Escalated Confrontation between India and Pakistan: Tensions rise over a 100-hour standoff involving missiles and drones, triggered by a terror attack in Pahalgam.
India-Pakistan Tensions Skyrocket, Closing In on a Nuclear War
New Delhi: Tensions between India and Pakistan have reached a boiling point, making headlines across the globe. A potential standoff could lead to a devastating military escalation, tantalizingly edging towards nuclear war - a catastrophe the world cannot afford.
Although lasting less than 100 hours, this latest round of conflict began around 20 days ago, ignited by a gruesome terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. The tragedy claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians, primarily civilians, with India accusing Pakistan of links to the attack due to past connections with similar attacks, such as Pulwama in 2019. Pakistan, however, strenuously denies the charge.
Unprecedented Aggression
On the evening of May 7, after days of escalating tensions, India retaliated with Operation Sindoor, launching precision strikes on Pakistan's terror camps. A series of retaliations followed that night, comprising three waves of Pakistani attacks.
As evening approached on May 10, the civilian population on both sides braced themselves for another night of chaos, but the news of a ceasefire brought them some respite. Facilitated by US President Donald Trump's administration, the conditional ceasefire came at a cost: India agreed not to reactivate the Indus Waters Treaty.
India had accused Pakistan of targeting 26 urban centres, including civilian infrastructure, schools, and medical centres, marking a significant shift in tactics. The Indian government argued this unacceptable shift necessitated specific military counterstrikes on only enemy military installations.
The Ensuing Conflict
Pakistan, meanwhile, retaliated by accusing India of unprovoked aggression and asserting that 11 civilians, including a child, had been killed and over 50 injured in India's overnight air strikes. The two nations exchanged claims of striking decisive blows at one another's military bases.
Pakistan launched its third wave of drones and missiles late into May 10, escalating tension and drawing continued resistance from India's formidable air defenses. Drones were sighted over Punjab's Amritsar and Rajasthan's Jaisalmer, even by May 10's late afternoon.
India's Air Defense Stuns the World
Amidst the chaos, India's air defense network, including the integrated counter-unmanned aerial system and the indigenously developed Akash missile defense system, proved its mettle. Over 50 drones were shot down, and several more neutralized by Jamming radio frequencies.
There were claims and counterclaims of both nations downing each other's fighter jets. Pakistan claimed to have downed an Indian Rafale, while India reported hitting the Pakistani Air Force's US-made F-16 and China's J-17. The battle spilled over as the ceasefire negotiations ended, leading to an intense battle for air supremacy.
The first wave of Pakistani attacks occurred on May 7, with eight missiles launched at locations in J&K alone. India neutralized these missiles, responding with Israeli HARPY drones that targeted Pakistani air defenses, even in Lahore.
As developments unfolded, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, following overnight talks between the US and both sides. The world watched, holding its breath, as the cold war between India and Pakistan brashly exposed the precipice of an unthinkable nuclear disaster.
- In the ongoing war-and-conflicts between India and Pakistan, the recent round of tension began approximately 20 days ago, triggered by a deadly terror attack in Kashmir, specifically in Pahalgam.
- The ceasefire, facilitated by the US President's administration, was announced on the evening of May 10, providing a temporary respite to the civilian population on both sides.
- India accused Pakistan of targeting civilian infrastructure during the conflict, shifting tactics to include schools, medical centers, and urban centers, while Pakistan alleged Indian unprovoked aggression.
- The political implications of the ceasefire extend beyond the battlefield, as India agreed not to reactivate the Indus Waters Treaty as a condition for the truce, highlighting the intricate interplay of politics and general news in such war-and-conflicts.
