Two nuclear-armed countries, India and Pakistan, are locked in their most serious conflict in two decades. Early Wednesday morning, after weeks of pledging to retaliate for the deadliest terrorist attack in more than a decade, India launched missiles across its border into Pakistan. Meanwhile, Pakistan claims it took down Indian fighter jets and has vowed to respond.

FP’s Ravi Agrawal asks Tanvi Madan, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, how far tensions could spiral. They discuss the options for de-escalation and what role external powers can play.

Suggested reading (FP links are paywall-free):

Ravi Agrawal: How India and Pakistan Can Pull Back From the Brink

Rishi Iyengar: A Tale of Four Fighter Jets

Sumit Ganguly: What Is the Risk of a Conflict Spiral Between India and Pakistan?

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