India Strikes Pakistan After Kashmir Tourist Killings: What Happened and What’s Next
India strikes Pakistan. These words now dominate headlines as the decades-long India Pakistan conflict escalates dramatically. Following the deadly attack on Hindu tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, both countries are engaged in the heaviest fighting seen in over twenty years. This blog explains what has happened, what both sides say, and what the region and the world can expect next.
What Sparked the Latest India Pakistan Conflict?
On Wednesday, Indian forces carried out strikes on what they described as “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan. This response followed an attack by Islamist militants in April that killed 26 Hindu tourists in Kashmir, a region claimed by both India and Pakistan.
Indian officials reported targeting nine sites linked to militant groups Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. These militant groups have been accused in the past of attacks within India, contributing to the intensity of the current India Pakistan conflict. According to India, the strikes demonstrated “considerable restraint” in the choice of targets, focusing only on those connected to terror infrastructure.
Pakistan quickly fired back, saying Indian missiles had hit civilian locations, including two mosques. Pakistani authorities reported eight people killed, 35 injured, and two missing in the attacks. Islamabad further claimed it shot down five Indian planes, although India did not confirm this.
India Strikes Pakistan: Response and Escalation
After India strikes Pakistan, Islamabad denounced the attacks as a “blatant act of war” and reserved the right to respond. Pakistan swiftly informed the United Nations Security Council, emphasising its intent to defend the nation’s honour and sovereignty. Both sides then exchanged heavy shelling and gunfire along the de facto border in Kashmir.
This violence marks the fiercest clash since the 2003 ceasefire, to which both India and Pakistan pledged renewed commitment in 2021. Since partition in 1947, the neighbours have fought two full wars over Kashmir, and incidents like these show how fragile peace can be.
Cross-Border Shelling Intensifies
Residents on both sides reported explosions, fire, and plumes of smoke lighting up the night sky. Witnesses described people fleeing their homes in panic. Indian sources stated only terror camps were targeted, while Pakistani officials insist that Indian actions damaged civilian infrastructure, including places of worship.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the country was responding but offered few details. Emergency status was declared in Punjab province, with hospitals placed on high alert. Meanwhile, the Indian army claimed “justice is served” in a post on social media.
Global Response to India Pakistan Conflict Escalation
International reaction was swift. U.S. President Donald Trump called the fighting “a shame” and voiced hopes for a quick de-escalation. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both countries to exercise maximum military restraint, fearing the risk of broader conflict between these two nuclear-armed states.
Economic and Civil Impact
Stock futures in India fell slightly on the news, while several airlines—including IndiGo, Air India, and Qatar Airways—cancelled flights due to closures of airports and airspace in India and Pakistan. The fighting’s impact extends beyond the battlefield, disrupting daily life, trade and the economy in both countries.
Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval communicated with global leaders, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as counterparts in the UK, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
Analysis: Why Are India Strikes in Pakistan Significant?
Experts say that India’s response marks a significant escalation compared to previous incidents. Indian strikes have previously been confined to areas within Kashmir, but these latest attacks reached deeper into Pakistani territory.
This move has drawn comparisons to India’s 2019 air strikes after a suicide bombing killed 40 Indian paramilitary police, and to the 2016 response to the deaths of 18 soldiers. However, analysts such as Michael Kugelman note that this operation is on a far greater scale, increasing the risk of more dramatic retaliation.
With both sides engaged in tit-for-tat attacks, many now question how far the India Pakistan conflict could escalate if neither government backs down.
Heavy Fighting and High Tensions in Kashmir
Death Toll Rises as Shelling Continues
Both countries report casualties from intense cross-border shelling. Pakistani officials state that eight civilians were killed and at least 35 others were injured in the recent attacks, with two people missing. On the Indian side, the army reported three civilian deaths due to Pakistani shelling.
Residents continue to flee affected areas, with law enforcement and local government struggling to provide relief amid the ongoing India Pakistan conflict.
Infamous Disputed Region
Kashmir sits at the heart of the conflict. Both India and Pakistan claim the region in full but control parts of it, with a de facto border known as the Line of Control. While targeted strikes and artillery exchanges occur occasionally, such major operations are rare, especially outside the Pakistani part of Kashmir.
Political Ramifications and What Could Happen Next
With Pakistan calling the Indian attack an act of war and informing the U.N., the standoff has moved onto the global diplomatic stage. Both sides have called for international attention, but neither is showing signs of backing down yet.
Given the scale of the recent India strikes in Pakistan, there is serious concern that the violence could escalate. Analysts warn that a “sizable Pakistani response” could further destabilise the situation.
What’s at Stake?
- Risk of escalation between two nuclear-armed neighbours.
- Increased casualties and displacement for those living in Kashmir.
- Disruption of air and commerce routes in the wider South Asian region.
Diplomatic engagement and third-party mediation may be essential in the coming days to bring both sides back from the brink.
Source
Reuters – India strikes Pakistan over Kashmir tourist killings
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