India Responds with Air Strikes on Terror Targets
India launched air strikes on nine targets inside Pakistan. The action followed a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the strikes hit “terrorist infrastructure.” However, Indian forces avoided Pakistani military bases.
Officials described the operation as “focused, measured, and non-escalatory.” 
Indian news agency ANI reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi monitored the mission overnight. All nine targets were successfully hit.
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Pakistan Calls Strikes an Act of War
Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, called the strikes an “act of war.” On social media, he warned of a strong and immediate response.
Pakistan’s military reported 24 strikes in six regions. These air raids killed at least eight people and injured 35.
Among the dead were five civilians, including two children aged three and sixteen.
Jets Downed and Tensions Escalate
Military spokesman Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan downed five Indian jets. The destroyed aircraft included three Rafales, one SU-30, and one MiG-29.
Pakistani artillery also fired toward Indian-administered Kashmir.
Attack in Kashmir Sparked the Crisis
Last month, gunmen killed 25 Indian tourists and a Nepali citizen in Pahalgam, Kashmir. India blamed the group Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Authorities linked two Pakistani nationals to the attack.
In response, India suspended a key water-sharing treaty. It also shut down trade, closed borders, and blocked airspace.
India Launches “Operation Sindoor”
India named the strike “Operation Sindoor.” The term refers to a red symbol of Hindu marriage.
An image of a grieving wife beside her husband’s body in Pahalgam circulated widely. It stirred strong public emotion.
The Indian Home Ministry launched a nationwide emergency drill just before the operation.
International Community Urges Restraint
Pakistan closed its airspace and shut schools in several regions. These include Islamabad and Punjab, home to over 120 million people.
Shehbaz Sharif held a national security meeting early Wednesday.
Indian analyst C. Raja Mohan predicted Pakistan would retaliate soon. He also said backchannel diplomacy had already started.
US President Donald Trump called the situation “a shame.” He expressed hope for a quick and peaceful resolution.
