On May 7, 2025, India launched a series of military strikes, codenamed “Operation Sindoor,” targeting what it called “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan and Pakistani-administered Kashmir. The strikes were a direct response to a deadly attack on April 22, 2025, in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, where 26 tourists, mostly Hindu, were killed by Islamist militants. This incident, the deadliest civilian attack in the region in over two decades, has reignited long-standing tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, raising fears of further escalation in the volatile Kashmir conflict.
The Pahalgam attack shocked India, targeting a popular tourist spot in the scenic Baisaran Valley. The militants, armed with M4 carbines and AK-47s, were linked to The Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terrorist group. India accused Pakistan of supporting the attackers, pointing to digital traces leading to safe houses in Muzaffarabad and Karachi, as well as intelligence suggesting involvement of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Pakistan denied any role, calling for an international investigation and condemning India’s accusations as baseless.
India’s response was swift and unprecedented. Operation Sindoor involved precision missile strikes on nine sites, including the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba in Muridke and Jaish-e-Mohammed in Bahawalpur, both in Pakistan’s Punjab province. The Indian Ministry of Defence emphasized that the strikes were “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” avoiding Pakistani military facilities to limit escalation. Indian forces reportedly used SCALP cruise missiles and Hammer Smart Bombs, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi closely monitoring the operation. The Indian Army declared on X, “Justice is served,” framing the strikes as retribution for the Pahalgam victims.
Pakistan, however, condemned the strikes as a “blatant act of war,” reporting that six locations were hit, including civilian sites like the Bilal Mosque in Muzaffarabad, resulting in eight deaths, 35 injuries, and two missing persons. Islamabad claimed it shot down five Indian jets and took Indian soldiers prisoner, though these claims remain unverified by India. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed a forceful response, and the country’s military retaliated with missile strikes on Indian-administered Kashmir, killing three Indian civilians, according to Indian sources. Pakistan’s Punjab province declared an emergency, and hospitals were placed on high alert.
The Kashmir region, divided between India and Pakistan since 1947, has been a flashpoint for decades, with both nations claiming it in full. The 2003 ceasefire, reaffirmed in 2021, has rarely been breached by such large-scale strikes, making Operation Sindoor a significant escalation. The name “Sindoor,” referring to the red vermilion worn by married Hindu women, symbolically nods to the 26 victims, many of whom were Hindu tourists. The attack’s targeting of civilians, a departure from the usual focus on security forces, has deepened India’s resolve to combat cross-border terrorism.
International reactions reflect growing concern. U.S. President Donald Trump called the situation “a shame,” urging a quick resolution, while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for “maximum military restraint.” Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya expressed worry over a potential “full-scale military conflict,” urging dialogue. Several airlines, including IndiGo and Qatar Airways, canceled or rerouted flights due to airspace closures, and Srinagar Airport was shut to civilian traffic. Indian national security adviser Ajit Doval briefed counterparts in the U.S., U.K., Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, signaling India’s intent to justify its actions globally.
Analysts warn that the scale of India’s strikes, larger than its 2019 airstrike after the Pulwama attack, could provoke a significant Pakistani response. Michael Kugelman, a South Asia expert, noted that the next moves by both nations will determine whether this spirals into a broader crisis. While both countries have shown restraint in past conflicts since becoming nuclear powers in 1998, the current situation is precarious, with shelling and gunfire reported along the Line of Control (LoC).
For now, the world watches anxiously as India and Pakistan navigate this dangerous escalation. The closure of the Attari-Wagah border, suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, and expulsion of diplomats signal a deepening rift. Dialogue and restraint, as urged by global leaders, may be the only path to de-escalation in a region long plagued by conflict.
FAQs
- Why did India launch Operation Sindoor?
India launched Operation Sindoor to target terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistani-administered Kashmir, which it blamed for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack that killed 26 tourists. India linked the attack to Pakistan-based groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and accused Pakistan’s ISI of involvement. - How has Pakistan responded to India’s strikes?
Pakistan condemned the strikes as an “act of war,” reporting civilian casualties and damage to sites like a mosque. It retaliated with missile strikes on Indian-administered Kashmir, declared an emergency in Punjab, and claimed to have shot down Indian jets, though these claims are unverified.
