Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated dramatically following a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir in April 2025. The attack, which targeted non-Muslim tourists in Pahalgam, resulted in the deaths of at least 28 civilians and has been described as the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
The Pahalgam Attack
On April 22, 2025, five armed militants attacked tourists in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam. The attackers, armed with M4 carbines and AK-47s, specifically targeted Hindu tourists, though a Christian tourist and a local Muslim were also killed. The Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it was in opposition to non-local settlement in the region. However, they later retracted their claim. The attack has had a devastating impact on the local tourism industry, with hotels closing and shops shuttered.
India's Response: Operation Sindoor
In response to the Pahalgam attack, India launched missile strikes on Pakistan on May 6, 2025, codenamed Operation Sindoor. India claimed the strikes targeted "terrorist infrastructure" in Pakistan and Pakistani-administered Kashmir, alleging that Pakistan supported the attackers. The operation involved targeting nine sites, including areas in Muzaffarabad, Kotli, and Pakistan's Punjab province. The Indian Ministry of Defence described the strikes as "focused, measured, and non-escalatory," emphasizing that no Pakistani military facilities were hit. However, Pakistani authorities reported that the missile attacks resulted in the deaths of at least three civilians, including a child, and injured at least 12 others. Pakistan also claimed that two mosques were struck.
Pakistan's Reaction
Pakistan condemned the missile strikes as a "cowardly attack" on civilians and threatened retaliatory strikes. Pakistani officials claimed that their security forces shot down two Indian Air Force combat jets, an Indian helicopter, and a drone. India, in turn, claimed to have shot down an intruding Pakistani fighter jet. Pakistan's Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, stated that the "whole nation" was behind the country's armed forces and supported retaliation against India.
International Response
The United States urged both India and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions. US Vice President JD Vance expressed hope that India's response would not lead to a broader regional conflict and that Pakistan would cooperate in hunting down the terrorists.
Aftermath
The missile strikes have further escalated tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir has seen increased firing. While India claims the operation was a necessary response to terrorism, Pakistan views it as an act of aggression and has vowed to respond. The situation remains highly volatile, with the potential for further escalation.
