In the early hours of May 7, India launched Operation Sindur, targeting what it called “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan. In response, Islamabad vowed a disproportionate retaliation.
Here’s a summary of the key developments in the escalating India-Pakistan conflict, as reported by TASS.
India’s Actions
- According to Reuters, citing eyewitnesses, multiple explosions were heard near the city of Muzaffarabad, the administrative center of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.
- India confirmed that it struck nine targets in Pakistani-controlled areas of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
- Indian officials stated that the strikes were aimed solely at military targets and were launched entirely from Indian territory.
- The Indian Embassy in the United States clarified that the attacks were directed at terrorist camps allegedly linked to the April bombing in Pahalgam, and that no civilian, economic, or Pakistani military infrastructure was targeted.
- India’s ground forces called the operation “a triumph of justice.”
Pakistan’s Response
- Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif accused India of targeting civilians. Islamabad condemned the strike as a “cowardly attack” and announced a “decisive response.”
- Pakistan closed its airspace for 48 hours and launched retaliatory strikes.
- According to India’s PTI news agency, the Pakistani military conducted heavy mortar shelling on villages along the Line of Control.
- There were also reports that Pakistani forces shot down five Indian Air Force jets, two of which were identified as French-made Rafale fighters.
- Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized the country’s right to respond under Article 51 of the UN Charter, reserving the option to retaliate “any time, anywhere, and in a manner of its choosing.”
Casualties and Aftermath
- Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) claimed that two mosques were hit in the Indian strikes, resulting in at least two deaths and 12 injuries.
- Overall, reports indicate 26 Pakistani citizens were killed and 46 wounded.
- A state of emergency has been declared in Pakistan’s Punjab province, with residents seeking shelter in bunkers.
- India reported three civilian deaths due to Pakistani shelling.
- Indian broadcaster News18 stated that at least 17 militants were neutralized and 60 injured in the course of the operation.
International Reaction
- India officially informed the UK, UAE, Saudi Arabia, the US, and Russia about the launch of Operation Sindur.
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on both nations to exercise maximum restraint, warning that “the world cannot afford a military confrontation” between the two nuclear powers.
- US President Donald Trump expressed hope that the conflict would be resolved swiftly.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would remain in contact with both governments to help de-escalate the situation.
The Pahalgam Attack
On April 22, 25 Indian citizens and one Nepalese national were killed in the tourist town of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir during an attack by the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (designated as a terrorist organization and banned in Russia).
India claimed to have evidence linking the attack to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI).
In the wake of the attack, both countries imposed reciprocal restrictions on diplomatic staff, suspended bilateral agreements, and closed their airspace to each other’s aircraft.
Both sides have reported incidents of cross-border firing along the Line of Control and have undertaken retaliatory actions. On April 29, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly told officials that the Indian armed forces had full freedom to decide the timing, targets, and nature of their response to the Jammu and Kashmir terror attack.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Based on materials from TASS