India-Pakistan ceasefire violated hours after coming into force: As it happened

11 May 2025

Operation Sindoor shows that India will not hesitate to take action against terrorism, even beyond its borders, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has said.

“Through the surgical strikes after the Uri incident, air strikes after Pulwama attack and now multiple strikes after Pahalgam attack, the world has witnessed what India can do if terror attacks are carried out on its soil. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reaffirmed India’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism, making it clear that the country will take strong action against terror threats on both sides of its border,” he stated at the inauguration of the BrahMos Integration and Testing Facility Center in Uttar Pradesh.

Singh has said the operation aims to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and the part of Kashmir that New Delhi refers to as “Pakistan occupied Kahsmir,” while avoiding harm to innocent civilians. In contrast, Pakistan deliberately targeted civilian areas in India, including attempts to attack temples, gurudwaras, and churches, the defense minister claims

Islamabad has “welcomed” the “constructive” role US President Donald Trump's administration played in reaching ceasefire between India and Pakistan, which it called as “a step towards de-escalation and regional stability.”

“We also appreciate President Trump’s expressed willingness to support efforts aimed at the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute — a longstanding issue that has serious implications for peace and security in South Asia and beyond,” the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

“Pakistan remains committed to engaging with the United States and the international community in efforts to promote peace, security, and prosperity in the region,” the ministry said, adding that Islamabad looks to deepen its partnership with Washington.

The Indian Air Force has called on social media users and the media to refrain from speculation and dissemination of unverified information.

In a post on X, it said it had “successfully executed its assigned tasks in Operation Sindoor, with precision and professionalism,” adding that the operations were “conducted in a deliberate and discreet manner,” and that they are ongoing.

Pakistan has reopened its airspace for all types of flights, following a ceasefire agreement with India, according to Dawn News.

Flight operations have, however, not been fully normalized, as it will take time for passenger aircraft and other equipment to be shifted back to airports from safe locations, the report added.

Former Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal has questioned whether the US, which claims to have mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, could be trusted.

“US claiming mediation has detracted from India’s long held position against mediation,” Sibal wrote in a post on X. “US is equating India and Pakistan. This has implications.” 

Responding to a CNN report which cited a Pakistani source as saying that India sought a ceasefire after relentless attacks from Pakistan, Sibal added, “At the international level the issue of Pak involvement in terror has been papered over and the burden has been put on both countries to exercise restraint and find a diplomatic solution.”

US President Donald Trump has said he is very proud of the “strong and unwaveringly powerful leadership of India and Pakistan” for agreeing to a ceasefire.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he would “substantially” increase trade with both countries.

“Additionally, I will work with you both to see if, after a ‘thousand years,’ a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir,” Trump added. “God Bless the leadership of India and Pakistan on a job well done!!!”

Amid continued military tensions between India and Pakistan, local authorities in Punjab’s Amritsar district have maintained a state of red alert and advised residents to stay indoors as a precautionary measure.

“By way of abundant caution, please remain indoors with lights off and move away from windows. Please do not move out on the road, balcony or terrace. Don’t panic. We will let you know when we can resume normal activities,” the Amritsar District Commissioner announced in a statement issued at 5:24am local time.

In a follow-up statement issued at 5:24am, authorities announced that while power supply has been restored for residents’ “convenience,” the situation remains tense. “We are still on red alert. Sirens will sound now, indicating this red alert. Please don’t move out of your house; stay indoors and away from windows,” the DC said. “We will inform you when we get the green signal. Please ensure compliance and please don’t panic.”

10 May 2025

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held a late-night briefing to denounce “repeated violations” of the ceasefire by Pakistan. The truce, he previously announced at 6pm, was intended to halt military action along the International Border and Line of Control, following a week of escalating violence between the two countries.

“In the last few hours, there have been repeated violations of the understanding reached earlier this evening between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO) of India and Pakistan,” Misri said. He warned Islamabad to “take appropriate steps to address these violations" with all “seriousness and responsibility.”

"The Armed Forces are maintaining a strong vigil on the situation,” he added. "They have been given instructions to deal strongly with any instances of repetition of the violations of the International Border as well as the Line of Control

An Indian Army soldier sustained minor injuries during a brief exchange of fire with a suspected intruder at the Nagrota Military Station in Jammu, the Army’s White Knight Corps has reported.

The incident occurred after an alert sentry noticed suspicious movement near the perimeter of the station and challenged the suspect. The response triggered a short burst of gunfire, during which the sentry was wounded.

“On noticing suspicious movement near the perimeter, the alert sentry at Nagrota Military Station issued a challenge, leading to a brief exchange of fire with the suspect,” the White Knight Corps said in a post on X.

A search operation is currently underway to locate the intruder or intruders believed to be involved in the attempted breach.

Pakistan remains committed to the ceasefire, its Foreign Ministry has stated, adding that any “issues” that arise in connection to its implementation should be addressed through appropriate communication channels. “Notwithstanding the violations being committed by India in some areas, our forces are handling the situation with responsibility and restraint,” the ministry’s statement has claimed.

China has welcomed a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and said it is “willing to continue playing a constructive role in this regard,” Xinhua has reported, citing Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Beijing is concerned about the escalation, the report said, adding that it believes Islamabad will react to the situation “with calm” and take decisions in line with its “fundamental” interests.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has earlier thanked China among other nations that expressed their support to Islamabad and said that Beijing stood “firmly by Pakistan in upholding its sovereignty.”

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has thanked the nation’s military for what he called a “historic success” in their operation against India. As a “responsible nation,” Pakistan has given a positive response to the ceasefire proposal, he has stated in a public address. Islamabad will pursue “the path of negotiations” to ease tensions with New Delhi, he added, without mentioning the ceasefire violations reported by the Indian side.

The Indus Waters Treaty, cross-border terrorism, and issues related to Kashmir are three top topics Pakistan would like to discuss with India during potential talks, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has told the broadcaster Geo TV. “These are the three major issues that can be discussed as of now,” he has said.

Pakistani Information Minister Ataullah Tarar has dismissed reports of ceasefire breaches by the nation’s military. “Violation of ceasefire agreement from our side is out of question,” he has told the broadcaster Geo TV.

There have been “repeated violations” of the ceasefire agreement over the past few hours, a spokesman for the Indian Foreign Ministry has told a briefing, adding that the nation’s military has been “giving an adequate and appropriate response” to such actions. India calls on Pakistan to take relevant measures to address the violations, the spokesman has added.

Drones have been spotted in the Kutch district in the northwest of the Indian state of Gujarat bordering Pakistan, its home minister, Harsh Sanghavi, has said on X. A complete blackout has been reported in the area, according to the minister.

A video obtained by RT shows what appears to be air defense cannons opening fire on aerial targets over the city of Srinagar in India’s Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

There is “no ceasefire” in India’s Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said on X, posting a video from Srinagar. According to the minister, air defense units deployed to the city have opened fire on aerial targets.

Sirens and explosions have been heard in Srinagar in India’s Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, four hours after a ceasefire between India and Pakistan was agreed to, RT correspondent Runjhun Sharma reports.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has posted on X: “What the hell just happened to the ceasefire? Explosions heard across Srinagar!!!”

The US has formally acknowledged India’s revised military doctrine, which will treat any future terrorist attack as an act of war, Indian media has reported, citing government sources. Washington has not provided any official comments on the matter.

The head of the Indian parliament’s foreign relations committee, Shashi Tharoor, has welcomed the ceasefire, saying “peace is essential.”

“India never wanted a long-term war, but India wanted to teach terrorists a lesson, I believe that lesson has been taught,” he has told journalists.

The Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan remains suspended despite the ceasefire agreement, media outlets report, citing unnamed sources.

The 1960 treaty governs the sharing of water from the Indus River and its tributaries between the two neighbors. India withdrew from the pact last month following the deadly attack on tourists in Kashmir that triggered the latest escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

Neither Islamabad nor New Delhi has issued an official statement on the status of the agreement.

The ceasefire announced on Saturday by India and Pakistan should not be used by Islamabad as a tool to “recoup its losses and to fire again with additional supplies,” Rajiv Dogra, the former Indian ambassador to Italy and Romania and former permanent representative to the UN agencies in Rome, has told RT.

“It is not a ceasefire. A ceasefire is an agreement formally worked out. It is just an understanding that we will not use guns and air power and so on, on a reciprocal basis. It depends on good behavior by Pakistan. It also depends on a number of other actions that Pakistan will be required to do.”

