Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated sharply, with Pakistan's military reporting that Indian missiles targeted three of its air bases. The alleged attacks occurred on May 9, 2025, and included the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, the Rafiqui airbase in Shorkot, Punjab, and the Murid airbase in Chakwal. The Murid airbase is approximately 120km from Islamabad. According to Pakistan's military, India used air-to-surface missiles launched from planes. However, Pakistani authorities claim that all assets remained safe.
The situation has triggered strong reactions and heightened security concerns in both countries. Pakistan has closed its airspace from 3:15 AM (22:15 GMT) on May 10 to 12 PM (07:00 GMT). In India, blasts were reported in Indian-administered Kashmir and Amritsar, with the Indian military claiming to have shot down drones. Heavy cross-border artillery exchanges have also been reported.
According to Al Jazeera's Osama Bin Javaid, reporting from Lahore, tensions appear to be spiraling out of control. Kamran Bokhari, a senior director at the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy in Washington, DC, stated that the situation has significantly worsened with India's targeting of Pakistan's airbases. He added that with attacks on Pindi and other airbases like Sargodha, the conflict has taken a turn for the worse.
The recent events follow a series of escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. India launched missiles on Wednesday, claiming they targeted "terrorist camps" in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, which resulted in at least 48 deaths, 32 of whom were in Pakistan. Pakistan retaliated with artillery strikes. The clashes are a result of the tensions since a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, which India blamed on Pakistan. Pakistan has denied any involvement.
Amidst the escalating conflict, there have been reports of misinformation circulating on social media. The Indian government has debunked claims that a Pakistani missile struck India's S-400 missile air defense system, clarifying that the image used was from a 2023 fire at a military site in Moscow. Similarly, videos alleging strikes on a military base in Amritsar and an Indian Air Force helicopter crash have been debunked as old and unrelated to the current situation.
Pakistan's military has accused India of "cooking up stories" regarding attacks on military stations across Indian-administered Kashmir. According to Pakistan's military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, India has created a hype about Pakistan attacking 15 locations, calling it a "fantastic and cooked-up story". He also stated that in the 21st century, every projectile leaves a digital trace and signature.
The international community has urged both countries to de-escalate tensions. However, Pakistan's military has stated that there will be "no de-escalation" until it has fully responded to India's strikes on Wednesday. Pakistan's information minister has said that the country has only engaged in a "defensive response so far" to India's attacks.
The situation remains highly volatile, with both countries accusing each other of aggression and misinformation. The potential for further escalation remains a significant concern, and the world is watching closely as these nuclear-armed neighbors navigate this dangerous path.
