In May 2025, tensions between India and Pakistan escalated dramatically following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, including 25 Indian tourists and one Nepalese national. The attack, attributed to Pakistan-based militant group The Resistance Front (TRF), prompted India to launch ‘Operation Sindoor’—a series of precision strikes targeting terrorist infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).(Time, www.ndtv.com)
The operation, conducted jointly by the Indian Army and Air Force, involved 24 missile strikes on nine identified terror camps, including those linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, in locations such as Bahawalpur, Muridke, and Muzaffarabad. The strikes, carried out between 1:05 AM and 1:30 AM on May 7, were described by Indian officials as targeted and measured, aiming to neutralize imminent threats without escalating into broader conflict. (The Guardian, www.ndtv.com)
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasized that the operation was a necessary response to Pakistan’s inaction against terrorist groups operating within its borders. He criticized Pakistan’s offer for a neutral probe into the Pahalgam attack as insincere, highlighting the country’s history of harboring UN-proscribed terrorists and referencing the discovery of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. (The Scottish Sun, www.ndtv.com)
In retaliation, Pakistan claimed to have downed several Indian fighter jets and conducted artillery exchanges along the Line of Control (LoC), resulting in additional casualties on both sides. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned India’s actions as acts of war and vowed consequences, while Defense Minister Khawaja Asif stated that Pakistan was prepared for war but wished to avoid escalation. (The Guardian)
The situation along the LoC deteriorated further, with reports of heavy shelling affecting civilian areas such as Poonch and Uri. Residents faced casualties and destruction, with many fearing the outbreak of a full-scale war. The fragile calm established by a 2021 ceasefire was effectively shattered, raising concerns about the potential for nuclear conflict between the two nations. (AP News)
International leaders, including those from the United States, United Kingdom, China, and Russia, called for restraint and diplomatic resolution. Analysts noted that both India and Pakistan have historically engaged in tit-for-tat exchanges followed by de-escalation, but the current situation’s volatility underscores the ongoing risks in the region. (The Guardian, WSJ)
Domestically, India heightened security measures, placing airports on alert and implementing blackouts in several cities amid fears of further attacks. The Indian government reiterated its commitment to non-escalation, provided it is respected by the Pakistani military, and emphasized that any military attack on India would receive a firm response. (www.ndtv.com, www.ndtv.com)
The naming of ‘Operation Sindoor’ holds symbolic significance, referencing the traditional vermilion worn by married Hindu women. This choice underscores the personal losses suffered by the victims’ families, many of whom lost spouses in the Pahalgam attack. (www.ndtv.com)
As of now, the path to de-escalation remains uncertain, with both nuclear-armed nations maintaining hardened postures. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, urging both sides to prioritize diplomatic engagement over military confrontation.(The Guardian)