This includes, according to Dogra, the fate of four terrorists identified by New Delhi as being responsible for killing 26 people in Pahalgam, Kashmir on April 22. The attack was cited by India as the main reason for launching Operation Sindoor against Pakistan on May 7. India has linked the terrorists to Pakistan, which Islamabad has denied.

Indian military commander Raghu N. Nair has warned that while New Delhi “will be adhering” to the ceasefire reached with Islamabad earlier on Saturday, the military will “remain fully prepared and ever vigilant and committed to defending the sovereignty and integrity of the motherland.”

“Every misadventure by Pakistan has been met with strength and every future escalation will invite a decisive response. We remain fully operationally ready to launch whatever operations may be required in defense of the nation,” he said at a press briefing.

India has inflicted significant damage on Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Defense Ministry said at a briefing.

The ministry claims that Pakistan’s offensive and defensive capabilities have been destroyed, with Indian forces targeting military infrastructure and airfields in Jakubabad, Sargodha, and Bulari, all of which it said sustained heavy damage.

Near the Line of Control, Pakistan’s command and control logistics, military infrastructure, and personnel also suffered major losses, according to the ministry.
Officials also say no civilian or religious sites were targeted, dismissing earlier reports suggesting otherwise as “disinformation.”

Pakistan has fully reopened its airspace to all types of flights, according to local media citing the Pakistan Airport Authority.

“All airports across the country are available for normal flight operations. Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for updated flight schedules,” the authority said in a statement.

The ceasefire between India and Pakistan came into effect at 5:00 p.m. local time. (11:00 GMT).

India’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed that New Delhi and Islamabad have agreed to an immediate ceasefire starting at 5 p.m. local time. Both sides have issued directives to enforce the truce, and the director generals of the two countries are expected to hold further talks on May 12.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has confirmed that Islamabad and New Delhi have agreed to a “ceasefire with immediate effect.”

“Pakistan has always strived for peace and security in the region, without compromising on its sovereignty and territorial integrity!” he wrote on X.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has claimed that India and Pakistan have agreed to “an immediate ceasefire.” In a post on X, he wrote that the sides are ready to “start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site.”

US President Donald Trump has claimed that India and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire.

“After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence,” he wrote on Truth Social.

There has been no official confirmation of his claim from either Islamabad or New Delhi.

Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has claimed that “Pakistan is not the aggressor” in the recent escalation with India. In an interview with the BBC, Tarar said Islamabad had the right to “respond” to Indian attacks on Pakistani civilians and military bases “in accordance with the UN Charter.” He also said Pakistan has not targeted civilian populations inside India.

“Our actions were in the exercise of our right to self-defense,” he said. Tarar reiterated that New Delhi has no evidence of Pakistan’s involvement in last month’s Pahalgam terror attack but added that Islamabad is “ready to cooperate with any fair and transparent investigation” into the incident.

Pakistan has “escalated the conflict,” making retaliation by India “inevitable,” Prabhu Dayal, former Indian ambassador to Morocco and Kuwait, has told RT. He stressed that the current standoff between the nuclear-armed neighbors is a full-blown war.

China has expressed “deep concern” over the recent escalation between India and Pakistan and offered to play a “constructive role” in resolving the crisis, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry.

“China is closely monitoring the current situation between India and Pakistan,” the ministry said. “We strongly urge both sides to act in the larger interest of peace and stability, exercise calm and restraint, return to the track of political settlement through peaceful means, and refrain from any action that could further escalate tensions.”

India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has accused Pakistan of deliberately spreading misinformation about the recent escalation. In a statement on Saturday, the ministry said Islamabad was circulating old photos and videos, falsely presenting them as recent combat footage, along with fake claims of Indian losses, including downed jets and captured soldiers.

The ministry alleged that senior Pakistani officials, including ministers, “promoted unverified and doctored content on social media” to “distort the truth, mislead the global public, and reclaim lost narrative ground through a storm of misinformation.”

It condemned the effort as a form of “hybrid warfare” and pledged to counter it by releasing clear and transparent information on the situation and exposing false information.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has been briefed on the “Indian aggression,” according to a press release. He praised the country’s armed forces for “giving a befitting response” to New Delhi’s “unprovoked aggression” and emphasized that Pakistan, “a responsible and peace-loving nation,” had “demonstrated considerable restraint in the face of Indian provocations.”

Zardari said India had left Pakistan “with no option but to respond decisively” to its strikes and reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity “at all costs.” 
 

The Pakistani military has released a video from an undisclosed location purportedly showing a missile launch toward Indian territory. In the footage, a military officer is heard saying, “It is 5:52 a.m., wait for our response.”

The exact date and location of the video could not be independently verified.

Indian Prime Minister Modi has held a high-level meeting on the escalation with Pakistan with top security officials, including Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and chiefs of the Indian Armed Forces at his residence in New Delhi. No details on what was discussed have been released.

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud has held separate phone calls with his Indian and Pakistani counterparts.

“During the calls, discussions focused on efforts to deescalate tensions and on-going military confrontations,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry said on X. It added that the foreign minister affirmed the kingdom’s commitment to security in the region and its “close and balanced relations with both friendly countries.”

Islamabad is not considering the nuclear option at the moment, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has said, adding that the conflict with India would affect more places than just South Asia.

“I am telling the world that this is not going to be confined to the region only; it could be much wider... destruction,” Asif told Geo News.

 “Our options are being reduced considering the situation India is creating,” he added.

An Indian strike has damaged Sheikh Zayed International Airport in Rahim Yar Khan, according to PTV News

“India targeted the symbol of friendship between Pakistan and the UAE,” the Pakistani state-run TV channel has said.

Pakistan wants peace and will stop its aggression if India does the same, Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar has said.

“We genuinely want peace, because our aim is not destruction and waste of money, but without the hegemony of any country which we have demonstrated,” Dar was cited by The News, Pakistan as saying.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar has spoken with his Saudi Arabian counterpart, Faisal Bin Farhan.

The Saudi foreign minister “expressed condolences over the loss of innocent lives and appreciated Pakistan’s measured and restrained response,” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said on X.

The situation remains tense between India and Pakistan after a series of attacks were launched by the two neighbors in the early hours of Saturday.

India’s attacks on Pakistani air bases In Nur Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Rafiqui, Muridke, Sialkot, as well as two radar bases, prompted a retaliatory response from Pakistan – which has launched Operation Bunyan Al Marsoos (Unbreakable Wall).

Both sides have accused the other of escalating tensions.

RT’s report brings the latest updates from Srinagar in Kashmir, where powerful explosions were heard in the morning, and the capitals of India and Pakistan.

The Indian Army has said it destroyed terrorist launchpads in Pakistan.

“As a response to Pakistan’s misadventures of attempted drone strikes on the night of 08 and 09 May 2025 in multiple cities of Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab, the Indian Army conducted a coordinated fire assault on terrorist launchpads, pulverizing & razing them to cinders,” the army said on X.

Pakistan has said its airspace will remain closed for all types of traffic until noon on May 11.

New Delhi has accused Islamabad of misusing international airways “under the guise of civilian aircraft” to conceal military operations.

Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has spoken to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, amid growing tensions in South Asia.

“India’s approach has always been measured and responsible and remains so,” Jaishankar said on X

New Delhi has denied Islamabad’s claims that it destroyed India’s Russian-made S-400 systems and a Brahmos base.

India “unequivocally rejects” the “false narratives,” the Foreign Ministry said in a briefing.

New Delhi has also rejected claims that it targeted Afghanistan with missiles.

India has conducted airstrikes on Pakistani air bases In Nur Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Rafiqui, Muridke, Sialkot, as well as two radar bases, the Indian Foreign Ministry said in a briefing.

The strikes were carried out with precision weapons, the ministry added.

Islamabad had no choice but to retaliate to New Delhi’s military actions and is acting on the defensive, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said.

“The tamasha [circus] that India has staged over the last three days, we will not let India claim hegemony,” Dar told Geo News. “The Pakistan Armed Forces and government are determined that this will not happen.”

Dar said the Pakistani leadership made the decision to retaliate following alleged India’s attack on the Nur Khan Air Base. “This operation that we started today, it will all end in some way. It all depends on what India wants,” he added.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spoken with Pakistan’s army chief General Asim Munir and offered Washington’s assistance in defusing the crisis in South Asia.

“He continued to urge both parties to find ways to deescalate and offered U.S. assistance in starting constructive talks in order to avoid future conflicts," a statement issued by US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.

A top official in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been killed in Pakistani shelling, according to the territory’s chief minister.

