Statement by the International Peoples’ Assembly on the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan

We are alarmed by the growing belligerence and the latest strikes carried out by Indian defence forces. In a context where both India and Pakistan are nuclear armed nations, any escalation risks catastrophic consequences not just for the two countries, but for the entire South Asian region. The people of South Asia—already burdened with poverty, unemployment, environmental crises, and deepening inequalities—cannot afford the horrors of another war.

We unequivocally condemn all sections—be they in politics, media, or elsewhere—who are beating the drums of war and stoking hatred between two peoples with shared histories, cultures, and struggles. These war-mongering voices, thirsty for each other’s blood, do not speak for the working class, the farmers, the youth, or the oppressed communities of either nation. They serve only the interests of the rich elites and the military-industrial complex, which profits from death, destruction, and fear.

War never brings resolution—it only multiplies misery. It diverts essential resources from healthcare, education, jobs, and welfare, toward weapons and warfare. At a time when millions in both India and Pakistan continue to suffer from hunger, lack of housing, and unemployment, the idea of war is a criminal betrayal of the needs of our people.

We call upon both governments to immediately cease all acts of aggression and commit to a sustained, transparent process of dialogue and diplomacy. Peace must not be an afterthought—it must be the foundation of a just and equitable future.

The current tensions are not isolated—they threaten to destabilise the entire South Asian region. A regional conflict will disrupt lives and livelihoods across borders, damage already fragile economies, and deepen divisions that will take generations to heal.

The International Peoples’ Assembly stands with the people of South Asia in their demand for peace, dignity, and justice. We call on peoples’ movements, trade unions, student organizations, and all democratic forces in India, Pakistan, and across the region to reject war, resist militarism, and raise the banner of solidarity and peace.

Let us reject war and invest in life. Let us use our resources not to destroy, but to rebuild a South Asia that belongs to its people—not to the profiteers of war.

International Peoples’ Assembly

May 7, 2025