India launches strikes on Pakistan amid rising tensions over Kashmir attack
India has carried out a series of airstrikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, two weeks after a deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir killed 26 people, including 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali tourist. The strikes, dubbed “Operation Sindoor” by India’s Ministry of Defence, targeted what New Delhi described as “terrorist infrastructure” in nine locations, emphasizing that no Pakistani military sites were struck.
India said the strikes were a response to the 22 April attack in the resort town of Pahalgam, which Indian authorities called the worst on civilians in the region in two decades. While India has not publicly named the group responsible, officials allege that two of the attackers were Pakistani nationals. Pakistan has denied any involvement in the Pahalgam incident.
In response, Pakistan condemned the strikes as “unprovoked aggression.” Its military claimed that Indian warplanes hit civilian areas in Muzaffarabad and Kotli in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, as well as Bahawalpur in Punjab province. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that India’s claims of targeting militant camps were “fabricated.”
Pakistan’s military also reported shooting down five Indian aircraft and a drone, though India has not confirmed these claims. Islamabad said 26 people were killed and 46 injured in the strikes, while India reported at least 10 civilian deaths from Pakistani shelling along the de facto border.
The tensions follow weeks of diplomatic fallout, including tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats, suspension of visas, and border closures. The escalation echoes previous incidents, including the 2019 Pulwama attack and India’s subsequent Balakot airstrikes.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for “maximum restraint,” while U.S. President Donald Trump said he hopes the situation de-escalates quickly. As regional and global powers monitor developments, the risk of further escalation remains, with both sides trading accusations and civilians caught in the crossfire.
