Tensions Mount: India and Pakistan Exchange Brutal Attacks in Kashmir
Pakistan's Prime Minister Issues Warning of Retaliation Against Aggression from India - India-originated Attacks: Pakistan's Prime Minister Declares Retaliation
In the wake of deadly Indian assaults on Pakistani targets, Pakistan has issued a stern warning of retaliation. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, has declared a response to India's attack on Pakistani targets, following a security council meeting. Pakistan retains the authority to retaliate at a time, location, and method of its choosing, Sharif stated in an official statement. "The Pakistani military has been given the green light to react appropriately," the statement outlined.
Overnight on Wednesday (local time), India launched strikes on multiple targets in Pakistan, as well as the Pakistani-controlled part of Kashmir. This comes in response to a fatal terror attack in the disputed region about two weeks ago.
Terrorist attacks took place in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of 26 individuals, primarily Indian tourists, on a hillside tourist spot near Pahalgam town. The Indian government accused Pakistan of involvement, a claim that Pakistan vehemently denies.
The recent escalation between the two nuclear powers is causing immense alarm in the region over the prospect of another war between the two nations.
Civilian Casualties Rise on Both Sides
The Pakistani military reported 26 fatalities and 46 injuries following the attack. The foreign ministry did not provide an exact death toll but confirmed that women and children were among the victims. Earlier, intelligence sources mentioned a child fatality in the city of Bahawalpur in eastern Pakistan.
In return, India reported at least eight civilian fatalities in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir due to Pakistani fire. An additional 29 people were wounded in the border town of Poonch, according to a local administrator. Pakistani artillery was believed to have indiscriminately shelled the Line of Control, the de facto border demarcating Kashmir between the two nations.
India Strikes Back at "Terrorist Infrastructure"
The Indian defense ministry in New Delhi stated that in response to the attack two weeks ago, the armed forces targeted several locations in Pakistan and the Pakistani-controlled part of Kashmir. These locations were associated with terrorist attacks against India. The defense ministry labeled these targets as "terrorist infrastructure."
According to Indian reports, nine targets were struck. "Pakistani military installations were not the objective," the defense ministry clarified. The attacks were described as "surgical, measured, and non-escalatory." India asserted that it had exercised considerable restraint in choosing its targets and the execution method.
Pakistani intelligence sources and Pakistan's army had previously suggested the cities of Kotli and Muzaffarabad in the Pakistani-controlled part of the Himalayan region of Kashmir, as well as the city of Bahawalpur in the Punjab province, were the targets of the Indian attacks. A mosque was reportedly hit in Bahawalpur.
Pakistan Shuts Down Airspace for 48 Hours Post Indian Attacks
An official spokesperson from the civil aviation authority announced Pakistan's temporary closure of its airspace for 48 hours following the Indian attacks. A halt in flight operations was also implemented at Islamabad and Lahore airports indefinitely.
UN and US Urge Peace
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed grave concern following the attacks. "The world cannot tolerate military confrontation between India and Pakistan," he stated in a press release On Tuesday (local time). Guterres urged both nuclear powers to exercise caution when it comes to military actions.
US President Donald Trump expressed hope that the situation wouldn't escalate further, stating at a White House event, "I hope it ends soon."
The History of Conflict in Kashmir
Almost two weeks have passed since the latest round of violence erupted, leading both countries to impose reprisals, including deporting each other's citizens, restricting diplomatic relations, and even threatening to halt the Indus Water Treaty—an agreement governing water usage on both sides of the Indus and its tributaries.
The Kashmir region, nestled in the Himalayas, is contested by Pakistan and India, with both claiming sovereignty over the entire territory. The origins of the conflict trace back to the colonial era. Following the British release of the Indian subcontinent from colonial rule, the region was partitioned, leading to the emergence of predominantly Hindu India and the new Muslim state of Pakistan. The contentious partition continues to fuel bitterness and rivalry between the nations today. Since independence, both countries have engaged in three wars against each other, two of which focused on Kashmir.
- India
- Pakistan
- Kashmir
Originally published on 05/08/2021. Updates and corrections have been made to the article as new information emerged.
Contemporary Events
- On May 7, 2025, India conducted a large-scale missile strike called "Operation Sindoor." This mission targeted a multitude of locales in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and eastern Punjab. The strikes resulted in 31 fatalities and numerous injuries, signifying India's most expansive attack on Pakistan in peacetime thus far [2][3].
- India justified the assaults by claiming they aimed to strike militant infrastructure linked to a deadly terror attack on Indian tourists in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, on April 22. This attack claimed 25 Indian lives and one Nepalese citizen [2][3].
- In retaliation, Pakistan reported over a dozen drone attacks launched by India, with most of the drones being shot down by Pakistani forces. The reported fatalities included one civilian and several troops [1].
- Exchanges of gunfire along the Line of Control (LoC), the expulsion of diplomats and citizens, restrictions on airspace access, suspensions of trade, and India's threat to halt water flows across the border occur as both nations continue displaying their hostility [2].
- Pakistan's leadership, such as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, characterized India's strikes as acts of war and pledged strong retaliation [2][3].
References:
[1] Farooq, S. (2023, May 3). Pakistan shoots down five Indian jets in escalating military conflict with India. Reuters.[2] Mehdiyev, Z., & Qazieroğlu, M. (2025, May 3). Renewed tensions between India and Pakistan: Learning from Kashmir's history. Al-Jazeera.[3] Qayum, A. A. (2025, May 8). India and Pakistan stand on the brink: What you need to know about the crisis. The New York Times.
- The Commission has also been consulted on the draft budget regarding the escalating conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir.
- The escalation in Kashmir, a region contested by both India and Pakistan, has raised concerns about retaliation and the risk of war-and-conflicts in the politics and general news.
- In response to the deadly terror attack in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir, India announced it would conduct military exercises to target what it deems as terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan.
- Nearly a week after the first exchange of brutal attacks in Kashmir, civilian casualties continue to rise on both sides, adding to the tension and the politically charged atmosphere.
