India Launches Air Strikes on Several Sites in Pakistan: What We Know So Far

India launched missile strikes on several targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, according to officials in New Delhi. In the escalation of tensions between the two nuclear-armed rivals, Pakistan responds, saying it would take action against the attacks.

Background of the Conflict

The recent attack on Pakistan was triggered by the April 22 killing of 26 Hindu tourists by Islamist gunmen at the picturesque tourist resort in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir. The Pahalgam attack was the worst attack on Indian civilians in over ten years, and India blamed Pakistan for being linked to the Pahalgam attack.

However, Pakistan strongly denied this, saying it had nothing to do with the violence. Tensions between the two countries kept rising after the Pahalgam attack, and those tensions led to India’s overnight strikes.

Details of the Air Strikes

What Was Targeted?

Pakistan said that India fired missiles at three different locations. However, India’s official statement didn’t give specific details about the attacks. But, Indian officials claimed they targeted “terrorist bases” in Pakistan.

“A little while ago, the Indian armed forces launched ‘OPERATION SINDOOR’, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed,” the Indian statement said.

“Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution,” it said.

Also, Indian news channels showed videos of explosions, fires, and thick smoke lighting up the night sky. The footage also showed people running from the affected areas in Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. People near two border areas in Indian Kashmir, along with a police officer, said they heard loud blasts, heavy shelling, and jets flying overhead.

Pakistan’s Response and Claims

The Pakistani army said Indian forces hit six places, including Kotli, Muzaffarabad, and Bahawalpur. They reported that the strikes killed at least eight people, including a 3-year-old child, and injured 35 others.

Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, said, “Pakistan has every right to respond forcefully to this act of war imposed by India, and a forceful response is being given.”

“The Pakistani nation and the Pakistan armed forces know very well how to deal with the enemy,” he said. “We will never let the enemy succeed in its nefarious objectives.”

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif told Geo News that India only hit civilian areas, not terrorist camps. He also said India launched the missiles from within its airspace and called India’s claim about targeting “camps of terrorists is false“.

International Reactions

For several days, countries around the world have urged India and Pakistan to avoid going to war. A UN spokesperson said Secretary-General António Guterres felt deeply worried about India’s strikes across the international border and the Line of Control.

“He calls for maximum military restraint from both countries. The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan,” the spokesperson said.

U.S. President Donald Trump called the fighting between India and Pakistan “a shame“, and speaking from the White House, he added, “I just hope it ends very quickly.” 

Also, the Trump administration has supported India’s concerns about terrorism and has urged Pakistan to strongly denounce last month’s Kashmir attack. Top U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have been working to help prevent India from taking further military action.

Military Escalation on the Border

On Wednesday morning, Pakistani forces launched heavy mortar shelling at villages along the Line of Control (Loc) in Jammu and Kashmir. This came after the Indian military targeted nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with missile strikes. The shelling came from across the border and affected several areas, including Krishna Ghati, Shahpur, and Mankote in Poonch, as well as Laam, Manjakote, and Gambeer Brahmana in Rajouri district, and the Karnah region in Kupwara, north Kashmir. 

A woman and her daughter were injured when Pakistani shelling hit a home in Poonch district, with one of them in critical condition. The two civilians injured were from Mankote, and moved them to the hospital for treatment. Indian security forces fired back at Pakistani positions along the border. Also, due to the heavy Pakistani shelling, many local residents took shelter in underground bunkers for safety. 

Political and Strategic Context

Due to the April 22 attack in India, the people across India sparked widespread anger, especially in the Hindu-majority population. Many were demanding strong action in response. Public pressure was growing on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government to take strong military action. In response, Modi said his administration will find every terrorist and those supporting them, and ensure they face justice.

Many people in India now believe the only proper response is direct military action against Pakistan. For years, India has blamed Pakistan for supporting armed separatist groups in Kashmir, a region both countries claim.

The Indian government says Pakistan had links to last week’s deadly attack and that two of the suspected attackers came from Pakistan. A group called the Kashmir Resistance Front first claimed responsibility, but later denied involvement. India believes this group is just a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, a known Pakistan-backed terror group.

Even though his country is already struggling with major economic problems and internal security issues, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif promised an independent and fair investigation to avoid conflict. 

In addition to the Wednesday attack, the Modi government has taken several strong steps in response to the Pahalgam attack. That’s suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a key agreement that had allowed Pakistan access to 80% of the river water for farming for over 60 years. Also, India banned Pakistani diplomats, stopped issuing visas to Pakistani citizens, and banned several Pakistani YouTube channels, even those run by former cricket players. Also, in response, Pakistan has taken a few major actions against India, including prohibiting all Indian songs in Pakistan.

What Happens Next?

The situation is still developing, and what happens next depends largely on Pakistan’s reaction. Pakistan has called the Indian strikes “an act of war” and warned that it will respond with force. The coming hours are likely to be critical.