ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN – Tensions between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan have spiraled dramatically after India launched a series of missile strikes deep into Pakistani territory and Pakistan-administered Kashmir early Wednesday morning. Pakistan has vehemently condemned the attacks as a “blatant act of war” and promised a “robust response,” raising fears of a wider military conflict in the already volatile region.
India’s military confirmed the strikes, codenamed “Operation Sindoor,” stating that they were “precision strikes” targeting what they described as “terrorist infrastructure” from where attacks against India had been planned and directed. The Indian government emphasized that the actions were “focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature” and claimed that no Pakistani military facilities were targeted.
However, Pakistan presented a starkly different account. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed his nation, denouncing the Indian action as “cowardly and unlawful,” asserting that the missiles struck civilian areas, including mosques, and resulted in the deaths of at least 26 people, including women and children, with dozens more injured. Pakistan’s military also claimed to have shot down several Indian fighter jets in retaliation, a claim that India has yet to confirm.
The strikes follow a recent deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, which New Delhi has blamed on Pakistan-backed militant groups. Islamabad has vehemently denied any involvement in the April 22nd attack that killed 26 people, mostly Indian tourists, and had called for an independent investigation.
Eyewitness accounts from Pakistan-administered Kashmir painted a picture of chaos and fear as loud explosions rocked cities like Muzaffarabad and Kotli. Residents reported being jolted awake by the blasts, with some areas experiencing power outages. In Pakistan’s Punjab province, officials confirmed that missiles struck a mosque in Bahawalpur, resulting in casualties.
In the aftermath of the Indian strikes, the Pakistani military announced that its air force had launched retaliatory operations and claimed to have downed Indian military aircraft. Heavy shelling and gunfire were also reported across the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border separating Indian- and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, resulting in further casualties on both sides. Indian sources reported at least three civilian deaths due to Pakistani shelling into Indian-controlled Kashmir.
The international community has reacted with grave concern, urging both sides to exercise maximum restraint and avoid further escalation. The United Nations, the United States, and China have all called for de-escalation and a return to diplomatic channels.
“The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ spokesperson.
The current crisis marks a significant escalation in the long-standing animosity between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, who have fought multiple wars over the disputed Kashmir region. The tit-for-tat actions have raised fears of a dangerous cycle of retaliation that could have catastrophic consequences for the region and beyond. As both nations brace for further developments, the world watches with bated breath, hoping for a swift de-escalation of this perilous situation.
