New Delhi / Islamabad – May 7, 2025
In the most serious military confrontation between India and Pakistan in over two decades, India launched missile strikes on targets in Pakistan and Pakistani-administered Kashmir on Wednesday, prompting Islamabad to shoot down five Indian aircraft and vow retaliation.
India claimed its operation targeted nine “terrorist infrastructure” sites, some linked to last month’s deadly attack by Islamist militants on Hindu tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 people. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the targets were “destroyed with exactness” and emphasized that civilian populations were not harmed.
Pakistan, however, reported that at least 26 civilians were killed and 46 injured in the strikes. The Pakistani military said none of the six targeted sites were militant camps and accused India of violating its sovereignty and committing an act of aggression. A statement from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office declared that Pakistan would retaliate “at a time, place, and manner of its choosing.”
The conflict, which has been dubbed “Operation Sindoor” by India, represents a dramatic escalation in one of the world’s most volatile nuclear flashpoints. Indian officials said the attacks were aimed at facilities linked to the banned militant groups Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, which have long been accused by New Delhi of carrying out cross-border terrorism. Both groups are designated as terrorist organizations by the United Nations and several countries, including India and the United States.
The Indian Foreign Secretary said the strikes were pre-emptive and necessary to prevent further attacks on Indian soil.
Footage broadcast by Indian TV channels showed explosions and plumes of smoke in various parts of Pakistan and Pakistani-administered Kashmir, though these images could not be independently verified by Reuters.
In Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir, significant damage was reported at a hillside mosque that was struck, with the minaret completely destroyed. Funerals were held for victims throughout the day.
Meanwhile, intense shelling and gunfire were exchanged across the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border in Kashmir. At least 15 civilians were killed and 43 wounded on the Indian side, while six deaths were reported in Pakistani-controlled territory.
While India has not confirmed aircraft losses, Pakistani officials claimed to have shot down five Indian fighter jets and drones. India called those reports “disinformation,” though local sources confirmed that three Indian jets crashed in different parts of Indian Kashmir, with the pilots hospitalized.
The military exchange significantly exceeded previous Indian responses to cross-border terror attacks, such as in 2016 and 2019. Analysts warn that the larger scale of these operations increases the risk of further escalation. Michael Kugelman, a South Asia expert, said the severity of the Indian strikes likely ensures a “sizable Pakistani response.”
The crisis has drawn international concern. U.S. President Donald Trump said, “I hope it ends quickly,” while Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged both nations to keep communication open and avoid further escalation. The United Nations, China, Russia, and the United Kingdom have also called for restraint.
Economically, the standoff comes at a precarious time for Pakistan, which is working to stabilize its $350 billion economy and meet conditions under a $7 billion IMF program. Markets reacted sharply, with Pakistan’s benchmark share index falling 2.2%, while India’s rupee dropped 0.5% against the U.S. dollar.
Several major airlines, including IndiGo, Air India, and Qatar Airways, canceled flights due to airspace restrictions in parts of both countries.
Despite calls for peace, public sentiment in both nations reflected deepening hostility. In Delhi, lawyer Kumar Ravi Shankar said, “Pakistan has been testing our patience. It’s good India is taking revenge.” In Karachi, businessman Umbreen Mahar responded, “If India continues to slander and attack us, Pakistan has the right to defend its sovereignty.”
As tensions mount, the world watches closely—hoping that diplomacy will prevail over war in a region where nuclear arms remain a grim backdrop to every confrontation.
