India-Pakistan standoff reaches crisis point, warns ex-NSA

In what Kamran Khan described as the “most alarming military escalation in South Asia since Kargil,” tensions between India and Pakistan have soared to dangerous levels, raising fears of a full-scale — even nuclear — conflict.

In the latest episode of his show “On My Radar”, Khan said diplomatic ties between the two nuclear-armed rivals had been completely severed following the deadly Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. Borders are shut, visa services suspended, and all communication channels — formal and backchannel — have been cut off.

“Indian and Pakistani forces are in full deployment mode along the Line of Control,” Khan said. “Both nations are openly signaling confrontation, and the threat of full-scale war is dangerously real.”

He warned that the region is now in a state of total uncertainty.

“Even a minor misunderstanding can spiral into a major crisis. This is no longer a theoretical threat — this is real-time escalation without a safety net.”

Joining Khan was Dr. Moeed Yusuf, Pakistan’s former National Security Adviser, who offered a blunt assessment of the situation.

“This is the most dangerous standoff we’ve seen in years,” Yusuf said. “With no communication between the two sides, the risk of miscalculation is extremely high. The world needs to take this seriously — and urgently.”

Khan questioned whether India might be preparing a calculated military strike for domestic political gain, and asked whether Pakistan’s “red lines” could trigger a nuclear response.

“Or is this another Pulwama-style false flag operation?” he said, referring to the 2019 suicide bombing that led to aerial dogfights and a near-war between the two sides.

Yusuf called on global powers, especially the United States and China, to intervene before the situation deteriorates further.

“This is not just a bilateral issue anymore,” he said. “This is a nuclear flashpoint that threatens global security.”

Khan warned that the complete breakdown of diplomatic links — including the absence of hotlines and military-to-military contact — had created a “blackout” in bilateral engagement.

“Neither side knows what the other is planning. That’s a recipe for catastrophe,” he said.

Yusuf urged Pakistan to manage both its external threats and internal stability with discipline and strategic clarity.

“We cannot afford missteps on either front,” he said.

Khan concluded the episode with a stark message: “This isn’t posturing. This isn’t rhetoric. This is the closest we’ve come to the brink in decades — and the world must respond before it’s too late."