On May 7, 2025, tensions between India and Pakistan reached a boiling point as India initiated “Operation Sindoor,” a series of missile strikes targeting what it described as “terrorist infrastructure” in both Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The attacks came in response to the April 22 Pahalgam massacre, where 26 civilians—mostly Indian tourists—were killed in Indian-administered Kashmir. India has blamed the Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba for orchestrating the attack.
Pakistan’s military confirmed that at least five locations were struck, including three in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (Muzaffarabad, Kotli, and Bagh) and two in Punjab province (Bahawalpur and Muridke).
Civilian Casualties and Reactions
According to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), at least three people were killed, including a child, with dozens more injured. Strikes reportedly hit residential areas, including a mosque near Bilal Chowk in Muzaffarabad, causing widespread panic.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack as a “cowardly act of aggression,” stating:
“Pakistan reserves the absolute right to respond decisively… this will not go unpunished.”
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both nations to exercise “maximum military restraint,” warning that escalation between two nuclear-armed states could be catastrophic for the region.
India’s Official Justification
The Indian Ministry of Defence justified the strikes as “non-escalatory, measured, and precise,” emphasizing that no Pakistani military installations were targeted. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared:
“Justice is served… We will track and punish every terrorist and their backer.”
India briefed several international allies including the U.S., UK, Russia, UAE, and Saudi Arabia on its military actions, signaling diplomatic efforts to explain the rationale behind the operation.
International Fallout and Global Response
As both sides ramped up rhetoric, Pakistan closed its airspace over Lahore and Karachi, and international airlines like Air France and Lufthansa rerouted to avoid the region. The U.S. President Donald Trump called the development “a shame” and emphasized hopes for a quick resolution.
Tehran also stepped in, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi offering to mediate. His visit to both New Delhi and Islamabad marks a crucial diplomatic move aimed at de-escalation.
Military Capabilities at a Glance
India, with a defense budget nine times that of Pakistan’s, holds significant superiority in terms of conventional military power, with over 1.5 million active personnel and two aircraft carriers. Pakistan’s military, however, remains formidable, particularly through asymmetric strategies and nuclear parity.
Both sides have increased alert levels along the Line of Control (LoC), and heavy artillery exchange has already been reported. Pakistani forces claimed to have shot down two Indian jets, a claim yet to be independently verified.
The Kashmir Flashpoint
The Kashmir region, claimed in full but administered in parts by both India and Pakistan, has remained a flashpoint since 1947. The current military confrontation is the most significant since the 2019 Balakot airstrikes and threatens to plunge the region into a broader war.
The situation remains volatile. While India insists its actions are restrained responses to cross-border terrorism, Pakistan views them as a blatant “act of war.” With both nations engaging in aggressive military posturing and diplomatic stand-offs, the international community continues to push for a peaceful resolution before the situation spirals out of control.
Sources
Al Jazeera: India Launches Operation Sindoor
BBC News: Live Coverage on India Strike
France 24: India-Pakistan Latest Updates