Tensions between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan have reached a boiling point following a series of deadly airstrikes launched by India on Pakistani territory. The cross-border operation, carried out late Tuesday, targeted nine locations in Pakistan, resulting in at least 26 reported deaths, according to early estimates.
India’s Ministry of Defense stated that the airstrikes were a direct response to the April 22 suicide bombing in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 Hindu tourists. New Delhi claims the targets were “terrorist infrastructure” linked to the attackers, though it has not yet provided publicly verifiable evidence.
Pakistan vehemently denied any involvement in the Kashmir attack, calling India’s military action an “unprovoked act of war.” Islamabad has vowed retaliation, warning that any further aggression will be met with “full force.”
This confrontation marks the most severe escalation between the two countries since the Pulwama-Balakot standoff in 2019, raising international concerns over a potential regional war. Shelling has intensified along the Line of Control (LoC), with both sides trading artillery fire throughout the day.
Unconfirmed reports from local media suggest that several Indian fighter jets may have been downed by Pakistani defenses, but Indian officials have not confirmed any aircraft losses.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement urging both nations to exercise restraint and engage in diplomatic dialogue. Meanwhile, China and the United States have called for de-escalation, warning of the catastrophic consequences of further conflict.
Both India and Pakistan possess nuclear weapons, and any military miscalculation could lead to devastating regional and global implications. Air travel over northern India and parts of Pakistan has been rerouted, and military forces remain on high alert across both countries.
As the world watches closely, diplomatic backchannels are reportedly active, but with nationalist rhetoric rising in both capitals, the path to peace appears increasingly uncertain.
