Operation Sindoor (2025): India’s Military Response to the Pahalgam Attack
India strikes Pakistan
On May 6, 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor, a series of air and missile strikes targeting alleged terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. This operation was a direct response to the Pahalgam attack on April 22, 2025, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including Indian and Nepali nationals, in Jammu and Kashmir. India attributed the attack to Pakistan-based militant groups, prompting the retaliatory military action.
Background: The Pahalgam Attack
The Pahalgam attack occurred when five militants ambushed tourists in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, Anantnag district. The assailants, armed with M4 carbines and AK-47s, specifically targeted Hindu tourists, separating them based on religious identity before executing them. Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers demanded victims recite Islamic verses to determine their faith. The attack was captured on video by a tourist, leading to widespread outrage across India.
Execution of Operation Sindoor
In retaliation, India initiated Operation Sindoor on May 6, 2025, conducting coordinated air and missile strikes on nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The targets were identified as training camps and logistical hubs associated with militant groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. India described the strikes as precision operations aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure and deterring future attacks.
The operation involved multiple branches of the Indian military and intelligence agencies. Key targets included areas in Muridke and Bahawalpur, known for housing militant group facilities. India reported the elimination of approximately 70 terrorists within 24 hours of the strikes.
Pakistan’s Response
Pakistan condemned the strikes as an unprovoked act of aggression, reporting civilian casualties, including women and children. The Pakistani military claimed to have shot down several Indian aircraft and vowed retaliation. The situation significantly escalated tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Pakistan retaliated against the Indian strikes, with artillery shelling reported along the Line of Control. India reported civilian casualties due to the cross-border shelling.
International Reactions
The international community expressed concern over the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. The United Nations, the United States, China, and Russia called for restraint and urged both countries to de-escalate the situation. The UN Secretary-General emphasized that “the world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan.”
Conclusion
Operation Sindoor marked one of the most significant military engagements between India and Pakistan in recent years. It highlighted India’s shift towards a more assertive stance in responding to cross-border terrorism. The operation also underscored the persistent volatility in the Kashmir region and the potential for rapid escalation between the two countries.
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