India Conducts 'Operation Sindoor' Missile Strikes on Pakistan and Kashmir After Deadly Terror Attack

On May 7, 2025, India launched 'Operation Sindoor,' a series of missile strikes on Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, targeting alleged terrorist infrastructure. This action was in retaliation for the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians. India blames Pakistan-based militant groups for the attack, reviving accusations of Islamabad's support for terrorism. Pakistan denies involvement and condemned the strikes as an 'unprovoked act of war,' reporting 31 deaths, including civilians. The UN and the US have urged restraint, warning of potential escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

India’s Justification: Retaliation and Preemption

Indian officials stated that the missile strikes were a direct response to the Pahalgam attack, which they claim was orchestrated by The Resistance Front (TRF), a group India alleges is a proxy for Pakistan’s military establishment. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the strikes were both retaliatory and preemptive, citing intelligence that suggested further attacks were imminent.

The Indian military emphasized that the strikes were "focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature," and that care was taken to avoid civilian casualties and damage to non-military infrastructure. Indian Army Colonel Sofia Qureishi stated that targets were selected to minimize harm to civilians, and no Pakistani military installations were hit.

Among the nine sites targeted were Muridke and Bahawalpur, known strongholds of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), respectively—two groups with a history of deadly attacks in India. Muridke is believed to house the Markaz Taiba camp, where Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving gunman of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, was trained. Bahawalpur is considered the headquarters of JeM, the group behind the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing that killed 40 Indian paramilitary personnel.

Historical Context: A Pattern of Attacks

India’s missile strikes come against the backdrop of a long and violent history of cross-border terrorism. The 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament, which killed 14 people, was attributed to LeT and JeM. In 2008, LeT operatives carried out coordinated attacks in Mumbai, killing 166 people. These incidents, along with the 2019 Pulwama bombing, have shaped India’s security doctrine and its increasingly assertive military posture.

Indian officials argue that Pakistan has failed to take "demonstrable steps" to dismantle terrorist infrastructure on its soil. Despite international designations of LeT and JeM as terrorist organizations, their leaders, including Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar, have operated with relative impunity within Pakistan, according to Indian and international intelligence assessments.

Pakistan’s Response: Denial and Condemnation

Pakistan has strongly condemned the Indian strikes, calling them an "unprovoked, cowardly and unlawful act of war." A statement from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office declared that Pakistan "reserves the right to respond, in self-defense, at a time, place, and manner of its choosing." The Pakistani military reported that at least 31 people were killed in the strikes, including civilians and children, and claimed that several mosques were hit, including one in Ahmedpur East where 14 people died.

Pakistan has denied any involvement in the Pahalgam attack or in supporting militant groups. While acknowledging that some of these groups are based in Pakistan, Islamabad insists it does not finance or train them. Pakistani officials also claimed to have shot down five Indian fighter jets and drones during the operation, though India has not confirmed these losses.

International Reactions and Escalation Risks

The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged both countries to exercise restraint, warning that "the world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan." U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was "monitoring the situation closely," while former President Donald Trump called the violence "a shame" and expressed hope for a quick resolution.

Despite India’s assertion that the strikes were not intended to escalate the conflict, cross-border artillery fire has continued. Pakistan’s National Security Committee has warned of further retaliation, and both sides have reportedly engaged in drone incursions and shelling along the Line of Control.

Strategic Targets and Civilian Impact

According to Indian sources, the strikes neutralized over 70 militants and wounded more than 60 others. However, Pakistani officials maintain that the majority of those killed were civilians. Among the dead were members of the family of Masood Azhar, JeM’s chief, who remains a key figure in India’s list of most-wanted terrorists.

The Indian government has reiterated that no civilian infrastructure was intentionally targeted. However, images from the ground show significant damage to buildings, including mosques, raising concerns about collateral damage and the potential for further escalation.

A Recurring Cycle

This is not the first time India has launched strikes across the border in response to terror attacks. In 2019, following the Pulwama bombing, Indian jets bombed a JeM training camp in Balakot, Pakistan. That incident led to a brief aerial dogfight and the capture of an Indian pilot, who was later returned.

Analysts warn that the current situation could spiral into a broader conflict if not contained. The lack of clear escalation thresholds and the increasing use of drones and missiles have made the situation more volatile than in previous episodes.

References

• Tensions escalate as Pakistan calls India's operation 'an act of war'
• Pakistan calls Indian strikes an 'act of war' and vows to respond
• Kashmir crisis: what is Lashkar-e-Taiba and is it supported by Pakistan?
• Pakistan’s complex web of terror networks
• India and Pakistan: A Timeline of Tensions Over Kashmir
• Operation Sindoor Live Updates: Pahalgam Attack Was The Original Escalation, Says India Amid Tension With Pakistan
• ‘No deterrent value’: Will India’s strikes on Pakistan stop armed attacks?