel can resolve the long-standing conflict between these two nations and bring them together. Please lead the global church to pray for these two peoples and send people to go into their midst with the gospel to share the love and life in the gospel!

We desire for the Church in India and Pakistan to live like Jesus. May the churches of both nations be loving servants and evangelizers of those who still do not know Jesus, rejoicing in the face of suffering like Jesus, who endured the cross without fear or shame, looking only to the joy set before him.

May the churches of both nations not focus on Kashmir, but on expanding Your kingdom, and may they take the lead in forgiving and reconciling one another!

Now, we pray that India and Pakistan will be restored to the gospel and that You will raise up 1 million missionaries in India and 100,000 missionaries in Pakistan, so that both peoples will be united in the gospel and will be the ones to save all nations!