RNS: Tensions between India and Pakistan surged to alarming levels last week after India launched a major military offensive, dubbed Operation Sindoor, targeting alleged terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Punjab. The Pakistani government has officially confirmed the deaths of 11 soldiers and injuries to at least 78 others in the cross-border clashes.
The offensive, initiated shortly after midnight on May 6, involved coordinated strikes by the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy. Indian officials stated that the operation aimed at nine strategic terror-linked sites and succeeded in eliminating several high-value targets, including advanced Pakistani air defense systems near Lahore.
India claims that the strikes resulted in the deaths of 35–40 Pakistani soldiers and over 100 militants. Among those reportedly killed were Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf, and Mudassir Ahmad — individuals linked to the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814.
In retaliation, Pakistan launched counterattacks targeting Indian military and civilian facilities, prompting further airstrikes from India. These included bombardments of eight Pakistani airbases, radar installations, and key defense assets. Meanwhile, intense shelling was reported across the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan has accused India of causing civilian casualties in the crossfire, reporting 26 deaths, including women and a child, and 46 injuries. These developments followed a deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, India, allegedly carried out by Pakistan-based militant groups, which killed 26 civilians.
After nearly 88 hours of sustained hostilities, both nations agreed to a ceasefire on May 10. However, the standoff reached a critical point with an Indian Air Force precision strike on Pakistan’s Noor Khan Airbase near Rawalpindi on the night of May 9. The airbase is located near the Strategic Plans Division, which oversees Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, leading to heightened fears in Islamabad of a potential decapitation strike on its nuclear command infrastructure.
Citing a former U.S. official, The New York Times reported that the strike was interpreted by Pakistan as a stern warning from New Delhi about its willingness to target strategic assets if provoked. The move triggered alarm in Washington and Gulf capitals, sparking swift diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation.
The four-day confrontation brought South Asia to the brink of a larger conflict, marked by heavy artillery exchanges, drone strikes, and mounting civilian and military casualties on both sides. While the ceasefire has temporarily halted direct conflict, regional analysts warn that the underlying tensions remain unresolved.
