State-run Pakistani TV claimed that two Indian fighter jets were shot down, but no additional details have been provided. New Delhi has not responded to those claims.
On the evening of Tuesday, May 6, India carried out missile attacks on multiple locations within Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled territory, signaling a significant escalation in the tensions between the two powers. New Delhi announced that it had initiated “Operation Sindoor” to hit nine sites in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, targeting terrorist cells that it claimed were based in that region.
According to the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD), the strikes were a response to the militant attack that killed more than two dozen people, including tourists, in the town of Pahalgam on the Indian-controlled side of Kashmir on April 22.
“Focused strikes were carried out on nine #terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, targeting the roots of cross-border terror planning. Importantly, no Pakistani military facilities were hit, reflecting India’s calibrated and non-escalatory approach. This operation underscores India’s resolve to hold perpetrators accountable while avoiding unnecessary provocation,” the Indian MoD announced in a post on social media.
Islamabad has denied responsibility for last month’s attack.
What We Know About India’s Missile Strike in Pakistan
India’s missiles reportedly struck a mosque in the city of Bahawalpur in Punjab, resulting in the death of a woman and child, while a man was also injured.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed early Wednesday local time to respond to the “cowardly attacks,” writing on social media, “Pakistan has every right to respond forcefully to this act of war imposed by India, and a forceful response is being given.”
State-run Pakistani TV claimed that two Indian fighter jets were shot down, but no additional details have been provided. New Delhi has not responded to those claims.
Is a Major Conflict Brewing?
It has been a generation since regional rivals India and Pakistan have engaged in anything resembling a full-blown conflict. The two sides fought the Kargil War within Kashmir from May to July 1999. That border conflict was far longer than the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, but it ultimately resulted in fewer casualties and saw less intense fighting. The specter hanging over any modern conflict between the two nations is that each possesses nuclear weapons, so there is a concern that the situation could spiral out of hand quickly.
However, as the BBC reported, “Since 2016, and especially after the [Indian] 2019 airstrikes [into Pakistan], the threshold for escalation has shifted dramatically. Cross-border and aerial strikes by India have become the new norm, provoking retaliation from Pakistan. This has further intensified an already volatile situation.”
The current situation is likely to follow the same course. Following Indian strikes within Pakistan—even those against terrorists officially unaffiliated with the Pakistani government—Islamabad is likely to retaliate with strikes inside India, leading to a pattern of further retaliation.
“India finds itself walking the tightrope between escalation and restraint—a fragile balance of response and deterrence,” the BBC added.
Washington Is Watching Carefully
The U.S. State Department issued a response on Tuesday local time.
“We are aware of the reports,” a State Department spokesperson said via email. “We have no assessment to offer at this time. This remains an evolving situation, and we are closely monitoring developments.”
After President Donald Trump was briefed on India’s missile strikes, he told reporters, “It’s a shame.”
The U.S. leader added, “They’ve been fighting for a long time … I just hope it ends very quickly.”
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Shutterstock / Hamara.
