On Wednesday, May 7, 2025, tensions between India and Pakistan escalated dramatically as India conducted airstrikes targeting several locations in Pakistan and the disputed region of Kashmir. This military action has been characterized by Pakistan as an "act of war," with both sides exchanging heavy cross-border shelling and military engagements, marking a significant increase in hostilities between the two nuclear-armed nations.
The strikes resulted in a rising death toll, with Pakistan's military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry reporting that eight people were killed, 35 injured, and two missing due to the attacks. Chaudhry detailed that there were 24 strikes across six locations, primarily hitting mosques and residential areas in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The Indian defense ministry, however, stated that the targets were "terrorist infrastructure" linked to the militant groups Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, which India accuses of orchestrating a recent attack that killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists, in Jammu and Kashmir.
In retaliation, Pakistan claimed to have shot down five Indian fighter jets, although this assertion has not been independently verified. The Pakistani government closed its airspace for 48 hours, leading to the suspension of all flight operations from major airports, including Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore. Major international airlines, such as Qatar Airways, announced temporary suspensions of flights to Pakistan due to the airspace closure.
Air India also canceled all flights to eight northern airports in India, including Jammu, Srinagar, and Amritsar, until noon local time. The situation has caused significant disruption to air travel in both countries, with numerous flights canceled and diverted.
India's airstrikes targeted nine sites, with reports indicating that these included locations in Punjab and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Indian officials described the operation as a "calibrated response" to the terrorist threat posed by the aforementioned groups. Former member of India's National Security Advisory Board, Amitabh Mattoo, emphasized that the strikes were focused on strongholds of these militant organizations.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Indian strikes, labeling them a "blatant act of war," and asserted that Pakistan reserves the right to respond robustly to such aggression. Sharif stated on X, "The Pakistani nation and the Pakistan Armed Forces know very well how to deal with the enemy."
In light of these developments, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep concern over the military operations and called for maximum restraint from both countries. He emphasized that the world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan, which could have dire consequences given their nuclear capabilities.
As the conflict escalates, the United States has urged both nations to de-escalate the situation. US President Donald Trump remarked that he hopes the fighting "ends very quickly," reflecting the international community's concern over the potential for further violence. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed this sentiment, stating his commitment to engaging both Indian and Pakistani leadership towards a peaceful resolution.
The backdrop to this crisis stems from an attack on April 22, 2025, when gunmen killed 26 people near a resort in Indian-administered Kashmir. This incident has significantly heightened tensions, leading to the downgrading of diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan, and the suspension of a key water-sharing treaty.
In response to India's military actions, Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif warned that the country would retaliate with "even greater force." He emphasized that Pakistan would take all necessary steps to defend its honor and sovereignty. The Pakistan military also reported that Indian missiles had hit civilian sites, including mosques, contradicting India's claims of targeting militant camps.
The current situation represents one of the most severe escalations in hostilities between India and Pakistan in over two decades. With both sides engaged in military operations and the threat of further retaliatory actions, analysts warn that the risk of a broader conflict is higher than it has been in recent years.
Michael Kugelman, a South Asia analyst, noted that the scale of India's strikes was unprecedented compared to previous military responses, raising concerns about how Pakistan might respond. "Given the scale of the Indian strike, which was far greater than what we saw in 2019, we can expect a sizable Pakistani response," he stated.
As the situation continues to unfold, both nations remain on high alert, with military operations and diplomatic communications ongoing. The international community watches closely, aware that any misstep could lead to a catastrophic escalation in an already volatile region.
