New war breaks out? India launches missile strikes on Pakistan
Photo: The Indian army has launched a military operation in Kashmir (Getty Images)
The Indian Army has launched a military operation in the Pakistani-controlled areas of Kashmir. Pakistan has deployed its air force and is responding with strikes, according to Reuters and the Indian Army's X account.
Numerous loud explosions were heard in the mountains around the city of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir, as well as in two other locations in the region.
According to eyewitnesses, electricity was lost in Muzaffarabad following the explosions.
The Ministry of Defense of India announced the start of "Operation Sindoor", “hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.”
"Our actions have been focused, measured, and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in the selection of targets and method of execution,” the Indian statement stated.
It was noted that these steps were taken after a "barbaric Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were murdered."
A spokesperson for the Pakistani military told local broadcaster ARY that India attacked Pakistan with missiles in three locations and that Pakistan would respond.
Eyewitnesses on social media shared footage of the first explosions in the mentioned provinces.
Bahawalpur in Pakistan
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) May 6, 2025
Indian Army in action. pic.twitter.com/hXgeSHOZty
Footage shared by Pakistani reporters from Bahawalpur (Pakistan), attacked by Indian army. pic.twitter.com/3Dm2Bf2zcX
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) May 6, 2025
Pakistan launches retaliatory operation
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations, stated that the attacks killed three Pakistanis and injured twelve.
He said the Indian army struck the cities of Kotli, Bahawalpur, Muridke, Bagh, and Muzaffarabad.
“Some time ago from now, the cowardly enemy India launched air strikes on Subhanullah mosque in Bahwalpur's Ahmed East area, Kotli and Muzaffarabad at three places from the air,” he said.
Chaudhry added that all aircraft of the Pakistani Air Force were scrambled.
“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.
A PTV News report on X, citing security sources, said Pakistan has launched a retaliatory operation.
“As a result of the cowardly attack, an innocent child died, and a woman and a man were seriously injured. India carried out a cowardly strike on innocent Pakistanis under the cover of night,” the statement read.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told ARY News that civilian areas were targeted.
Escalation between India and Pakistan
On April 22, a group of armed individuals attacked tourists in the town of Pahalgam, killing 25 Indian citizens and one Nepali citizen. The "Kashmir Resistance" group claimed responsibility.
India blamed Pakistan for the attack. However, Islamabad denied the accusations, claiming it was a local uprising.
New Delhi responded by closing the border crossing in the region, imposing visa restrictions, and withdrawing from the Indus Waters Treaty. Pakistani authorities regarded these moves as an act of war.
In the following weeks, both the Indian and Pakistani armies brought their troops to full combat readiness and repeatedly closed their airspace.
