KATHMANDU, May 7: Fifteen days after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, India launched an operation called 'Operation Sindoor' and carried out strikes on Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PoK) at midnight on Tuesday.
India claims to have carried out airstrikes on nine terrorist hideouts. India stated that it targeted camps near Bahawalpur, Muridke, Kotli, Muzaffarabad, Ahmedpur Sharkia, Faisalabad, Gulpur, Bhimber, and Sialkot.
India's Claim
Indian media reported that the Indian Army and Air Force fired 24 missiles, destroying the headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba. News18 stated that the forces killed 17 terrorists and injured 60 in the attack. The Army and Air Force claimed they used precision-guided weapons to strike only terrorist hideouts.
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The Indian Ministry of Defense clarified that they did not target any Pakistani military bases, stressing that the operation focused exclusively on terrorist camps. Meanwhile, India reported that Pakistani forces opened fire along the Line of Control (LoC) and the international border in Jammu and Kashmir, killing three Indian civilians.
Daily Bhaskar reported that the attack killed 30 people in Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi monitored the strike from the war room. The Indian Army plans to hold a press conference at 10 AM today to provide further details. After the airstrikes, authorities shut down schools, colleges, and other educational institutions in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, and Poonch.
Pakistan's Claim
The Pakistani military has acknowledged that India launched 24 missile strikes across six locations. It claimed the attack killed eight civilians and injured 35 others. AP News also confirmed the deaths of eight people, including a child, near Muzaffarabad.
Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif accused India of targeting civilian areas and mosques. He further claimed that Pakistan shot down five Indian fighter jets and captured some Indian soldiers. Pakistan's state broadcaster, PTV News, reported that it brought down two Indian aircraft and destroyed several Indian checkpoints.
According to Reuters and The Guardian, heavy cross-border shelling has continued along the Line of Control. Authorities have closed schools across Pakistan's Punjab province. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the strikes as cowardly and warned of a "decisive response."
International Reaction
U.S. President Donald Trump condemned the incident as "shameful" and voiced hope for a peaceful resolution. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States remains in contact with both India and Pakistan. The United States, the United Nations, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and other countries urged both sides to show restraint.
India launched the strike in retaliation for the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which killed 28 tourists, including one Nepali national. Reports stated that the attackers targeted Hindu pilgrims after identifying them by religion. India blamed Pakistan for the attack and responded with military action. Pakistan, however, denied any involvement and called for an impartial investigation.
