In a dramatic escalation of regional tensions, India launched Operation Sindoor on Wednesday, executing a series of precision airstrikes targeting terror infrastructure deep within Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation came as a direct response to the brutal Pahalgam attack that claimed the lives of 26 Hindu civilians, which Indian intelligence has linked to terrorist outfits operating from across the border.
Nine high-value targets associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed were struck in what New Delhi described as “measured, focused, and non-escalatory” action. The Indian Army declared that "justice is served," affirming the strikes were aimed at crippling the very networks that fuel cross-border terrorism. Artillery duels erupted shortly after, with heavy shelling reported along the Line of Control, further intensifying an already volatile situation.
In the immediate aftermath, Pakistan issued a fierce warning. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the strikes as “an unprovoked act of war” and vowed strong retaliation. “Pakistan will respond with strength and precision. Our enemies must know they cannot undermine our sovereignty,” Sharif declared. Echoing his remarks, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that any counteraction would carry the full backing of the Pakistani people, and accused India of manufacturing a pretext for aggression under the guise of counterterrorism.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry labeled the Indian strikes a violation of international law and cited Article 51 of the UN Charter to assert its right to self-defense. It claimed civilian casualties—including women and children—and warned that India’s actions had pushed the region dangerously close to a broader conflict between two nuclear-armed nations.
As regional hostilities flared, China, a close ally of Pakistan and a neighbor to both countries, broke its silence. In a carefully worded statement, Beijing expressed “regret” over India's military operation and voiced “deep concern” about the deteriorating situation. A spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry urged both India and Pakistan to "prioritise peace and stability," emphasizing that the two nations are not only geographical neighbors but also share deep historical and geopolitical ties with China.
“China opposes all forms of terrorism,” the statement read, “but we also call on both sides to remain calm, avoid further provocation, and refrain from taking steps that could worsen the crisis.”
With the United Nations already holding emergency consultations behind closed doors, international stakeholders are scrambling to prevent the situation from spiraling into full-blown conflict. Meanwhile, airspace restrictions and troop alerts across both sides of the border reflect the gravity of the moment. The next moves from New Delhi, Islamabad, and Beijing will determine whether this standoff becomes another flashpoint in the fraught history of South Asia—or a moment when diplomacy manages to turn the tide.