“Today the residence of the officer was hit by Pak shelling as they targeted Rajouri town killing our Additional District Development Commissioner Sh Raj Kumar Thappa,” Omar Abdullah said on X.

Pakistani forces opened “unprovoked fire” on Indian Border Security Force (BSF) posts in the Jammu sector late Friday night, the BSF said in a statement.

Indian personnel responded “in a commensurate manner,” reportedly causing “widespread damage to posts and assets of Pakistan Rangers along the International Boundary.”

“Our resolve to protect India’s sovereignty is unshaken,” the statement emphasized.

“Pakistan’s continued escalation along the western front through drone incursions and munitions is a matter of grave concern,” The Indian Ministry of Defence said in a post on X.

The Indian Army has reported intercepting and destroying multiple armed drones launched from Pakistan overnight, releasing a video of the flying UAV along with photos of the debris, including what appears to be a munition.

“Pakistan’s blatant escalation with drone strikes and other munitions continues along our western borders. In one such incident, today at approximately 5 a.m., multiple enemy armed drones were spotted flying over Khasa Cantt, Amritsar. The hostile drones were instantly engaged and destroyed by our air defence units,” the Army said in a statement.

“Pakistan’s blatant attempt to violate India’s sovereignty and endanger civilians is unacceptable,” it added, reiterating that the military “will thwart enemy designs” and remain committed to defending India’s western borders.

Indian military sources have shared a video of the Indian Army’s retaliatory strikes on “terrorist launch pads” used to stage drone attacks across the Line of Control (LoC) earlier this week, ANI reports.

The Indian government is expected to address escalating tensions with Pakistan and the ongoing cross-border violence at a joint press conference by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of External Affairs, scheduled for 10:30am local time, according to local media.

A series of explosions from suspected drone and artillery strikes damaged several houses and properties near the Aap Shambhu Temple in the Rajouri district of Jammu, according to footage from the scene shared by ANI.

Pakistan carried out cross-border shelling overnight, causing significant damage to civilian areas in the Rajouri district of Jammu, according to local authorities.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reportedly called a meeting of the National Command Authority (NCA), the top civil-military body responsible for control and operational decisions regarding Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program, according to PTV News.

The Pakistani government has said that it “responded befittingly to Indian aggression,” claiming that the country’s armed forces “successfully targeted key Indian military installations” as part of its so-called Operation Bunyan un Marsoos.

“These actions are being taken in response to India’s first attack, which was an attack on our land, people and sovereignty,” it added in a post on X.

The Group of Seven (G7) nations has issued a joint statement condemning the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India, and urging both India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint and “engage in direct dialogue towards a peaceful outcome.”

“Further military escalation poses a serious threat to regional stability. We are deeply concerned for the safety of civilians on both sides,” the G7 Foreign Ministers said, expressing support “for a swift and lasting diplomatic resolution.”

Indian air defenses reportedly engaged a new Pakistani drone attack, with at least 14 explosions heard in the air as an NDTV crew reported live from the ground in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.

The Indian Army briefing, originally expected to take place early in the morning, has been delayed until 10am local time, NDTV reports.

Islamabad has announced the launch of a large-scale military operation against India, code-named Bunyan un Marsoos. Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the name of the operation means “a wall fortified with lead.”

“OPERATION BUNYAN UN MARSOOS STARTS,” the Pakistani government declared in a post on X, without providing further details. Pakistani media claimed, citing security sources, that the country’s military has targeted “multiple high-value Indian military assets.”

The Indian Army has announced an urgent press briefing at 5:45am amid rising tensions with Pakistan, according to local media.

09 May 2025

The Pakistani government has once again threatened India with retaliation in a post on X, accusing New Delhi of launching missiles at “key Pakistani military installations, including Noor Khan Airbase, Shorkot Airbase, and Murid Airbase.”

Islamabad claimed that the country’s air defense systems “successfully intercepted and neutralized these hostile attacks in time,” adding that “there have been no casualties or material losses.”

“India must now prepare for Pakistan’s response,” the government warned. “The Armed Forces of Pakistan are fully prepared to defend the homeland, airspace, and national security.”

New Delhi has yet to officially confirm any new strikes in Pakistan. However, the Indian Ministry of Defence earlier reported a significant escalation in Pakistani drone activity along the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) on Friday evening, noting that “prompt action is being taken wherever necessary.”

Pakistan has closed its airspace to all flights from 3:15am to 12:00pm on Saturday, according to the Pakistan Airports Authority.

New Delhi had earlier accused Islamabad of using civilian aircraft as cover while launching drone attacks on Indian territory.

“Pakistan did not close its civil airspace despite launching a failed, unprovoked drone and missile attack on May 7… Pakistan used civil airliners as a shield, knowing fully well that its attack on India would elicit a swift air defence response,” said Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi at a press briefing on Friday. They emphasized that the Indian Air Force “demonstrated considerable restraint in its response, thus ensuring the safety of international civil carriers.”

New Delhi has yet to confirm any new strikes on Pakistani military assets, after Islamabad accused it of targeting three air bases. Meanwhile, witnesses on the ground and Indian journalists have shared videos allegedly showing missiles hitting the Pakistan Air Force’s Noor Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi, as well as other locations.

Islamabad has accused India of targeting at least three Pakistani air bases with air-to-surface missiles, vowing imminent retaliation. New Delhi has yet to confirm any military action against Pakistani assets.

“India some time ago fired air-to-surface missiles from its jets. PAF Nur Khan base, PAF Murid base, and Shorkot base were targeted,” Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), told a media briefing early Saturday morning.

“According to information received so far, all PAF assets are safe,” he added, warning India to “wait for our answer.”

As part of its Operation Sindoor, launched on Wednesday in retaliation for a deadly terrorist attack in Baisaran Valley, New Delhi initially struck nine “terrorist camps” in Pakistan and the Pakistan-controlled part of Kashmir, but not Pakistani armed forces.

However, after Pakistani forces engaged in cross-border artillery fire and targeted Indian military installations and civilian areas with hundreds of drones, the Indian Army responded to the escalation “with force,” including what it said was the neutralization of an air defense system in Lahore.

The Indian Ministry of Defence has reported a significant escalation in drone activity along the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan, with 26 locations affected, including Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet, and Lakhi Nala.

An armed drone reportedly targeted a civilian area in Ferozepur, Punjab, injuring members of a local family. The injured received medical assistance, and security forces have secured the area.

“The Indian Armed Forces are maintaining a high state of alert, and all such aerial threats are being tracked and engaged using counter-drone systems. The situation is under close and constant watch, and prompt action is being taken wherever necessary,” the ministry’s Directorate of Public Relations stated in a post on X.

“Citizens, especially in border areas, are advised to remain indoors, limit unnecessary movement, and strictly follow safety instructions issued by local authorities. While there is no need for panic, heightened vigilance and precaution are essential,” it added.

India has temporarily suspended civil flight operations at 32 airports across its northern and western regions until 5:29am IST on May 15, 2025, as per Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) issued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). 

The affected airports include major hubs such as Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Chandigarh and Leh, as well as others in Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Ladakh. Additionally, 25 segments of Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes within the Delhi and Mumbai Flight Information Regions (FIRs) have been closed “from ground level to unlimited altitude” until the same date.

Airlines including Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet have canceled or rerouted hundreds of flights, advising passengers to check flight statuses and consider alternative arrangements. International carriers such as Lufthansa, United Airlines, and Singapore Airlines have also adjusted their routes to avoid the affected airspace.

Indian Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has ordered special train services to be launched in the regions affected by the airport closures and fight restrictions. Five trains are to run between the cities of Jammu, Udhampur, and Katra in India’s Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the national capital of New Delhi, the head of the public relations service for the Northern Railways has told journalists, confirming the government’s directive.

The Indian Army is responding “strongly” to the Pakistani drone attacks in India’s Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, defense officials have told the local media, without revealing any further details about the nature of the military’s actions.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved an immediate disbursement of a loan to Islamabad worth $1 billion, the Pakistani prime minister’s Office has said. India opposed the IMF’s proposal to allocate a total of $2.3 billion in loans to Pakistan but abstained during the voting on the issue.

“Sirens, explosions are being heard … in Srinagar,” RT South Asia Correspondent Runjhun Sharma has reported, adding that the city has been affected by a “complete blackout.” Drone attacks have also been reported in the cities of Jammu, Samba and the Pathankot district of the Punjab State, she said.

Numerous drone sightings have been reported at 26 locations along the Indian-Pakistani border, according to the Indian military. The sightings included suspected armed drones that could pose a threat to military or civilian targets, defense officials have stated, adding that “the Indian Armed Forces are maintaining a high state of alert.” 

