Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated sharply following India's launch of Operation Sindoor, a series of missile strikes targeting what it claims were "terrorist infrastructure" in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The operation, which took place early Wednesday morning, was a response to the deadly April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir's Pahalgam, where 26 people were killed. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, a charge Islamabad denies.
India's Ministry of Defence described Operation Sindoor as "focused, measured, and non-escalatory," emphasizing that no Pakistani military facilities were targeted. However, Pakistan asserts that the strikes hit civilian areas, including a mosque complex in Punjab province, resulting in the deaths of at least 31 civilians and injuries to dozens more. Pakistan's military also claims to have shot down five Indian fighter jets, a claim India has yet to respond to.
The Pakistani government has reacted strongly, calling the Indian strikes an "act of war" and promising a robust response. Pakistan's National Security Committee authorized the military to undertake "corresponding actions" against India. While Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that Islamabad seeks to avoid an all-out war, he stressed the need to be prepared for one.
The situation has led to significant disruptions, with Pakistan initially declaring a 48-hour shutdown of its airspace. While the restrictions were briefly lifted, Lahore's airspace faced another closure. The closures and rerouting caused congestion at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport as international and domestic flights were delayed, diverted, or cancelled. Several Asian airlines, including Singapore Airlines and KLM, have rerouted or suspended flights to avoid Pakistani airspace. Air India cancelled flights to several destinations, including Jammu, Srinagar and Leh, until May 10.
The international community is closely watching the escalating tensions. US President Trump has offered US assistance to help India and Pakistan de-escalate the conflict. Amid the rising tensions, medical leave has been cancelled for all health personnel in Pakistan's Sindh province, and emergency response units have been put on high alert.
The strikes mark a significant escalation, with some observers noting that the attacks went beyond anything seen since 1971. While India maintains that it targeted terrorist infrastructure with restraint, Pakistan views the strikes as a grave provocation, raising fears of a wider conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
