Tensions soar between India and Pakistan following Cross-Border missile strikes

In a grave escalation of hostilities between India and Pakistan, missile strikes launched by India have resulted in the deaths of at least 26 individuals and injuries to 46 more within Pakistani territory. The Indian government claimed responsibility for targeting nine alleged sites linked to terrorist activity. Pakistan, however, denounced the strikes as an “act of war,” igniting fears of a broader military conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

According to Indian officials, the strikes were carried out in retaliation for a deadly assault last month on Hindu pilgrims in Indian-administered Kashmir, which resulted in 26 fatalities. India attributed that attack to Pakistan-based militant groups and vowed retribution. The Indian Ministry of Defence declared, “We are fulfilling our promise that those responsible will be held accountable.”

Among the sites hit by Indian missiles was a mosque in Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province. The blast claimed 13 lives, including two toddlers. Other targets included areas near Muridke and in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, where another mosque was reportedly struck, resulting in several civilian deaths, including that of a 16-year-old girl.

India defended its actions during a press briefing held by the army. Colonel Sudhir Chamoli stated that intelligence reports indicated imminent threats from militants affiliated with groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. “Our strikes were precise and designed to prevent further attacks,” he asserted, describing the operation as “measured, proportionate, and responsible.”

Pakistan, for its part, refuted claims that any of the targeted locations housed militant infrastructure. The Pakistani military characterized India’s allegations as baseless and said the attacks had struck civilian areas. “Six non-military sites were hit,” said General Ahmed Chaudhry, spokesperson for Pakistan’s armed forces.

Chaudhry emphasized that the Indian offensive was launched from across the border and did not involve aerial incursions into Pakistani airspace. “None of our aircraft crossed into India, and none of theirs entered our skies before launching,” he added. Pakistan also claimed to have shot down five Indian jets and a drone during the attacks.

In the wake of the strikes, Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, issued a strong statement vowing retaliation. “This is a blatant violation of our sovereignty,” he said. “We will respond with full force, and the nation stands united against this aggression.”

Later in the day, Sharif convened a National Security Council meeting where military leaders were authorized to take appropriate retaliatory measures. Official statements highlighted Pakistan’s right to defend its territory and avenge the deaths of innocent civilians.

The missile strikes, which reportedly began around 1 a.m. local time, triggered widespread panic and destruction. Footage circulated online showed burning debris and injured victims being transported to hospitals. In Bahawalpur, emergency rooms were overwhelmed with casualties, including severely injured children.

Along the line of control in Kashmir, both Indian and Pakistani troops engaged in intense overnight artillery exchanges. In Indian-administered Kashmir, seven civilians were reported killed and five more wounded. Pakistani officials reported five civilian deaths on their side, including that of a five-year-old child.

In Wuyan, a village in Indian-administered Kashmir, residents witnessed a fiery crash around 1:40 a.m. Local resident Adnan Ahmad described seeing an aircraft engulfed in flames falling from the sky, followed by explosions that continued for nearly an hour. Authorities confirmed wreckage from at least three Indian aircraft in the area, although Indian officials did not immediately comment on these reports.

Security forces later cordoned off the crash sites, and it was reported that the pilot of one of the jets had survived and was receiving treatment at a military hospital.

The Indian air strikes, conducted under the operation codenamed “Sindhoor,” received widespread political endorsement within India. Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stressed the need for global unity against terrorism, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh declared, “Victory to Mother India” on social media. Opposition leaders, including Congress Party President Mallikarjun Kharge, also expressed pride in the Indian military’s actions.

Several international airlines responded to the rising tension by suspending flights to and over parts of Pakistan and northern India until further notice.

This flare-up comes after weeks of mounting tension following the attack in Kashmir’s Baisaran Valley, a popular tourist destination. India has consistently accused Pakistan of harboring militant groups responsible for cross-border violence—a charge Pakistan has consistently denied.

As skirmishes continue along the border, global leaders have urged both sides to exercise restraint. A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres voiced deep concern, calling on both India and Pakistan to avoid further escalation. “The world cannot afford a military confrontation between these two nations,” the statement read.