India has launched “Operation Sindoor,” a military operation targeting what it describes as “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The strikes, which occurred early Wednesday, May 7, 2025, hit nine locations including Muzaffarabad and Kotli in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and Ahmed Pur East in Punjab province.
The current conflict stems from an April 22, 2025, terrorist attack in Pahalgam, a tourist area in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen. India has accused Pakistan-based militants of carrying out the attack, specifically alleging connections to The Resistance Front, described as an offshoot of the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Following the attack, bilateral relations rapidly deteriorated:
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India expelled Pakistani diplomats, suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (for the first time since its 1960 signing), closed borders, and revoked visas for Pakistani nationals
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Pakistan denied involvement and responded by suspending the 1972 Simla Agreement, closing its airspace and trade routes to India, and expelling Indian diplomats.
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Armed skirmishes along the Line of Control began on April 24, with both sides reporting ceasefire violations.
India’s Ministry of Defense stated that its operations were “precise, calculated, and aimed at avoiding escalation” and emphasized that “no military installations of Pakistan have been targeted”. Multiple explosions were reported in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, with Indian forces striking with missiles.
Pakistan’s military has confirmed India’s missile strikes. A military spokesperson stated to the media: “Pakistan will retaliate at a time and place of our choosing. This despicable provocation will not be left unanswered”. The Pakistan Air Force is reportedly on high alert, which Pakistan claims prevented Indian aircraft from entering its airspace.
This represents the most serious confrontation between the nuclear-armed neighbors since their 2019 standoff. Both nations have significantly upgraded their military capabilities since then, with India acquiring Rafale jets and Pakistan obtaining J-10 aircraft.
The UN Security Council held emergency consultations on May 5 regarding the escalating situation. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has emphasized the importance of avoiding military conflict, which could “easily spiral out of control,” stating, “Now is the time for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink.
India had announced civil defense drills across seven states scheduled for May 7. These drills, which were last conducted in 1971, included measures such as air raid warning sirens and evacuation plans.
As tensions continue to mount, the international community watches with concern as these nuclear-armed neighbors engage in their most serious confrontation in years.
