In the early hours of May 6, 2025, India launched a precision military operation deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, targeting key terrorist hubs in what is now being called "Operation Sindoor." The bold move was a calculated response to the brutal Pahalgam attack on April 22, in which 26 civilians, most of them Hindu tourists, were killed in cold blood—an attack carried out by The Resistance Front, a Lashkar-e-Taiba-linked group operating from Pakistani soil.
The Indian Air Force executed synchronized strikes across nine locations, including Bahawalpur, Kotli, Muzaffarabad, and Muridke. These sites have long been under the radar for harboring terror training camps and acting as logistical bases for anti-India militant outfits. Bahawalpur is notably infamous as the operational base of Jaish-e-Mohammed, while Muridke is home to Jamaat-ud-Dawa’s headquarters, Lashkar-e-Taiba's parent front. Muzaffarabad and Kotli, both in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, have been critical staging areas for cross-border terrorism.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that the strikes were "measured, focused, and limited," with no intention of engaging the Pakistani military. Rather, the aim was clear—to eliminate terror infrastructure with surgical precision, avoiding broader escalation. Pakistan, however, claimed civilian casualties, reporting nine deaths including three children and dozens injured. India, in turn, reported neutralizing over 70 militants and destroying key assets linked to terror financing and training.
Following the strikes, Pakistan launched retaliatory shelling across the Line of Control, leading to three civilian deaths on the Indian side. Islamabad further claimed it had shot down five Indian fighter jets and a drone, and even struck an Indian brigade headquarters—claims that remain unverified by independent sources. The situation quickly prompted international alarm. The United Nations urged restraint, with Secretary-General António Guterres calling on both nations to avoid further provocation. The United States echoed this, urging both sides to prioritize dialogue over confrontation.
Airspace over the region was swiftly shut down, affecting civil aviation and prompting global airlines to reroute or suspend flights over northern India and Pakistan. While both countries have seen similar escalations in the past, Operation Sindoor marks a turning point in India’s counter-terrorism posture—signaling that it will no longer tolerate proxy warfare and will respond with swift, targeted force when provoked.
As tensions simmer and diplomatic backchannels engage, the world watches closely. Operation Sindoor has not only reshaped the tactical landscape but has also raised serious questions about Pakistan’s continued harboring of terrorist groups and the global community’s willingness to confront this long-standing threat.