Following a terrorist attack on tourists visiting the region of Jammu and Kashmir, armed skirmishes between India and Pakistan were reported along the Line of Control (LoC) beginning on 24 April, raising fears of a potential escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The standoffs were followed by a diplomatic crisis which emerged between the two countries, as India accused Pakistan of sponsoring the attack.
On the night of 6 May 2025, the Indian Army launched a series of coordinated missile and air strikes on multiple locations within Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, in what was later confirmed by Indian officials as Operation Sindoor. The strikes reportedly targeted nine sites described by India as “terrorist infrastructure.” However, no independent verification of these targets was provided, and Pakistan strongly rejected India’s claims, calling the attacks unprovoked and baseless.
According to the Director-General of Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the attacks involved 24 strikes across six areas. At least 31 civilians, including children, were killed and more than 46 others were injured. The deadliest attack occurred in Ahmedpur Sharqia, near Bahawalpur in Punjab, where a mosque compound was struck, resulting in the deaths of five people, including a three-year-old girl.
Other locations hit in Punjab included Muridke city, a village near Sialkot, and Shakargarh. In Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir, two mosques were destroyed in Muzaffarabad and Kotli, killing a 16-year-old girl and an 18-year-old boy. Pakistani officials also reported that their air defense forces shot down five Indian warplanes, though India did not immediately confirm or comment on this claim.
Pakistan condemned the strikes, with DG ISPR stating that the attacks were an unjustified act of aggression and warned that Pakistan reserved the right to respond “at the time and place of our own choosing.” He added that the Pakistan Air Force was on alert and had prevented Indian aircraft from breaching Pakistani airspace during the operation. Reports from the ground indicated multiple explosions in both Ahmedpur Sharqia and Muzaffarabad.
India’s strikes came in the wake of a terrorist attack on 22 April 2025 in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians and was described as the deadliest attack on Indian soil since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. India blamed the assault on Pakistan-based militants, though Pakistan denied any involvement.
In response to the Pahalgam incident, India expelled Pakistani diplomats, revoked visas for Pakistani nationals, suspended the Indus Waters Treaty for the first time since its signing in 1960, and closed border crossings. Pakistan responded by suspending the 1972 Simla Agreement, expelling Indian diplomats, and shutting down airspace and trade routes to India. Analysts noted that the collapse of these bilateral agreements represented the most serious breakdown in India–Pakistan relations since the 1971 war.
The civilian casualties resulting from Operation Sindoor drew criticism from several humanitarian organizations and raised international concerns over the escalation of conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Calls for restraint have since been issued by multiple countries and international bodies.[21][22]
On 22 April 2025, armed insurgents carried out an ambush attack in the Baisaran Valley meadow near Pahalgam, located in Indian-administered Kashmir, killing 26 individuals, predominantly Hindu tourists. According to eyewitness testimonies provided to Indian media outlets, assailants reportedly questioned potential victims about their religious identity before opening fire, specifically targeting non-Muslims.[22]
The attack became among the deadliest attacks against Indian civilians in the region since 2000. The Resistance Front, an offshoot of the Pakistan-based, UN-designated terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba,[23] initially claimed responsibility for the attack.[24]Indian authorities alleged this group operated as a proxy for organizations supported by Pakistani military intelligence.[22]
Following the attack, India initiated the expulsion of Pakistani diplomats and withdrawal of its own diplomats, suspended the visas of Pakistani nationals, closed borders, and withdrew from the Indus Waters Treaty.[22][25] Pakistan responded by denying the allegations, suspending the Shimla Agreement,[26] closing border crossings and airspace between the nations, and instituting trade restrictions.[25]
Military events
A joint cordon and search operation was initiated by the Indian Army, paramilitary forces, and Jammu and Kashmir Police. A temporary lockdown was imposed in Pahalgam, and Indian Army helicopters were deployed to track down the militants, who reportedly fled to the upper reaches of the Pir Panjal range.[27][28] On 25 April, soldiers demolished the family residences of two individuals suspected of involvement in the Pahalgam attack.[22] An Indian soldier was killed and two other soldiers wounded during a gunfight with insurgents in the Basantgarh region of Udhampur.[13] Senior Lashkar-e-Taiba Commander Altaf Lalli was also killed in the gunfight.[29]
