In a dramatic escalation of hostilities between South Asia’s two nuclear-armed rivals, Pakistan has launched a military campaign dubbed Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos in response to an Indian airstrike on what New Delhi claimed were terrorist training facilities inside Pakistani territory. The situation has rapidly deteriorated into one of the worst confrontations between India and Pakistan in decades, raising alarms internationally about the potential for full-scale war.
According to Radio Pakistan and statements issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan’s armed forces struck multiple strategic sites within Indian-administered Kashmir and other areas in northern India. Among the targets claimed:
- A BrahMos missile storage site in the Jammu region.
- Brigade Headquarters at “K G Top”, a high-altitude military post.
- A supply depot in Uri, allegedly “completely destroyed.”
- A massive cyberattack said to have crippled 70% of India’s electricity grid.
While these claims remain unverified independently, Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, said during a late-night televised address that “the operation has delivered a strong message,” and warned India of further retaliation if its “aggression continues.”
India has categorically rejected all Pakistani claims, branding them as “fabricated propaganda” aimed at distracting from the original attack that triggered the crisis. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement saying, “There has been no damage to strategic assets. Our military is fully prepared, and any misadventure will be met with overwhelming force.”
The current crisis was triggered just over a week ago, when 26 Indian tourists, mostly Hindus, were killed in a deadly attack in Pahalgam, a popular destination in Indian-administered Kashmir. The Indian government quickly pointed fingers at the Lashkar-e-Taiba, a banned Pakistan-based militant group, for orchestrating the assault.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under pressure from both his political base and a grieving public, ordered airstrikes into Pakistan’s territory targeting what India described as “terrorist launchpads” in Balakot and other areas.
While reminiscent of the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, the scale and scope of this current confrontation appear broader. Unlike past incidents that were confined to the disputed Kashmir region, the current conflict has expanded across both sides’ international borders, raising the stakes considerably.
Following the Indian strikes, Pakistan’s military launched waves of drone attacks, missile salvos, and electronic warfare, targeting Indian military bases and infrastructure.
Late Thursday night, India confirmed that three of its air bases had been targeted by missiles, including one near the capital, New Delhi. Among them was the Nur Khan air base in Rawalpindi, which is located just 10 kilometers from Islamabad and serves as a gateway for foreign dignitaries.
Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Adel Al-Jubeir, had reportedly left the base just hours before the attack. Although Pakistan claimed the base was a target, it also stated that “no flying assets were damaged” and most missiles were intercepted.
Meanwhile, India’s military announced it had “repulsed” a series of Pakistani incursions through drones and precision munitions, destroying more than 300 drones allegedly launched from Pakistani territory in the last 48 hours.
Pakistan disputed those numbers, saying they were “greatly exaggerated,” and accused India of bombing its own territory near Amritsar, an assertion India has strongly denied.
The most tragic aspect of the conflict has been the growing civilian toll. In less than three days, over 50 civilians have been killed on both sides, with hundreds more wounded.
In Pakistan, shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) on Thursday reportedly killed five civilians, including a two-year-old girl.
In India, police in Kashmir confirmed that one woman was killed and two men were injured in cross-border shelling in the Kupwara sector.
Humanitarian concerns are rising rapidly, as entire villages near the LoC have been evacuated, and schools have been closed across the border regions. Emergency medical services in both countries are overwhelmed, and basic supplies are running short in conflict-hit areas.
In India, Prime Minister Modi held an emergency meeting with senior military and intelligence officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Following the meeting, the government reaffirmed its policy of “zero tolerance” toward cross-border terrorism.
India also closed 24 airports, particularly in the north and northeast, and suspended commercial flights over conflict zones.
In Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir have been in constant consultation. State media has broadcast footage of military convoys moving toward the LoC and anti-aircraft batteries being deployed near major urban centers.
The Pakistani government also declared a state of emergency in several districts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ordering hospitals to prepare for mass casualty events.
Despite the gravity of the situation, the global response has been mostly rhetorical. The G7 issued a statement calling for “immediate de-escalation,” while the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed “grave concern” and offered to mediate.
China, a long-time ally of Pakistan, has urged both sides to “exercise restraint”, while the United States has appealed for “calm and direct communication.” However, there has been no high-level shuttle diplomacy as seen during previous India-Pakistan standoffs.
The International Crisis Group criticized the international community’s “relative indifference” and warned that “South Asia stands on the edge of a conflict that could have disastrous consequences far beyond the subcontinent.”
The escalating conflict has already begun to ripple into non-military spheres:
- The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been suspended for a week, with franchises citing safety and logistical challenges.
- Pakistan’s Pakistan Super League (PSL) was suspended indefinitely.
- International airlines have rerouted flights to avoid Indian and Pakistani airspace, adding hours of travel time on some routes and increasing costs.
- Stock markets in both countries plunged on Friday, with the BSE Sensex falling 1,200 points and Pakistan’s KSE-100 index losing nearly 4% of its value.
At the core of the crisis lies Kashmir, a region long seen as a potential flashpoint for nuclear war. Since India revoked Article 370 in 2019 — ending Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status — militant activity and unrest have steadily climbed.
Observers say the current escalation may be the most serious since the 1999 Kargil conflict, with both countries signaling readiness for prolonged engagement.
Militant groups operating in Kashmir have stepped up attacks, complicating India’s internal security calculations. On Friday morning, two soldiers were reportedly killed in a roadside bomb explosion in Pulwama, further stoking fears of an insurgency resurgence.
As of Saturday, both countries remain on high alert, and the possibility of further strikes — whether cross-border or cyber — remains strong.
Analysts warn that a miscalculation or false flag incident could quickly push the conflict past a point of no return. With nuclear capabilities on both sides, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
