A series of military strikes last week by India and Pakistan brought the nuclear-armed rivals closer to a broader war.

With last-minute U.S. mediation, cooler heads prevailed between India and Pakistan. But a flare-up is inevitable.

How India threads the diplomatic needle - courting favour with Trump over issues like trade while asserting its own interests in the Kashmir conflict - will depend in large part on domestic politics and could determine the future prospects for conflict in Kashmir.

India launched multiple Israeli-made Harop drones targeting Pakistan overnight and into Thursday, wounding at least four soldiers, Pakistan army officials said.