Both Pakistani and Indian Air Forces conducted intensive flights near the line of control, with security experts issuing warnings for the possibility of significant military operations.[30] An Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldier belonging to the 182nd battalion was captured by Pakistan Rangers after he reportedly entered Pakistani territory unintentionally at the Ferozepur border. Meetings were initiated between both nations to negotiate his release.[31][32]
24–25 April
On 24 April, an Indian soldier was killed and two other soldiers wounded during a gunfight with insurgents in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur. In the same encounter Senior LeT Commander Altaf Lalli was killed by Security forces.[13][29]
Also on 24 April, the Chinar Corp reported that it had thwarted an infiltration attempt by insurgents near Uri and killed 2 insurgents. In a post on X, the Corps said, "Heavy exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists, two terrorists have been eliminated, infiltration bid foiled by the security forces in the ongoing Operation. Large quantity of weapons, ammunition and other war-like stores have been recovered from the terrorists."[33]
Starting on the night of 24–25 April 2025, Indian military officials reported skirmishes and exchanges of gunfire at multiple locations along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border in the disputed territory.[22][34] The clashes continued throughout 25 April, with tensions between the two sides remaining high.[35]
26 April
On the night of 25-26 April, reportedly multiple Pakistani military outposts initiated "unprovoked small arms firing" across various sectors along the LOC. According to Indian Army statements, their forces responded "appropriately with small arms fire".[36]
Concurrently, security personnel destroyed the houses of suspected terrorists in the districts of Pulwama and Kulgam through controlled detonations. Both individuals were allegedly connected to the Pahalgam attack according to Indian authorities.[37]
On 27 April, The New York Times reported that India was building a case for a military response against Pakistan among foreign diplomats, rather than seeking de-escalation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi briefed diplomats from over 100 missions in New Delhi, emphasizing Pakistan’s historical ties to militant groups. Indian officials claimed to have preliminary technical intelligence, including facial recognition data, suggesting connections between the perpetrators and Pakistan. International reaction remained muted, with major powers distracted by other global crises, leaving India under little external pressure to moderate its response. Analysts warned that while India might seek a "spectacular" retaliatory strike, the tit-for-tat dynamic between the two nuclear-armed neighbors risked rapid escalation. Despite these concerns, some observers suggested the confrontation would likely remain within the bounds of "managed hostility," similar to previous India–Pakistan crises.[38]
The Pakistan Army stated it shot down two Indian military quadcopter drones along the LOC in the Satwal sector and in the Manawar sector of Bhimber district.[41][42][43][44]
1 May
On 1 May, Indian Home ministerAmit Shah said that the no terrorist involved in attack will be spared by India.[45] On night of 1 May Pakistani forces reportedly violated ceasefire for the eighth consecutive night. The Indian army reportedly responded with small arms fire.[46]
3 May
On 3 May India claimed that, a soldier from the Pakistan Rangers was captured by BSF after crossing the border to India.[15]
5 May
The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs announced an "effective civil defence in the event of a hostile attack" on 7 May across 7 states. Such drills were last conducted by India during 1971. As per reports, the drill includes:[47][48]
On 6 May 2025, India stated that its forces have launched "Operation Sindoor" hitting "terrorist infrastructure" in Pakistan. The name "Sindoor" likely refers to the red powder that many Hindu women put on their foreheads after getting married. In the Pahalgam attack, only men were targeted, leaving several Indian widows.[51]
Indian forces struck nine sites in Pakistan with missiles.[52] According to reports, intense shelling and loud explosions took place in 4 locations within Pakistan and five location in Pakistani-administered Kashmir.[53] Pakistan vowed to respond to the "cowardly attack" and said it shot down five Indian jets.[19][52] The Indian Air Force deployed the Rafale jets armed with SCALP missile s and AASM Hammer bombs in the 23 minute-long Operation Sindoor early in the morning of 7 May 2025.[54][55]
The nine locations which were struck includes Bahawalpur, Muridke, Tehra Kalan, Sialkot, Bhimber, Kotli and Muzaffarabad. This included terror camps, nerve centres, hideouts and headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.[56][53][57] Reports also suggest that a Pakistani JF-17 was shot down while trying to intrude into Indian airspace. Pakistan claimed it shot down five Indian fighter jets in self-defense.[10] According to reports and witnesses, at least two aircraft were said to have gone down — one in India and another in Indian-administered Kashmir but analyzing witness photos from one wreckage site in the India-administered Kashmir, independent weapons researchers identified the debris as an external fuel tank for likely a Rafale or Mirage fighter jet.[58]
In retaliation, the Pakistan Army began heavy mortar firing along the Line of Control which killed three civilians.[59]
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