India launched missile strikes on Pakistan early Wednesday, just two weeks after a deadly attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir.
According to Pakistan’s military, the strikes hit six locations across the country, killing at least eight people — including a three-year-old child. This marks the first time since the 1971 war that Indian missiles have targeted cities in Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province. The attacks also struck Muzaffarabad and Kotli in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
India stated that Operation Sindoor targeted nine sites allegedly housing “terrorist infrastructure.”
In response, Pakistan scrambled its fighter jets and claimed to have shot down five Indian aircraft — a claim India has not yet addressed.
The strike occurred 15 days after the deadly April 22 attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir. India blamed the assault on armed groups it says are supported by Pakistan, an allegation Islamabad firmly denies.
Tensions Escalate: India-Pakistan on Brink of Conflict After Operation Sindoor
India’s missile strikes early Wednesday have pushed nuclear-armed India and Pakistan closer to a potential full-scale conflict.
Where Did India Strike?
According to Pakistani military spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the attacks began around 1 a.m. local time. Indian missiles hit six locations — four in Punjab province and two in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
The most severe strike occurred in Ahmedpur Sharqia, near Bahawalpur, where a mosque compound was hit, killing five people, including a three-year-old girl. Other targeted sites in Punjab included Muridke, a village near Sialkot, and Shakar Garh.
In Muzaffarabad and Kotli (Pakistan-administered Kashmir), two mosques were reportedly destroyed. Among the casualties were a 16-year-old girl and an 18-year-old boy.
In total, eight people were killed and 35 injured, prompting Punjab province to declare a state of emergency. Hospitals and security forces are on high alert, and schools remained closed on Wednesday.
How Did Pakistan Respond to India’s Operation Sindoor?
In the hours following India’s missile strikes, Pakistan’s military and political leadership confirmed that the country’s air defences had been activated and fighter jets were “airborne.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif posted on X, stating that a response to India was “being given.”
Pakistan later claimed it had shot down up to five Indian jets, including three Rafales, the advanced fighter aircraft India acquired from France.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and military spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry all reiterated these claims across international media outlets.
However, Pakistan’s military also stated that India launched all missiles from within its own airspace, suggesting any aircraft targeted by Pakistan were struck inside Indian airspace.
As of now, Indian authorities have not responded to these claims or confirmed whether all jets involved returned safely.
Why Did India Strike Pakistan?
The escalation stems from the April 22 massacre in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley, where gunmen killed 26 men — 25 tourists and one local pony handler — after separating them from women and children.
India blamed the Resistance Front (TRF), a little-known militant group it says is Pakistan-backed and operates from across the border.
Islamabad condemned the attack but denied any involvement, calling for a transparent, impartial international investigation.
India, meanwhile, has long accused Pakistan of training and supporting armed groups in Kashmir — a claim Pakistan repeatedly rejects, saying it offers only moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri cause.
India, which previously struck targets in Pakistan in 2016 and 2019 following attacks on its forces, vowed retaliation once again. Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that the perpetrators of the Kashmir attack would be pursued to “the ends of the earth.”
Yet, more than two weeks later, Indian forces are still combing the forests of Kashmir in search of the attackers — even as India has now launched cross-border strikes into Pakistan.
Why Is Kashmir So Important to India and Pakistan?
Kashmir lies at the heart of decades-long tensions between South Asia’s two largest countries, which together make up over 1.6 billion people — one-fifth of the global population.
India and Pakistan have fought three of their four wars over this disputed region, which spans 85,800 square kilometers (22,200 sq mi).
Today, both nations control parts of Kashmir — with China also occupying a portion — but each claims it in full. The region remains a constant flashpoint, especially after deadly incidents like the recent Pahalgam attack.
How Have Tensions Escalated Since the Pahalgam Attack?
Since the April 22 massacre, diplomatic and military tensions have surged. India has:
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Suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, which governs the sharing of six rivers — a move that could limit Pakistan’s water access.
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Revoked visas for Pakistani nationals.
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Closed borders and airspace, and expelled Pakistani diplomats.
Pakistan responded by threatening to suspend the Simla Agreement, a foundational peace accord. Both countries have now shut down diplomatic channels, and the situation has led to increased hostility.
Within Indian-administered Kashmir, over 2,000 residents have been detained, homes of alleged fighters demolished, and tight security restrictions enforced.
Why Did India Call It “Operation Sindoor”?
India named its missile campaign Operation Sindoor — a symbolic and emotionally charged title.
“Sindoor” is a red pigment traditionally worn by married Hindu women on their foreheads. Its absence often signifies widowhood. The name is believed to reference the Pahalgam massacre, where attackers reportedly separated men from women, identified non-Muslim men, and executed them — leaving many Hindu women widowed.
India’s government framed the operation as both a military response and a symbolic act of justice, invoking the trauma of that attack.
