Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated sharply after India conducted strikes targeting what it claimed were terrorist camps within Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan retaliated with missile attacks aimed at military installations in 15 Indian cities. India responded by neutralizing Pakistani air defense systems, including those in Lahore.
The strikes followed the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, where 26 people were killed. India blamed Pakistan-backed groups for the attack, which Islamabad denied. India has accused Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism, providing financial and military training to terrorist groups.
In response to India's actions, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC). Sharif condemned the Indian strikes as a "blatant act of war" and a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty. He asserted that Pakistan has the right to respond and vowed to retaliate against India.
During an address to the Parliament, Sharif lauded the Pakistan Air Force, claiming they shot down five Indian jets, including Rafales, and two drones, though he did not provide evidence. He stated that Pakistan's armed forces were prepared for any Indian attack and praised their swift response. Sharif also said that the overnight attack killed 26 civilians and wounded 46.
India stated that its forces targeted air defense radars and systems in Pakistan, including Lahore. They claimed that the Pakistani attacks on military facilities in Srinagar, Pathankot, Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Chandigarh were neutralized by India's Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems. Indian forces reportedly used HARPY drones to destroy Pakistani air defenses and the Russian-made S-400 defense system to intercept missiles.
The Indian government has described its response as "in the same domain (and) with the same intensity" as the attacks launched by Pakistan. They also stated that the debris from destroyed drones and missiles would be used as evidence of Pakistan's support for cross-border terrorism.
The situation has prompted international concern, with global powers calling for de-escalation. China, a major investor in Pakistan, has also urged for calm. Several Indian states conducted civil defense drills to prepare civilians for potential attacks.
