Pakistan launches attacks on Indian military installations
In the wee hours of May 10, tensions between Pakistan and India escalated significantly with the launch of Operation Bunyad-e-Marsus, an intense military operation. Reminiscent of a fortress impregnable against its enemies, Operation Bunyad-e-Marsus saw Pakistan targeting military installations in India. According to reports, airbases in Bathinda (Punjab state) and Akhnur (Jammu and Kashmir territory) were directly hit, causing a stir in the regional political landscape.
However, things took a dangerous turn when Pakistan's defiance extended to the endangerment of civilian lives. Reports revealed Pakistan launched multiple drones into residential areas of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, putting lives at risk and potentially desecrating religious sites. India's Ministry of Defense wasted no time in condemning these actions, reiterating their commitment to safeguarding the country's sovereignty [1].
As a response to Pakistan's actions, India retaliated by firing missiles at three airbases, one of which is near Pakistan's capital. The back-and-forth continued, with intense combat operations ongoing in Srinagar. TASS reported that air defense systems were engaged in the region, adding another layer of complexity to this volatile situation [2].
This latest escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors is a stark reminder of the longstanding animosity between the two nations, tracing its roots back to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. On that fateful day, armed militants targeted Indian tourists in Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the death of 26 individuals, primarily Indian citizens [3]. The responsibility for the attack was claimed by Kashmir Resistance, an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba [4].
While this timeline serves as a painful reminder of escalating tensions between the two nations, it's essential to remember that diplomatic efforts from various nations have led to ceasefire agreements in the past. Here's hoping that cooler heads prevail, and the two nations can find a path toward resolving their differences without resorting to further violence.
- BBC News (2025, May)
- RIA "Novy Day" (2025, May))
- Al Jazeera (2025, May)
- The Guardian (2025, May)
- Reports from early May 10 indicated that airbases in Akhnur, Jammu and Kashmir territory, and Bathinda, Punjab state, were targets of Operation Bunyad-e-Marsus, Pakistan's military operation.
- The impregnable nature of Operation Bunyad-e-Marsus, reminiscent of a war-and-conflicts scenario, sent shockwaves through the general news and politics landscape, as it infiltrated the already tense India-Pakistan relationship.
- Unfortunately, the escalation of tensions did not end with military targets, as reports emerged of Pakistan using drones to attack residential areas in Jammu and Kashmir, putting civilian lives at risk.
- As expected, India retaliated by firing missiles at airbases, including one near Pakistan's capital, marking another episode in the longstanding war-and-conflicts history shared by the two nations.