The potentially affected area spans from the city of Bhuj in the western Indian state of Gujarat to Srinagar in India’s Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, according to the statement.

The US is actively engaged in mediation efforts between India and Pakistan, the White House has said. Secretary of State Marco Rubio “has been in constant communication with the leaders of both countries, trying to bring this conflict to an end,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has told journalists. US President Donald Trump “wants to see this de-escalation as quickly as possible,” she added.

India has abstained from voting on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan to Pakistan worth $2.3 billion. New Delhi has cited what it called Islamabad’s “poor track record” and warned that the funds allocated to it by the international body could be “misused,” particularly to sponsor “cross-border terrorism.”

At least one person has been injured in a Pakistani drone attack targeting the city of Ferozepur in the west of India’s Punjab state, according to local media. Drone sightings were also reported in the state’s northernmost district of Pathankot.

Blackouts have been reported in several areas in India’s Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir due to Pakistani drone attacks. The cities of Srinagar and Udhampur have been particularly affected, according to local media reports. Videos have surfaced on social media showing Indian air defense forces repelling the drone attacks.

At least 33 civilians have been killed and 62 injured as a result of Indian strikes since the start of the escalation, Lieutenant General Ahmed Chaudhry, the head of the Pakistani Armed Forces public relations service, has told journalists at a press conference.

The Indian government has granted the Army chief the authority to mobilize the Territorial Army – a reserve force comprised of volunteers who have received military training which can be called up to assist the regular army in an emergency.

Up to 14 Territorial Army battalions out of a total of 32 could be summoned to active duty and deployed to various locations across the nation, the Indian Defense Ministry has stated.

India’s foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, stated that on the night of May 8-9, Pakistan launched around 300 drone attacks across 36 locations in India.

The targets included cities, military establishments, and religious places, indicating a deliberate attempt by the Pakistan Army to strike a wide range of locations, he said in a news briefing on India’s Operation Sindoor. 

The drones used in these attacks were reportedly Turkish-made, officials added. Misri also rejected Pakistan’s claims that India staged fake attacks on its own locations in Poonch and Amritsar, allegedly as a ploy to deceive the international community.

“The idea that India would attack its own cities is the kind of deranged fantasy only Pakistan could come up with,” he said. The foreign secretary has rejected Pakistan’s claims that it did not target or attack any religious places, stating that it was spreading “disinformation” and attempting to disown its actions.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Shafqat Ali Khan, stated at a press briefing on Friday that India’s actions are responsible for increasing the tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors and bringing them closer to war.

“It is most unfortunate that India’s reckless conduct has brought the two nuclear-armed states closer to a major conflict,” he said, according to The Dawn. He further added, “India’s jingoism and war hysteria should be a source of serious concern for the world.”

RT Correspondent Runjhun Sharma takes stock of the volatile situation in Srinagar, the capital of Indian-administered Kashmir. The city witnessed a blackout on Thursday evening on account of Pakistani drone strikes in the region.

Azerbaijan has expressed support for Pakistan in the latter’s ongoing conflict with India, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said.

“FM Jeyhun Bayramov expressed strong solidarity and support for Pakistan in wake of India’s illegal and unprovoked attacks that violated Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the ministry said on X.

Bayramov called his Pakistani counterpart Mohammad Ishaq Dar to discuss the situation in South Asia, according to the ministry.

The World Bank is not in a position to intervene between India and Pakistan when it comes to their dispute over the Indus Waters Treaty, according to its president, Ajay Banga.

“There’s a lot of speculation in the media about how the World Bank will step in and fix the problem, but it’s all bunk,” he exclaimed, “the World Bank’s role is merely as a facilitator.”

Signed by India and Pakistan in 1960, the Indus Waters Treaty regulates the use of the Indus River basin’s waters. It was suspended by New Delhi in the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack in Indian-Administered Kashmir.

India has said it will deploy 14 infantry Territorial Army (TA) battalions to its Northern, Western & Eastern Commands till 2028.

The TA is a part-time military reserve force that supports the regular army, and is used in times of emergency or when regular units are deployed elsewhere.

India has decided to halt cricket’s showcase domestic tournament, the Indian Premier League, according to reports.

The decision came after a match played in Dharamshala, a city on the edge of the Himalayas, on Thursday was abandoned due to air raid alerts.

New Delhi has killed “at least 7 terrorists” who were trying to infiltrate into Indian-Administered Kashmir from Pakistan, the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) said in a statement.

”This infiltration bid was supported by fire from Pak Rangers post Dhandhar,” the BSF said, adding that it “caused extensive damage” to the Pakistani post.

New Delhi has briefed Tehran on the “cross-border” links of the April terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, the Indian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The attack, which claimed 26 civilian lives, featured in the talks between Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in New Delhi on Thursday.

“Both sides strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and called for enhanced regional cooperation to combat the threat,” the Indian Foreign Ministry said.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has claimed that the X account of the government’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, Economic Affairs Division was hacked.

A post purported to be from the handle asked for “more loans” after “heavy losses were ‘inflected’ by the enemy.”

The Indian Armed Forces have used the Russian-made S-400 mobile surface-to-air system in the ongoing conflict with Pakistan, according to sources familiar with the situation.

“S-400 was a part of the layered air defense of India,” the sources said. “They were used to track aerial threats.”

India has opened the Chenab river dam gates in Jammu and Kashmir.

Footage obtained by RT showed multiple gates of the Salal dam at Reasi opening, allowing water from the Chenab to flow into Pakistan.

China has said it is ready to work with the rest of the international community to continue playing a constructive role in easing the current tensions between India and Pakistan.

“We urge both sides to act in the larger interest of peace and stability, observe international law, including the UN Charter, remain calm, exercise restraint and refrain from taking actions that may further complicate the situation,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said.

Pakistan launched multiple drone and artillery attacks against India along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir during the night of May 8–9, according to a statement released on Thursday by the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI) of the Indian Army. 

“Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire Western Border... [and] resorted to numerous ceasefire violations (CFVs) along the LoC,” the statement said.

The Indian Army emphasized that its forces “effectively repulsed” the drone attacks and delivered a “befitting reply” to the ceasefire violations. The post was accompanied by a short video clip appearing to show India's retaliatory strike on an unspecified target.

“The Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded with force,” the statement concluded.

08 May 2025

India’s Border Security Force (BSF) successfully thwarted a “major infiltration attempt” along the border in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district late on Thursday night, the force reported.

“At around 2300 hours on 8 May 2025, BSF foiled a major infiltration bid at the International Boundary in Samba district, J&K,”BSF Jammu wrote in a statement on X

No further details have been released so far regarding the number of infiltrators or their fate, but the incident comes amid heightened tensions and ongoing cross-border hostilities between India and Pakistan.

India’s Ministry of Defence has confirmed that Pakistani-origin drones and missiles targeted military stations in Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur near the international boundary with Pakistan on Thursday, adding that all threats were neutralized with no casualties or material losses.

“The threats were swiftly neutralised using kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities in line with established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). No casualties or material losses were reported,” the statement said.

“India remains fully prepared to defend its sovereignty and ensure the safety of its people,” the defence ministry emphasized.

US Vice President J.D. Vance has urged Pakistan and India to de-escalate tensions following the recent terrorist attack in Kashmir and New Delhi’s retaliatory strikes, while emphasizing that the conflict is “fundamentally none of our business.”

“What we can do is try to encourage these folks to de-escalate a little bit, but we’re not going to get involved in the middle of a war that’s fundamentally none of our business and has nothing to do with America’s ability to control it,” Vance said in an interview with Fox News.

The April 22 attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people, has led to heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. India has blamed Pakistan-based militants for the assault, while Pakistan denies involvement and has called for a neutral investigation.

Vance, who was visiting India at the time of the attack, expressed hope that New Delhi would respond in a way that avoids a broader regional conflict. He also called on Islamabad to cooperate with India in addressing terrorism.

US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce has been asked to comment on Washington’s stance regarding India’s claim that Pakistan supports terrorist groups.

“That’s a call that we’ve been making for decades,” Bruce said. “It is the dynamic that we’ve seen in the Middle East disrupting lives.”

She stressed that the terrorist attack in India’s Kashmir Region was “awful.”

“But at this moment in time… one thing that has to stop, which is a back and forth and a continuation of this,” she said.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has held a phone conversation with his Italian counterpart, Antonio Tajani, according to the former.

