The conflict between India and Pakistan has entered a new, volatile phase. On May 6, India launched airstrikes across the border following an attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir that left 26 civilians dead. Pakistan has vowed to respond. Civilian deaths have already been reported on both sides. As the rhetoric intensifies and military operations continue, the risk of escalation between two nuclear-armed neighbors has rarely felt so real.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s happened so far.
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April 22: Attack on Civilians in Kashmir Sparks Outrage
Gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, killing 26 people in what Indian authorities described as the deadliest attack on civilians in nearly two decades. Witnesses reported that the attackers separated non-Muslims before carrying out executions. India blamed the attack on Pakistan-based militant groups, while Pakistan denied involvement and called for a neutral investigation.
credit: k. M. Chaudary / ap
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May 6: India Launches “Operation Sindoor”
In the early hours of May 6, India carried out missile strikes on multiple locations in Pakistan’s Punjab province and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Indian officials described the operation as a targeted response to “terror infrastructure,” and claimed that great care was taken to avoid civilian or military casualties.
Proud of our armed forces.#OperationSindoor is Bharat’s response to the brutal killing of our innocent brothers in Pahalgam.
The Modi government is resolved to give a befitting response to any attack on India and its people. Bharat remains firmly committed to eradicating…
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 7, 2025
Pakistan reported 26 deaths and 46 injuries, including civilians killed inside mosques and children among the dead. India maintains that it struck only militant camps and acted with restraint.
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May 6–7: Pakistan Responds, Tensions Escalate
Within hours, Pakistan declared the strikes an “act of war” and announced its forces were authorized to take “corresponding action.” Pakistani officials claim to have shot down five Indian aircraft and a drone — a claim not confirmed by India. Shelling has been reported in Indian-administered Kashmir, where three civilian deaths have been confirmed by Indian authorities.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened Pakistan’s National Security Committee and vowed that the country would respond in “self-defense.”
Diplomatic Fallout and International Reactions
Both countries have taken diplomatic and economic steps following the strikes: suspending visas, restricting airspace, halting trade, and increasing border security. The United Nations, China, Russia, and the U.S. have all issued calls for restraint. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spoken with officials in both India and Pakistan in an attempt to reopen lines of communication.
India’s leadership has framed the strikes as proportionate and necessary. Pakistan has rejected this justification and accused India of violating its sovereignty.
I am monitoring the situation between India and Pakistan closely. I echo @POTUS‘s comments earlier today that this hopefully ends quickly and will continue to engage both Indian and Pakistani leadership towards a peaceful resolution.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 6, 2025
The Kashmir Flashpoint — Again
The Kashmir region has long been at the center of conflict between India and Pakistan. In 2019, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked the region’s semiautonomous status, leading to protests, arrests, and increased militarization. Though the Indian government has since promoted a narrative of peace and development in the region, last month’s attack revealed how fragile that stability remains.
Now, as airstrikes land, civilians flee, and threats mount, Kashmir is once again the front line of a much broader crisis.
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What Comes Next Is Unclear
While both sides insist they want to avoid escalation, their actions suggest a different trajectory. The situation remains fluid and volatile, and the consequences of miscalculation — diplomatic, humanitarian, and strategic — could be enormous.
As the world watches, India and Pakistan are once again confronting not just each other, but the heavy legacy of their shared history.
