From wars in Ukraine and Gaza to instability in parts of Africa and Asia – the global trend of increased militarization, nationalism, and breakdowns in diplomacy underscores a concerning shift away from achieving United Nation´s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. This week, the conflict between India and Pakistan shows how fragile peace remains between two nuclear powers.
What happened?
In late April, the tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated significantly following a terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that ambushed a group of tourists in the Baisaran Valley and executing 26 people, including 25 Hindu tourists and one local Muslim guide. The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack. India has accused Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism, allegations that Pakistan denies.
In response, India expelled Pakistani diplomats, suspended visa services for Pakistani nationals, and closed the Attari–Wagah border crossing. India has also suspended Pakistan´s participation in the Indus Waters Treaty, a long-standing water-sharing agreement between the two countries. Pakistan has responded by denying involvement in the attack, expelling Indian diplomats, suspending trade, and closing its airspace to Indian aircraft. International actors have called for de-escalation and restraint to prevent a broader conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
How quickly regional disputes can escalate into larger crises
The conflict between India and Pakistan is particularly intense because both countries are nuclear powers and have a long history of hostility, especially over the disputed region of Kashmir. Since their independence from Britain in 1947, India and Pakistan have fought three major wars (1947, 1965, 1971) and several smaller conflicts. Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region claimed by both countries, has been the epicenter for most of these territorial disputes.
Conflicts: A Setback for Sustainable Development
This directly undermines the ambitions of SDG 16, which calls for peaceful societies, justice for all, and strong, accountable institutions. Conflicts like the territorial disputes in Kashmir between India and Pakistan risk the developments in education and poverty reduction — critical pillars of sustainable development. The suspension of diplomatic agreements like the Indus Waters Treaty weakens the trust in international law, which is a key part of SDG 16’s vision.
SDG-City Frankfurt: Cities as Catalysts for Change
Frankfurt-based vice-chairman of INGLOSUS Foundation, Darius Maleki, was last year invited by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus to speak at the United Nations headquarters in New York about the role cities like Frankfurt can play in advancing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. With his project “SDG-City Frankfurt,” Darius Maleki aims to demonstrate how European cities like Frankfurt can build international alliances — beyond narrow national interests and geopolitical tensions. “What matters today is global solidarity,” emphasizes Darius Maleki. “And for that, we need European cities like Frankfurt to step up internationally to stake a stand for peace and collaboration.”
The Kashmir conflict reminds us that sustainable development cannot happen without peace — and that peace requires consistent, accountable governance, inclusive dialogue, and global solidarity.
Sources
The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/28/india-public-reacts-to-kashmir-attacks
The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/27/india-test-fires-missiles-tensions-rise-pakistan-kashmir-attack