The top diplomats discussed “India’s targeted and measured response to firmly counter terrorism. Any escalation will see a strong response,” Jaishankar wrote on X.

Interceptor missiles can be seen flaring across the night sky in footage circulating on social media, purporting to show the work of Indian anti-air defenses countering missile and drone attacks near the border with Pakistan.

Indian military stations in Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur near the international boundary with Pakistan have come under attack by Pakistani drones and missiles, but suffered no losses, according to Indian government sources.

Pakistani attacks have led to a total blackout in several parts of North India, RT South Asia correspondent Runjhun Sharma has reported from Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir.

The blackout followed Pakistani drone and missile attacks in several parts of India, she said.

While the Indian military has been able to “neutralize these drones and missiles,” there is “constant heavy artillery firing happening across the line of control, which is the de facto border between India and Pakistan,” Sharma reported.

Indian Prime Minister “Narendra Modi has met his NAC, the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, to brief him on the situation... [there is] constant monitoring of the situation... at the highest level in New Delhi right now,” she reported.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has talked to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and discussed the ongoing escalation between New Delhi and Islamabad.

“India has been measured in its actions. However, any escalation will get a firm response,” he announced in an X post.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has talked with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the phone and condemned India’s strikes.

Sharif also asserted that Pakistan would “defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity at all costs” as quoted by PTV News.

Rubio, in turn, noted that the US was “closely following the situation in South Asia” while being “committed to promoting peace and stability in the region,” urging both India and Pakistan to de-escalate.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, stressing “the urgency for immediate de-escalation.” Rubio also “reaffirmed US support for direct dialogue between India and Pakistan and encouraged ongoing efforts to enhance communication.”

He also expressed his condolences for victims of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

Sources report heavy shelling along the Line of Control, as Pakistan continues to launch missiles and drones; some have been intercepted in Jammu.

The Indian cities of Jammu and Srinagar have also reported power outages.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has stated that India’s response to last month’s terrorist attack in Kashmir has been “non-escalatory, precise, and measured.”

“Our intention is not to escalate matters – we are only responding to the escalation. No military targets have been struck; only terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan has been hit,” he said during a briefing in New Delhi. He added India’s action was “restrained” and was directed “toward non-civilian, non-military targets, and confined to terrorist camps.” 

Misri also stated that the choice regarding de-escalation rests with Islamabad, as he accused Pakistan of triggering the escalation with the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Kashmir, during which 26 people – predominantly tourists – were gunned down by terrorists.

Misri noted that contrary to Pakistan’s claims that New Delhi targeted civilians during its May 7 strikes – codenamed ‘Operation Sindoor’ – Islamabad itself targeted civilian areas in India on Wednesday during its retaliation. He alleged that Pakistan launched a deliberate attack on the Sikh community, hitting a Sikh temple in the town of Poonch, Jammu region. “We know that at least three individuals were killed in that particular attack,” Misri stated.

New Delhi on Thursday updated the death toll from the Pakistani attacks to 16 people, including three women and five children.

Pakistan earlier claimed that at least 31 civilians were killed on Wednesday following India’s launch of ‘Operation Sindoor’.

The Indian Armed Forces successfully countered Pakistan’s extensive drone and missile offensive targeting multiple military installations across Northern and Western India during the night of May 7–8, officials in New Delhi have said. The response included the neutralization of an air defense system in Lahore

“This morning, the Indian Armed Forces targeted air defense radars and systems at several locations in Pakistan. The Indian response has matched Pakistan’s in both domain and intensity. It has been reliably learnt that an air defense system in Lahore has been neutralized,” Indian Army spokesperson Col. Sofiya Qureshi told the media at a briefing in the capital on Thursday.

India had earlier warned that “any attack on military targets in India will invite a suitable response.” 

Wing Commander Vyomika Singh added that over the past two days, Pakistan had intensified its unprovoked firing across the Line of Control, employing mortars and heavy-caliber artillery in the Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, and Rajouri sectors of Jammu and Kashmir. “Sixteen innocent lives have been lost, including three women and five children, due to Pakistani shelling. India was compelled to respond in order to halt the mortar and artillery fire from Pakistan,” she said.

India has banned all online content from Pakistan.

“In the interest of national security, all OTT platforms, media streaming platforms and intermediaries operating in India are advised to discontinue the web-series, films, songs, podcasts and other streaming media content, whether made available on a subscription based model or otherwise, having its origins in Pakistan with immediate effect,” India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said in an advisory.

The Indian and Iranian foreign ministers have co-chaired a joint commission meeting in New Delhi.

“Did a comprehensive review of our bilateral cooperation and agreed on next steps in many domains,” Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said on X. “Will be marking the 75th anniversary of our diplomatic relations in an appropriate manner.” 

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi visited Pakistan on Tuesday. Tehran has called on New Delhi and Islamabad to “exercise restraint” in the face of growing tensions that threaten to escalate into a full-blown conflict.05:10 PM

Sri Lanka has said it will stay neutral in any conflict between India and Pakistan.

“We will not get involved in the Indian Ocean geopolitical issues,” Sri Lankan Cabinet Spokesperson Nalinda Jayatissa said at a press briefing in Colombo. “We will follow a non-aligned stance while maintaining our sovereignty.”

The spokesperson added that Sri Lanka was “prepared to support any measure to prevent terrorism.”

India has said its armed forces “neutralised” an air defense system overnight in Lahore, while targeting a number of radars in Pakistan.

A statement released by the Indian Defence Ministry said Pakistan “attempted to engage a number of military targets in Northern and Western India” using drones and missiles. “These were neutralised by Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defense systems,” the ministry added.

The US consulate in Lahore has asked all American citizens in the Pakistani city to leave or seek shelter on account of “drone explosions, downed drones, and possible airspace incursions.

“The Consulate has also received initial reports that authorities may be evacuating some areas adjacent to Lahore’s main airport,” it said in an advisory.

New Delhi has no intention of escalating the military situation with Islamabad, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has said.

“However, if there are military attacks on us, there should be no doubt that it will be met with a very very firm response,” he said at a meeting in New Delhi.

India’s strikes on suspected terrorist facilities in Pakistan were a “calibrated, calculated and very carefully precise response,” to the April terrorist attack in New Delhi-occupied Kashmir, Indian opposition MP and writer Shashi Tharoor told RT in an interview.

Tharoor added that the Indian armed forces “targeted specific sites,” hit “only well-known terrorist bases and launchpads,” struck at night, when few civilians walk around, and managed to minimize collateral damage. 

The MP said Pakistani military facilities were not targeted. “We wanted to signal that what we are doing is a one-off retaliation and not the opening salvo in a protracted war,” Tharoor added.

Pakistan has said it shot down 12 Indian drones overnight, including one that attacked a military target near the city of Lahore, which is 24 kilometers away from the international border between the countries.

The Indian attacks caused damage and wounded soldiers, Pakistani officials were cited as saying by AP.

Pakistan has blocked 16 Indian YouTube news channels and 32 Indian websites, citing national security concerns.

Pakistan’s Telecommunication Authority has said the channels and sites were spreading false and damaging narratives that intended to distort public perception and undermine national unity.

India had banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels as well as the Instagram accounts of several Pakistani celebrities and influencers in the wake of the April terror attack in Indian-Administered Kashmir.

India’s Foreign Ministry has said 13 civilians were killed by Pakistani fire on the town of Poonch, which is near the Line of Control, the de facto border between the countries in Kashmir. 

The ministry put the total number of non-fatal casualties in Kashmir at 59, with 44 of them being in Poonch.

Authorities in the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan are taking action against potential escalation from Pakistan following recent cross-border hostilities.

In Rajasthan, the border with Pakistan has been completely sealed, and border security personnel have been issued shoot-at-sight orders for any suspicious activity.

The Indian Air Force is also on high alert, and schools near border areas are closed.

The leaves of all police personnel have been cancelled and public gatherings restricted as a precautionary measure in both states.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in India for a scheduled bilateral meeting, following his recent visit to Pakistan amid heightened tensions between the two South Asian neighbors. While the official purpose of Araghchi’s visit is to co-chair the India-Iran Joint Commission meeting, attention is also focused on his potential role in mediating the ongoing India-Pakistan standoff.

Araghchi’s visit to Pakistan earlier this week involved discussions with top Pakistani officials, including President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aiming to ease tensions following the deadly April 22 attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people. Iran has expressed its willingness to mediate between India and Pakistan to de-escalate the situation.

