2025-05-06T20:59:50Z

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In a significant escalation of tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors, India has conducted missile strikes on Pakistani territory, asserting that these were targeted at terrorist camps. This action comes in the wake of a recent deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that India has attributed to militant groups operating from Pakistan.

The Indian government declared that it had executed 'OPERATION SINDOOR', striking at nine different locations that it claimed were infrastructure sites for terrorist activity in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. These strikes were characterized by the Indian Armed Forces as precision attacks aimed at dismantling terrorist networks that have purportedly been orchestrating attacks against India. A statement from the Indian government emphasized that the operations were “focused, measured, and non-escalatory in nature.”

In a display of confidence, the Indian army posted a video on its X account, asserting that “justice is served.” The government stressed that it had deliberately avoided targeting any Pakistani military facilities, indicating a desire to limit escalation while addressing what it considered an urgent security threat. The statement further noted, “India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution.”

In stark contrast, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif reported to Reuters that the Pakistani military had successfully shot down two Indian aircraft and a drone during the strikes. He confirmed that the missile attacks resulted in the deaths of at least three civilians, including a child, and left several others wounded. “They have targeted multiple locations, which all are civilian... We have confirmed reports of three civilians killed that includes one child,” he stated, underscoring the collateral damage inflicted by the strikes.

Eyewitness accounts from AFP correspondents in both Pakistani-administered Kashmir and Punjab described a series of loud explosions that erupted during the missile strikes. In a bold response, military spokesman Lieutenant-General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry declared, “We will retaliate at the time of our choosing,” labeling the Indian missile strikes a “heinous provocation.” This fierce rhetoric indicates a commitment to respond to India's military actions, further inflating the already heightened tensions in the region.

The backdrop to this military exchange is steeped in a long history of conflict between India and Pakistan, particularly regarding the Kashmir region, which both nations claim. Following a recent attack on tourists in Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals and was attributed to the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, India has increasingly ramped up its military rhetoric and operations against its neighbor. India has consistently accused Pakistan of harboring and supporting terrorist groups that operate in Kashmir, a charge that Pakistan vehemently denies.

Since the beginning of this latest conflict, both countries have engaged in nightly gunfire exchanges along the de facto border that separates the two sides of Kashmir. Reports from the Indian army allege that Pakistan has been violating a ceasefire agreement by firing artillery across the Line of Control, exacerbating the already volatile situation.

The United States, along with other members of the international community, has been urging both nations to de-escalate tensions and seek a peaceful resolution. Speaking on the matter, US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce stated, “We continue to urge Pakistan and India to work towards a responsible resolution that maintains long-term peace and regional stability in South Asia.” President Trump also expressed concern over the escalating situation, describing the conflict as a “shame” and wishing for a swift end to hostilities.

As tensions remained high, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India’s resolve to combat terrorism, promising to “identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backer” involved in the recent attack. The Indian police have since issued wanted posters for three suspects, two of whom are reportedly Pakistani nationals linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba.

In a show of military readiness, India is preparing for civil defense drills aimed at ensuring that citizens know how to protect themselves in the event of further hostilities. In a separate but related development, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to visit New Delhi, following discussions with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as Iran offers to mediate between the two countries amid rising tensions.

The strikes occurred just hours after Modi hinted at a potential disruption of water flow from India to Pakistan, a move that has been characterized by Pakistan as an “act of war.” Modi’s comments came on the heels of India’s suspension of its obligations under the Indus Waters Treaty, a critical water-sharing agreement that has governed relations between the two countries for over six decades.