The Pahalgam attack and India’s strong reaction have pushed South Asia into completely new and uncertain territory. India wants to send a clear message to Pakistan, but by suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, it may actually make things worse—fueling anger and potentially pushing more young people toward extremism. For the 1.8 billion people living in the region, any war would come at an enormous cost: economic collapse, a refugee crisis, and even the threat of nuclear conflict. No one would truly win.