In India, Araghchi is set to co-chair the India-Iran Joint Commission meeting with his counterpart S. Jaishankar on May 7-8. The meeting will focus on strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in trade and investment. 

The Iranian FM’s agenda was set prior to the recent escalation, but discussions may also touch upon regional security issues. India, however, has historically opposed third-party mediation in its disputes with Pakistan, maintaining that such issues should be resolved bilaterally.

The Indian Army reported that Pakistani troops engaged in “unprovoked” cross-border fire during the night of May 7–8, targeting multiple sectors along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. According to an official statement cited by ANI, Pakistan Army posts used small arms and artillery guns to shell areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, and Akhnoor.

“Indian Army responded proportionately,” the statement said, without reporting any casualties or injuries. Previous reports in the Indian media suggested that the cross-border shelling was relatively calmer than the night before, when at least 12 Indian civilians were killed and over 50 wounded.

Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar engaged in a series of diplomatic discussions on Wednesday with his counterparts from Spain, France, Germany, Japan, and Qatar, to brief international partners on India’s actions and tension with Pakistan.

In a joint call with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and newly-appointed German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, Jaishankar expressed appreciation for their solidarity following the Pahalgam terrorist attack. He emphasized the importance of a unified stance against terrorism, stating the need for “zero tolerance” in addressing such threats.

During his conversation with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, Jaishankar acknowledged Japan’s strong condemnation of the April 22 terrorist attack. He discussed India’s targeted response against cross-border terrorist infrastructure, highlighting the necessity of such actions to deter future threats.

In talks with Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, Jaishankar outlined India’s firm and measured response to cross-border terrorism. The discussion underscored the shared commitment to combating terrorism and maintaining regional stability.

Jaishankar also spoke with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, detailing India’s targeted and measured response aimed at deterring cross-border terrorism.

Pakistani troops fired artillery and mortars across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district for a second consecutive night, targeting civilian areas in Karnah, the Press Trust of India has reported, citing defense officials.

The unprovoked shelling began shortly after midnight and was met with an “effective response” from Indian armed forces, according to officials.

There were no immediate reports of casualties. Many Karnah residents had already begun relocating to safer areas after several homes and civilian structures were damaged in a barrage the night before.

07 May 2025

An Indian Army soldier was killed in cross-border shelling by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday morning, the military has confirmed. The White Knight Corps, also known as the 16 Corps, identified the fallen soldier as Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar of the 5 Field Regiment.

“GOC and all ranks of White Knight Corps salute the supreme sacrifice of L/Nk Dinesh Kumar... We also stand in solidarity with all victims of the targeted attacks on innocent civilians in Poonch Sector,” the unit said in a statement posted to X.

The soldier’s death comes amid intense hostilities in the region, following India’s retaliatory airstrikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled areas of Kashmir. Pakistani forces have responded with artillery barrages and small arms fire across multiple sectors, killing at least 15 civilians and injuring 43 others, with the Poonch district suffering the most casualties.

Authorities in Amritsar in the northwestern Indian state of Punjab have resumed blackout measures as part of Operation Abhyaas, a nationwide civil defence drill simulating emergency scenarios amid escalating tensions with Pakistan. The District Public Relations Officer urged residents to remain calm, stay indoors, and switch off all exterior lighting during the exercise.

“Please stay at home, do not panic and do not gather outside your houses,” the DPRO said in a statement, cited by NDTV. 

The Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered coordinated drills across India to assess emergency preparedness, including scheduled blackouts and mock alerts.

India’s Home Minister Amit Shah has directed all states bordering Pakistan and Nepal to maintain high alert amid heightened regional tensions. In a meeting with chief ministers and lieutenant governors earlier in the day, Shah instructed authorities to ensure the availability of essential goods and keep relief forces such as the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), Civil Defence, Home Guards, and National Cadet Corps units on standby.

He also emphasized the need to monitor anti-national propaganda and maintain “seamless communication and security” at vulnerable points. “Swift action” must be taken against any destabilizing content on media platforms, Shah added in a statement posted to X.

As part of a nationwide civil defence exercise, India's Haryana state conducted mock drills across all 22 districts on Wednesday evening, simulating wartime emergencies such as air raids, fires, and rescue operations. The drills, dubbed Operation Abhyaas, included a 10-minute coordinated blackout from 7:50 pm to 8:00 pm.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had earlier directed all states to hold mock drills amid heightened security concerns following last month’s terror attack in Pahalgam. Officials cited the emergence of “new and complex threats” as justification for the exercise.

Air India and Air India Express have announced full refunds and free rescheduling options for armed forces personnel “to support their duty commitments,” citing the “prevailing situation” in the country. The airlines will offer a one-time waiver on flight changes up to 30 June and full refunds on cancellations for those booked under defence fares until 31 May 2025.

“The Air India group is grateful for the selfless service and dedication of our military and defence personnel,” the carrier said in a statement posted on X.

Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), one of the deadliest Pakistan-based militant groups—which India blames for recent terrorist attacks—has claimed that 10 relatives of its leader, Masood Azhar, were killed in Indian airstrikes on Pakistan. The claim was reported by media outlets citing a statement allegedly issued by the group and attributed to Azhar.

Azhar, a UN-designated terrorist, was released from an Indian prison in 1999 in exchange for 155 hostages aboard hijacked Indian Airlines Flight IC-814—an incident that led to JeM’s formation. Since then, the group has been blamed for multiple deadly attacks in India, including the 2019 Pulwama bombing. 

India’s domestic defense firms have surged by more than $5 billion in valuation since the beginning of the escalation with Pakistan, Bloomberg has reported.

A custom market gauge tracking 10 Indian defense firms, including Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd., and missile company Solar Industries India Ltd., has seen nearly 5% growth since last month’s terror attack in Pahalgam, the newspaper has said.

Washington has a good relationship with both New Delhi and Islamabad and wants to see them de-escalate, US President Donald Trump has said when asked to comment on the recent escalation between the South Asian nations.

“It’s so terrible,” he said in a press briefing at the White House. “They’ve gone tit for tat.”

“We get along with both the countries very well, good relationships with both, and I want to see it stop,” he added.

Paris has condemned last month’s deadly terrorist attack in India’s Jammu and Kashmir Region and expressed support for New Delhi’s anti-terrorist efforts.

“France supports India in its fight against terrorist groups,” the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

France is concerned about the recent escalation between New Delhi and Islamabad, and urges both sides to de-escalate the situation and protect civilians, it added.

India has made a “blatant mistake” in its attacks on Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said, warning of retaliation.

“For the blatant mistake that India made last night, it will now have to pay the price,” he said in a televised address.

“Perhaps they thought that we would retreat, but they forgot that by the grace of Allah, this is a nation of brave people whose determination is made of steel,” Sharif added.

At least 31 Pakistanis were killed and dozens more injured in Indian strikes overnight, Pakistani military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has postponed his upcoming visits to Croatia, the Netherlands and Norway following New Delhi’s cross-border strikes on Pakistani territory, multiple media outlets have reported, citing government sources.

Modi will not be among the numerous world leaders at the upcoming 80th anniversary Victory Day celebrations in Moscow for the same reason.

A high-level delegation will instead represent New Delhi at the event.

Pakistanis have taken to the streets to protest against Indian strikes on their country.

Indians have carried out demonstrations in support of New Delhi’s “Operation Sindoor.”

Indian media have reported that 12 people have been killed in a Pakistani strike on a school in the Poonch district of the Jammu and Kashmir federal territory on Wednesday. New Delhi has also reported the attack.

Footage circulating online shows the aftermath of the strike, captured from a distance.

In another video from Poonch, two children could be seen lying still, while the person filming says a brother and sister were killed in the strike.

In other graphic footage, two people could be seen carrying the body of a child who has sustained fatal damage to the head. In another video, hospital staff can be seen tending to injured children.

India says its strikes came in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Kashmir’s Baisaran Valley, the deadliest assault on civilians in the region in recent years. READ MORE about the assault that triggered the escalation. 

The article provides a detailed account of how gunmen opened fire on hundreds of unsuspecting tourists in a bustling alpine meadow, killing 26 people and sending shockwaves across the region. The attack not only devastated families and survivors, but also fractured the perception of Kashmir as a stable and recovering destination.

The report goes beyond the immediate horror to examine the wider fallout – from the sudden collapse of tourism, which had reached record levels, to the rising geopolitical temperature fueled by military posturing and nationalist rhetoric. It contextualizes the attack within Kashmir’s troubled history and highlights concerns that the region could slide back into a cycle of violence and economic despair just as it was beginning to rebuild.

