The Indian Navy has ramped up its presence and readiness in the Arabian Sea by conducting multiple live-fire missile exercises near the maritime boundary with Pakistan. This development comes in the wake of the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, including 25 tourists and one local resident.
To assert its strategic preparedness, the Indian Navy issued four green notifications for live missile firings from April 30 to May 3. These drills, conducted off the Gujarat coast, are taking place just 85 nautical miles from where Pakistan is carrying out its own naval exercises. The Indian drills feature the use of advanced weaponry including BrahMos cruise missiles and focus on anti-ship operations and long-range precision strikes, reinforcing the Navy's readiness to respond to any threat in the region.
The maritime activity is viewed as a direct show of strength amid the ongoing tensions with Pakistan. Indian military sources have emphasized that these actions are meant to enhance deterrence and demonstrate operational capabilities in a high-stakes security environment.
The backdrop to this escalation is the Pahalgam terror attack, where five heavily armed militants opened fire on a group of tourists in Baisaran Valley, a popular destination in Anantnag district. The assailants used automatic weapons including AK-47s and M4 carbines. Eyewitness accounts revealed that the attackers selected their victims based on religious identity. The Resistance Front (TRF), a group linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility for the massacre but later retracted the statement.
Indian authorities identified two of the attackers as Pakistani nationals and have blamed Islamabad for supporting cross-border terrorism. In response, India has taken a series of diplomatic and strategic countermeasures. These include suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, expelling Pakistani diplomats, and closing Indian airspace to Pakistani aircraft.
Pakistan has strongly denied involvement in the attack, calling for a neutral investigation and warning India against further escalation. Pakistani leaders have also cautioned that any military aggression would be met with strong retaliation, even hinting at the possibility of a nuclear response.
The international community has expressed concern over the deteriorating situation. The United States has called on both countries to de-escalate and pursue transparent investigations. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who reiterated India's demand for justice. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also reached out to the U.S. to urge restraint from India.
Meanwhile, the United Nations and China have appealed for calm and diplomacy, highlighting the potential consequences of conflict between two nuclear-armed nations.
As of May 1, 2025, the military standoff persists, with minor border skirmishes being reported. Though no casualties have resulted from the skirmishes so far, both India and Pakistan continue to mobilize forces and conduct military drills, raising fears of further escalation. Diplomatic efforts are ongoing, but the situation remains highly volatile.