Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated sharply following India’s announcement that its armed forces conducted “precision strikes” on what it described as terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). The operation, codenamed “Sindoor,” comes in the wake of a recent terror attack in Pahalgam, where 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen were killed.
The Indian Ministry of Defence stated that nine sites were targeted, asserting that these locations were being used to plan and direct attacks against India. According to the ministry, the strikes were “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” with no Pakistani military facilities targeted. India emphasized that it exercised considerable restraint in the selection of targets and the method of execution.
Pakistan’s military confirmed the Indian action, stating that missile strikes hit three locations: Kotli, Bahawalpur, and Muzaffarabad. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) added that a response to the Indian action was underway.
This development follows a period of heightened rhetoric and military posturing from both sides after the Pahalgam attack. India has blamed Pakistan for supporting the perpetrators, a charge Islamabad has denied, calling for a neutral investigation. In the interim, both nations have taken reciprocal measures, including the suspension of trade and diplomatic downgrading.
International Concern and Calls for De-escalation
The international community is likely to be concerned about this escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Calls for de-escalation and dialogue are anticipated. Further details from both sides regarding the strikes and the ensuing response are expected later today.