Cross-Border Missile Strikes: India Launches Missiles Towards Pakistan

Tit-for-tat tension soars between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan following the escalation of violence in Kashmir.

Last month, a massacre of tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir led to tensions reaching new heights. On May 7, 2025, tensions intensified further with India launching missile strikes on several locations in Pakistani-controlled territory, claiming it was targeting infrastructure used by militants linked to the previous massacre. A total of 31 people were killed in the strikes, according to sources in Pakistan.

In response, Pakistan claimed it downed several Indian aircraft, including three top-line fighter jets. Two planes fell onto villages in India-controlled Kashmir while one fell in northern Punjab state.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan publicly commended the armed forces for their response to an attempted overnight incursion by Indian fighter jets, claiming that five Indian aircraft were downed after they released their payloads from Indian airspace.

Even beyond the Middle East, tensions are causing disruptions. Ten passenger airline flights between Taiwan and Europe were affected due to the closure of Pakistan airspace.

The Pakistan-India nuclear threat has deepened international concerns due to their longstanding hostility and rivalry. At a nuclear conference in Washington last month, Dame Louise Richardson, president of the Carnegie Corporation, warned that the Pakistan-India nuclear threat is one of the gravest in the world, with the odds being higher for a new nuclear detonation originating in either India or Pakistan.

The region has been split between India and Pakistan since 1949 and is claimed by both countries in its entirety. In the past, the region has seen several wars between the two countries, and fears of another conflict continue to escalate.

India defended the strikes as a necessary response to the killings of innocent civilians in India. Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the government exercised its "right to respond" and killed only those responsible for the killings on Indian soil. The strikes were well-planned and executed, resulting in the destruction of terror infrastructure without causing collateral damage.

Urging Pakistan and India to talk directly and show restraint, Britain warned that further escalation benefits no one. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the U.K. was "engaging urgently with both countries," stressing the importance of diplomacy, de-escalation, and protecting civilians.

China expressed regret over military action taken by India and called on both countries to prioritize peace, remain calm, and refrain from actions that could further complicate the situation. China, one of the largest investors in Pakistan, urged both India and Pakistan to engage in constructive dialogue that leads to a swift resolution and a reduction in the threat to regional peace.

Think Tank Warning: Dame Louise Richardson, president of the Carnegie Corporation, highlighted the Pakistan-India nuclear threat as one of the gravest in the world. She warned that "if I were a betting person, I would say that the odds are of a first new nuclear detonation occurring in one of the other areas, say, India-Pakistan."

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that strikes were preemptive, as intelligence indicated that further attacks against India were impending. Pakistan, however, claimed it downed five Indian fighter jets and accused Indian forces of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, including mosques, with the strikes resulting in the deaths and injuries of several civilians.

As a result of the escalating violence, schools have been closed in several border areas of Indian-controlled Kashmir. Fears of further military attacks and civilian casualties are leading to calls for a swift, diplomatic resolution to prevent a wider conflict.

[1] Sheikh Saaliq, Associated Press. (2025, May 7). Pakistan's prime minister praises military response to Indian jets. AP News.

[2] Sheikh Saaliq, Associated Press. (2025, May 7). Splan Tensions rise between nuclear-armed India, Pakistan. AP News.

[3] Associated Press writer. (2025, April 26). [India's Nuclear Threat, Latest Info on Escalating Conflict with Pakistan]. Associated Press.

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