In a sharp escalation of hostilities between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan, deadly cross-border attacks have left dozens dead and scores injured, sparking global concern over a potential full-scale conflict.
India launched a series of missile strikes early Tuesday, targeting what it described as “terrorist infrastructure” inside Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The operation, codenamed Operation Sindoor, was carried out in retaliation for a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir, on April 22. That attack claimed the lives of 26 Indian tourists, most of whom were Hindu pilgrims.
According to Pakistani officials, the Indian strikes hit civilian areas in Muzaffarabad, Kotli, and Bahawalpur, resulting in at least 26 civilian deaths, including women and children, and injuring more than 40 others. Several mosques and residential buildings were reportedly damaged in the attacks.
In swift response, Pakistan launched retaliatory strikes, claiming it downed five Indian fighter jets and targeted a brigade headquarters within Indian territory. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Indian action as an “act of war” and authorized the military to take “corresponding action.”
The diplomatic fallout has been immediate and severe. Both nations have expelled diplomats, sealed borders, and suspended several bilateral agreements, including the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty and the Shimla Accord. India has activated civil defense protocols, and commercial flights in the region have been disrupted due to the closure of airspace.
International leaders have urged calm amid rising fears of further escalation. The United Nations has dispatched observers to the Line of Control, while countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, China, and Russia have called for restraint on both sides.
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This marks the most intense flare-up between the two countries in over two decades, prompting concerns over regional stability and the risk of a broader conflict between the South Asian rivals.
