Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated to dangerous levels following a blistering airstrike campaign by India under the codename “Operation Sindoor”, launched in retaliation for the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahelgam, Indian-administered Kashmir.
According to Indian military sources, the operation targeted nine alleged terrorist camps in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. India claims the strikes were precise and aimed solely at eliminating terrorist infrastructure with minimal civilian impact. However, the Pakistani government has offered a starkly different account.
Pakistan reports that 26 civilians have been killed and 46 injured, including children, as a result of the strikes launched since midnight on May 6. The Pakistani military alleges that Islamic shrines and civilian areas were among the damaged targets.
In a fiery response, Pakistani military spokesperson Ahmed Farif Chaudhry declared the attack a “blatant declaration of war” and warned that retaliation is not only imminent but already underway. He announced that Pakistan had successfully shot down five Indian aircraft including three Rafale fighter jets, one Su-30, one MiG-29, and a drone though India has yet to officially confirm any aircraft losses.
Meanwhile, images of wreckage reportedly belonging to a French-made fighter jet surfaced in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, lending some credence to Pakistan’s claims.
Indian police have confirmed Pakistani shelling across the Line of Control, stating that 10 civilians were killed and 48 others injured in the border barrage.
Speaking at a press conference, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri laid the blame squarely on Pakistan, citing intelligence that directly links the Pahelgam terrorist attack to actors based across the border. He reiterated India’s longstanding accusation that Pakistan is a safe haven for terrorists, and that the strikes under Operation Sindoor were a “measured and justified response” to protect Indian lives.
As both nuclear-armed nations hurl accusations and missiles across their volatile border, the world watches with growing concern. Diplomatic channels remain eerily silent, while fighter jets roar overhead—leaving the fate of peace hanging in the balance.
