Tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan dramatically intensified on Wednesday after India launched missile strikes into Pakistani territory, just two weeks after a deadly terrorist assault in Indian-administered Kashmir left 26 people dead.
Pakistan labeled the missile strikes as an “act of war” and said they targeted nine locations across Pakistan’s Punjab province and in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Pakistani officials reported 26 fatalities and 46 injuries, including six individuals who died at two separate mosques and two teenagers killed elsewhere.
India defended its actions by asserting that the attacks specifically targeted “terror camps” and refrained from hitting civilian or military sites. Emphasizing its careful approach, India’s defense ministry released a statement saying, “Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature.”
Following the strikes, multiple buildings were engulfed in flames, and power outages occurred in various parts of the affected regions, according to verified videos circulating on social media. One video captured a blast landing just feet from a group of bicyclists, following a distinct hissing sound. In other footage, ambulances were seen rushing the injured to hospitals.
India has blamed Pakistan for orchestrating the April 22 massacre of 26 civilians—mainly tourists—in Indian-controlled Kashmir. The region, claimed in full by both nations, has long been a flashpoint for violence and military confrontation. India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of fostering cross-border terrorism, a charge Pakistan denies. Islamabad has instead called for a “neutral” probe into the Kashmir attack, which is considered the deadliest assault on Indian civilians in nearly 20 years.
In response to growing international scrutiny, the Indian Embassy in Washington issued a strongly worded statement: “It was expected that Pakistan would take action against terrorists and the infrastructure that supports them. Instead, during the fortnight that has gone by, Pakistan has indulged in denial and made allegations of false flag operations against India.”
In retaliation to the strikes, Pakistani security sources claimed they had already downed five Indian Air Force jets and one drone. India has yet to confirm these reports. Meanwhile, the Indian army reported that three civilians were killed by Pakistani shelling in the Indian-administered part of Kashmir.
According to Indian army officer Col. Sofiya Qureshi, the missile attacks began at 1:05 a.m. local time on Wednesday and lasted approximately 25 minutes. Indian Air Force Wing Commander Vyomika Singh stated that India employed “precision capability” during the strikes to minimize “collateral damage.”
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri explained during a press briefing that India had intelligence suggesting “further attacks against India are impending.” He said the strikes were intended as both retaliation for the earlier massacre and a preventive measure against future aggression.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned India’s actions, vowing a firm response. “Pakistan has every right to give a robust response to this act of war imposed by India, and a strong response is indeed being given,” he stated. Sharif also called an emergency meeting of Pakistan’s National Security Committee for Wednesday morning.
International leaders quickly weighed in, calling for calm and diplomacy to avoid further deterioration of the situation. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged both countries’ militaries to avoid further escalation. “The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan,” he warned.
In Washington, the U.S. National Security Council revealed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had reached out to both Indian and Pakistani officials. NSC spokesperson Brian Hughes said, “He is encouraging India and Pakistan to reopen a channel between their leadership to defuse the situation and prevent further escalation.”
President Donald Trump also addressed the crisis, describing the conflict as “a shame” and adding, “I just hope it ends very quickly.”
China, which shares borders with both nations, expressed regret over the military actions and called on India and Pakistan to prioritize regional stability. “Regrettable,” was how the Chinese government described the strikes, adding that both sides should “act in the larger interest of peace and stability.”
Indian leaders, meanwhile, celebrated the strikes as a justified and precise response to terrorism. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh exclaimed, “Glory to mother India!” while Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar echoed the sentiment by saying, “The world must show zero tolerance for terrorism.”
In anticipation of further conflict, Pakistani authorities ordered the closure of all schools in Punjab and the Islamabad Capital Territory. Air travel was also disrupted, with some airports reportedly shut down.
The operation has been dubbed Operation Sindoor, referencing the red vermilion worn by married Hindu women as a symbol of love and devotion. Details from the Kashmir attack that preceded these strikes reveal the brutality of the act: the attackers reportedly identified non-Muslims among the tourists, separating the men from women and children, and then executed the men in front of their families.
The Kashmir conflict remains a deeply entrenched source of hostility between the two nations. India and Pakistan have already fought two out of their three wars over this region. Kashmir is the only Muslim-majority region in India and is among the world’s most heavily militarized zones. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a Hindu nationalist, had previously argued that his government’s 2019 decision to revoke Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status helped end separatist violence and boost tourism. However, the April attack has seriously undermined that narrative.
Since that incident, India has ramped up pressure on Pakistan. It has threatened to disrupt Pakistan’s water supply and shut down the sole operational land border crossing. Within Kashmir, authorities have carried out sweeping crackdowns, arresting hundreds and demolishing homes belonging to families of suspected militants.
The diplomatic fallout continues to deepen. Both countries have closed their airspaces to each other’s airlines, suspended or revoked visas for each other’s citizens, and frozen bilateral trade. In a sign of growing concern about a larger confrontation, India has initiated civil defense drills while Pakistan has conducted missile tests in response.
The region and the world now anxiously await the next move in this rapidly evolving conflict, as leaders weigh their options between military escalation and diplomatic resolution.