In a bold military move, India launched precision missile strikes early Wednesday targeting nine terrorist facilities across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). This action comes in response to the heinous April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 innocent lives, many of them Hindu pilgrims. The Indian government has attributed the attack to Pakistan-based terror groups, notably Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), both banned internationally for their militant activities.
The Indian Defence Ministry described the operation as a focused and calculated effort to dismantle terrorist infrastructure without provoking a wider military confrontation. “These precision strikes are a direct consequence of our firm resolve to hold the perpetrators of terror accountable,” the Ministry stated.
According to reports, the Indian Air Force struck key militant hubs including JeM’s base in Bahawalpur and LeT’s operations centre in Muridke, both in Pakistan’s Punjab province. Pakistani officials have confirmed the targeted locations and acknowledged at least eight casualties. In retaliation, Pakistan initiated artillery fire along the Line of Control (LoC), killing three civilians in India and signaling a sharp escalation in hostilities between the nuclear-armed adversaries.
Reacting swiftly, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed regret over the unfolding conflict. “It’s a shame. They've been fighting for a long time. I just hope it ends very quickly,” he said at a White House briefing. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X that Washington is “closely monitoring the situation” and remains engaged with both countries to promote a peaceful outcome. The Indian National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval, briefed Rubio directly about the scope and intent of India’s strikes, emphasizing their counter-terror objective.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres voiced deep concern over the military escalation. His spokesperson urged both nations to exercise “maximum restraint” and avoid actions that could spiral into a broader conflict. “The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan,” the statement warned.
Echoing calls for de-escalation, the UAE urged both countries to step back from the brink. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasized that “dialogue and diplomacy are the only viable routes to peace.” He highlighted the need to prevent regional instability that could ripple across international borders.
Indian officials have made it clear that the strikes were designed to be non-provocative, avoiding military targets and focusing solely on dismantling terror launchpads. The government insists that these were preventive measures taken in self-defense under international law. With regional and global powers now closely watching the volatile situation, the spotlight remains on whether these operations will curb the menace of cross-border terrorism or spark a wider military confrontation.
As tensions simmer along the LoC, the next steps by Islamabad and New Delhi could redefine the regional security landscape—and determine whether diplomacy or devastation takes hold.