At least 15 people were killed and 43 injured in heavy shelling by the Pakistani Army along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir on Wednesday, with the Poonch district suffering the most casualties. Dozens of homes and vehicles were reportedly damaged, and schools have been closed in several border districts as cross-border firing continues for a 13th consecutive night.

The Pakistan Airports Authority has confirmed to Reuters that all airports across the country are fully operational, and the national airspace remains open and safe for civil aviation.

Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has supported the Indian strikes on suspected terrorist facilities in Pakistan.

“No nation should have to accept terrorist attacks being launched against it from land controlled by another country,” Sunak said on X. “India is justified in striking terrorist infrastructure.”

New Delhi’s precision strike on terrorist camps in Pakistan was a response to last month’s attack in India-controlled Kashmir that left 26 unarmed civilians dead, Tara Kartha, Director for Research and Analysis at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), told RT, contending that the  move was both necessary and lawful.

She emphasized that India had showed restraint and waited for Pakistan to act against the terrorist networks itself. However, after no action was taken, the country exercised its right under UN conventions to defend itself.

“We waited... hoping they would do something. They didn’t,” Katha said, describing the recent terror attack carried out, as New Delhi maintains, by Pakistan-link terrorists, as brutal, with victims targeted based on religion. According to the expert, India aimed to avoid escalation by targeting only terrorists and leaving civilians unharmed.

Over 200 flights have been cancelled and 18 airports closed for civil aviation in India, NDTV has reported.

Airports in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Punjab have been shut in the wake of India’s Wednesday morning strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-Administered Kashmir.

India’s strikes on suspected terrorist facilities in Pakistan “raises the risk of an all-out war,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry has said in a post on X.

”We condemn such provocative steps and as well as attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure,” the ministry added. “We call on the parties to exercise common sense and refrain from unilateral actions.”

New Delhi does not plan to raise the tension with Islamabad, but is “well-prepared to retaliate resolutely should Pakistan decide to escalate,” Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Doval has contacted his counterparts in the UK, US, Japan, Saudi Arabia, UAE and other countries, after India conducted strikes on suspected terror facilities in Pakistan.

Doval also spoke with Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of Russia’s Security Council.

Islamabad’s National Security Committee has said that Pakistan reserves the right to respond to India’s airstrikes in “self-defense” at a time, place and manner of its choosing, with the military authorized to take “corresponding actions.”

The committee also called upon the international community to recognize what it called the “gravity of India’s unprovoked illegal actions” and “to hold it accountable for its blatant violations of international norms and laws.”

Moscow has expressed deep concern over the escalating military confrontation between India and Pakistan, which has come in the wake of the April 22 terrorist attack in New Delhi-administered Kashmir.

“Russia strongly condemns acts of terrorism, opposes any of its manifestations and emphasizes the need to unite the efforts of the entire international community to effectively combat this evil,” Moscow’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Moscow further urged both countries to exercise restraint. “It is hoped that the existing disagreements between New Delhi and Islamabad can be resolved through peaceful means, with Russia advocating for a bilateral resolution in accordance with the provisions of the Simla Agreement,” the Foreign Ministry added.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has briefed the media on the country’s strikes on suspected terrorist facilities in Pakistan. Here is a compilation of key points:

• Investigations into the April terror attack in Kashmir have revealed communication nodes of terrorists in and to Pakistan, and India has developed an accurate picture of the planners and backers of the attack.

• India has been actively providing input to the UN's 1267 sanctions committee about the role of The Resistance Front (TRF) as a cover for Pakistan-based terrorist groups, highlighting its concerns about terrorism.

• Pakistan has taken “no demonstrable step” against terrorism. Instead, they issue “denials and allegations.”

• India's strikes were “measured, non- escalatory, proportionate and responsible,” and in line with the United Nations Security Council's press statement on April 25, 2025.

• A key target was the Masjid wa Markaz Taiba mosque complex in Muridke, near Lahore in Pakistan's Punjab province, which is considered the ideological and operational center of the Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist group

Indian opposition MP and writer Shashi Tharoor said he applauded the government and stood “solidly” with the armed forces for this morning’s strikes on suspected terrorist targets in Pakistan.

“We have made our point and acted in self-defence. Time for all concerned to act wisely to prevent uncontrolled escalation,” Tharoor wrote on X

Days before India’s ‘Operation Sindoor,’ Islamabad had suspended the 1972 agreement with New Delhi that aimed to establish lasting peace between the two neighbors. 

The Shimla Agreement was signed on July 2, 1972 by then-Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her Pakistani counterpart Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

The agreement had come in the wake of Pakistan’s comprehensive defeat in the 1971 war that split the country and created independent Bangladesh.

The document was meant to lay the foundation of a peaceful and stable relationship between the two nations. It was decided that the two countries are resolved “to settle their differences by peaceful means through bilateral negotiations or by any other peaceful means mutually agreed upon between them.

”The treaty mandated that the two countries resolve issues bilaterally, and superseded the United Nations resolution on Kashmir. Perhaps more importantly, under the agreement, India and Pakistan established the Line of Control (LoC), previously called the Ceasefire Line, making it a quasi-border between the two nations.

But by suspending the Shimla Agreement, the sanctity of the LoC becomes open-ended. It would be possible for either side to unilaterally take advantage and try to violate it to gain ground, writes Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retired), an Indian Air Force veteran and the former Director-General of the Center for Air Power Studies in New Delhi.

China has said that it found India’s strikes on suspected terrorist targets in Pakistan “regrettable,” while adding that the country opposed “all forms of terrorism.”

Expressing concern about the ongoing situation, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, “We urge both sides to act in the larger interest of peace and stability, remain calm, exercise restraint and refrain from taking actions that may further complicate the situation.”

Israeli Ambassador in New Delhi has expressed support for India’s strikes on suspected terrorist targets in Pakistan.

“Israel supports India’s right for self defense. Terrorists should know there’s no place to hide from their heinous crimes against the innocent,” Reuven Azar posted on X.

Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has spoken with the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force following the precision strikes in Pakistan on multiple terrorist hideouts on the night of May 6-7, according to local media reports.

The Defense Ministry will hold a press briefing on the operation at 10 am local time (04:30 GMT), where more details will be officially shared.

Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar wrote a post on X in the wake of Operation Sindoor. “The world must show zero tolerance for terrorism,” he said.

Hospitals, rescue teams, and administration in Pakistan’s Punjab province will be on alert, while schools are to be closed throughout Wednesday, the region's chief minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced.

Schools, colleges, and educational institutions will be closed on Wednesday across Indian Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, and Poonch regions “in view of the prevailing situation,” according to Divisional Commissioner Jammu quoted by CNN.

Pakistan’s defense minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has told AFP that retaliation against Indian strikes “has already started”. “We won’t take long to settle the score,” he added.

Pakistan informed the UN Security Council that it “reserves the right to respond appropriately” to Indian strikes, Reuters has said. 

Three Indian civilians were killed in shelling by Pakistani troops in Kashmir, the Indian army has said as quoted by Reuters.

According to an Indian journalist Aditya Raj Kaul, Pakistan has been attacking deep into Tribhoni Sikh and Tangdhar villages. At least three houses were gutted in mortar shelling.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said he is “monitoring the situation between India and Pakistan closely”. In a post on X, Rubio echoed US President Donald Trump's remarks that the escalation “hopefully ends quickly”.

India’s embassy in Washington has earlier said New Delhi’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval briefed Rubio on the current situation after the strikes.

British Foreign Office has warned citizens not to travel to parts of India and Pakistan affected by Wednesday's conflict.

The advisory includes all travel within 10km of the India-Pakistan border and to most of the disputed Kashmir region.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said they are “continuing to monitor the situation closely”, adding that “British nationals should stay up to date with our travel advice and follow the advice of local authorities”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to chair a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security at 11am local time Wednesday, according to News18.

06 May 2025

Indian forces targeted the headquarters of Islamist militant groups during recent missile strikes inside Pakistan, a defense source told Reuters.

According to unnamed officials cited by Indian news agency PTI, the strikes hit key sites linked to militants accused of orchestrating attacks in India—the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) headquarters in Bahawalpur and the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) base in Muridke. A group believed to be an offshoot of the latter, known as The Resistance Front (TRF), has claimed responsibility for the April terrorist attack in Kashmir.

RT correspondent Ranjan Sharma noted that India holds Pakistan responsible for the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, although Islamabad has denied any involvement. Over the past two weeks, Indian intelligence gathered real-time data and shared it with foreign envoys in New Delhi, laying the groundwork for the retaliatory strikes, she said.

“Of course, Islamabad has denied it, but India has consistently said that it is Pakistan behind the attacks. It’s taken two weeks for India to prepare, to collect information,” Sharma told RT.

The Indian government emphasized that the strikes were focused solely on terrorist camps and did not target any Pakistani military facilities. In parallel with the strikes, India has launched nationwide civilian mock drills for the first time since the 1971 India-Pakistan war, signaling heightened preparedness.

“Now today, 7th of May, India has also launched a series of mock drills for civilians across the country. And this is something that India hasn’t done since 1971… But the anticipation of when India could strike back first, that is over,” she said.

Sharma also pointed out that in the lead-up to the operation, there were multiple ceasefire violations along the Line of Control, which escalated from small arms fire to artillery shelling.

“Of course, the days to come are going to be very crucial for us to really understand if this goes bigger into a wider conflict at the border or how the situation really would be managed. But of course, India was all prepared, and India had to strike back,” she added.

Pakistan’s military spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif has reported that Indian missile strikes killed eight civilians and injured 38 others. India has stated that the strikes were “measured and non-escalatory,” targeting only known terror camps and avoiding civilian or military targets. 

Pakistan has said that a mosque and multiple homes were damaged or destroyed in the affected areas. 

The strikes occurred just a week after India suspended the landmark Indus Waters Treaty, along with other diplomatic and economic measures against Pakistan. Islamabad had explicitly characterized any disruption of water flow by New Delhi as an “act of war,” with former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari vowing, “Either our water will flow through it, or their blood will.”

Signed in 1960 under the auspices of the World Bank, the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) governs the sharing of the Indus River system between the two regional archrivals, who have fought four wars and engaged in multiple border skirmishes since gaining independence from Britain in 1947.

India suspended the IWT on April 23 in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, which it linked to Pakistan-supported terrorists. Media reports over the past two days suggest that New Delhi is restricting water supplies to neighboring Pakistan by blocking the flow through several dams on rivers that pass through both countries.

READ MORE about what’s behind the water dispute and how it could escalate into a full-blown conflict.

All 9 targets in Pakistan and the Pakistani-held part of disputed Kashmir are successfully neutralised, Times of India claimed, citing sources. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi “is monitoring the operation closely throughout the night,” it added. 

Former Pentagon analyst Michael Maloof warned that while the India-Pakistan conflict is unlikely to escalate to the level of nuclear warfare, it could spiral quickly unless outside powers intervene. He noted that retaliatory strikes between the two countries are likely to continue unless Islamabad reins in militant groups operating in Kashmir.

“Even while I was at the Defense Department, we knew that Pakistan – its ISI, its intelligence service – basically controlled many of the terrorist groups, militants that operate in Kashmir. And this has been going on back and forth,” Maloof told RT.

Maloof stressed the importance of diplomatic efforts to prevent escalation, suggesting that mediation from global powers – particularly Russia and China – could be crucial.

“I don’t believe they’ll escalate to a nuclear capacity, because that’s something no country, even in the region, would tolerate, including Russia and China. And given the worldwide impact that that would have, even on a limited basis with tactical nukes, it would change the world forever,” he added.

Srinagar airport in Kashmir shut operations with all flights suspended, Indian media reported. In addition, IndiGo Airlines announced that flights from Jammu, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Bikaner, and Leh airports as well as Dharamshala airport in Himachal Pradesh have been affected “by the current airspace restrictions.”

Air India company has also suspended flights to several airports. 

Senior Indian officials have held urgent diplomatic consultations with the US, UK, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Russia to explain the military strikes, according to sources close to New Delhi. 

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry has condemned India’s missile strikes, describing them as “an unprovoked and blatant act of war” in an official statement released on Wednesday. According to the ministry, Indian forces violated Pakistani sovereignty by targeting five locations - three in disputed Pakistan-administered Kashmir (Kotli, Muzaffarabad, and Bagh) and two within Pakistan’s undisputed Punjab province (Muridke and Bahawalpur).

The statement reported civilian casualties including women and children. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry mentioned Article 51 of the UN Charter, stipulating a right to self-defense, and vowed retaliation, warning the escalation has brought nuclear-armed neighbors “closer to a major conflict.”

Indian police have reportedly stated that two women were injured in shelling, according to Reuters. It also reports “intense shelling” occurring in three locations across the Line of Control (LoC).

Media also report heavy exchange of artillery fire at LoC. 

India’s Operation Sindoor, reportedly carried out jointly by the Indian Army and Air Force, has so far focused on areas which New Delhi alleges host terror launch pads, according to RT South Asia Editor Ashok Bagriya. Bagriya emphasized that India has described the strikes as “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” with no Pakistani military facilities targeted.

The Indian government framed the operation as a direct response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which left 26 people dead, including one Nepali national. He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had vowed to hold those responsible accountable, and the strikes appeared consistent with that pledge.

“Nobody knew when this attack would come, and again India seems to have followed the pattern of attacking by surprise,” Bagriya said.

He also drew parallels between the current operation and India’s 2019 Balakot airstrikes, which similarly targeted suspected terror infrastructure in Pakistani-controlled areas of Kashmir following the Pulwama attack. Bagriya added that the Indian government is expected to hold a formal briefing to provide further clarity on the nature and scope of the latest strikes.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was “very concerned” about Indian strikes on Pakistan, his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric has said.

“He calls for maximum military restraint from both countries. The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan,” Dujarric added as quoted by Times of India. 

Asian News International has published a video from the Line of Control (LoC) as the Indian Armed Forces launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, hitting "terrorist infrastructure" in Pakistan.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned India’s “cowardly attack,” stating that the strikes targeted five locations across the country. He asserted that Pakistan has every right to deliver a “befitting response” and has already started retaliating.

Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh posted “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” (Long Live Mother India).

The recent Indian missile strikes inside Pakistan—codenamed Operation Sindoor—mark the first confirmed cross-border missile attack by India since the February 2019 Balakot airstrikes, which followed the Pulwama suicide bombing that killed 40 Indian paramilitary personnel.

Pakistan then retaliated with Operation Swift Retort, conducting limited airstrikes on several targets in Kashmir, downing an Indian MiG-21, and capturing pilot Abhinandan Varthaman. Both nations subsequently downgraded diplomatic and trade ties, but tensions eventually de-escalated following Pakistan’s return of the captured pilot.

Later in 2019, after India revoked Article 370 of its Constitution—which granted the then-state of Jammu and Kashmir a degree of autonomy—Pakistan responded by further downgrading bilateral relations. The relationship has remained largely frozen since then—until the recent escalation.

Pakistan does not plan to request a UN Security Council meeting following the Indian strikes, a diplomatic source told a TASS correspondent.

US President Donald Trump has commented on the latest flare-up between India and Pakistan, expressing hope that the escalation will end soon.
“It’s a shame. We just heard about it… They’ve been fighting for a long time—many, many decades, and centuries, actually… I hope it ends very quickly,” Trump told reporters.

Social media footage shows a massive blast as Indian missiles hit Pakistan

At least two civilians have been killed and 12 others injured in the Indian attack, Pakistani media reported, citing ISPR Director General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry.

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif strongly condemned the “cowardly” and “covert” attack, claiming that the Indian strikes targeted only civilian sites.

Pakistan has temporarily closed its airspace for 48 hours, prompting the suspension of all domestic and international flights, according to local media reports.

The Indian Armed Forces have accused Pakistan of violating the Kashmir ceasefire by firing artillery into Indian-controlled areas. According to the military, the artillery barrage was met with a “calibrated” response.

Pakistan conducted retaliatory missile strikes on unspecified targets in India, Pakistani Urdu-language SAMAA TV has reported.

Reported aftermath of Indian missile attack on Pakistan

The head of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), a media and PR wing of the Pakistani Armed Forces, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry slammed the strikes as “heinous provocation,” vowing a retaliation. 

“All of our air force jets are airborne. This cowardly and shameful attack was carried out from within India’s airspace. They were never allowed to come and intrude into the space of Pakistan,” he said. “This temporary happiness that India has achieved with this cowardly attack will be replaced with enduring grief.”

Footage circulating online, reportedly taken near the city of Bahawalpur, shows a massive explosion apparently caused by the hit of an Indian ballistic missile.

Indian Armed Forces signaled the operation comes in retaliation for the deadly terror attack perpetrated on April 22 in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam in India’s Jammu and Kashmir union territory.

“Justice is Served,” the military said in a post on X, announcing the launch of the operation.