India Strikes Pakistan-Controlled Territory After Kashmir Attack

India Strikes Pakistan-Controlled Territory After Kashmir Attack \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ India launched missile strikes into Pakistani-controlled areas, killing eight, after blaming Pakistan-backed militants for a deadly Kashmir massacre. Pakistan condemned the attack as an “act of war” and vowed retaliation, escalating tensions between the nuclear rivals. Heavy cross-border exchanges and civilian casualties have raised fears of broader conflict.

Quick Looks

• India launched missiles into Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and Punjab, killing eight civilians, including a child.
• Indian government says it targeted militant infrastructure linked to Kashmir massacre.
• Pakistan called the strikes an “act of war” and vowed a strong response.
• At least three civilians were killed in Indian-controlled Kashmir by Pakistani shelling.
• India said it hit nine terrorist sites with a “focused, non-escalatory” strike strategy.
• One missile struck a mosque in Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
• Pakistan claimed it shot down five Indian jets — India has not confirmed.
• UN called for maximum restraint, warning of nuclear conflict risk.
• India’s operation was code-named “Sindoor”, symbolizing vengeance and sacrifice.
• Cross-border gunfire and artillery shelling occurred along the Line of Control.
• Schools shut, airports closed, and emergencies declared across both sides of Kashmir.

Deep Look

Tensions between India and Pakistan, two nuclear-armed neighbors with a long and volatile history, have surged to alarming levels following a series of missile strikes launched by India into Pakistan-controlled territory early Wednesday. The operation, which India described as a “focused and non-escalatory” response to a deadly terrorist attack on Indian tourists in Kashmir last month, resulted in the deaths of at least eight civilians, including a child, and has brought both countries closer to the edge of direct military confrontation.

The Indian military said it targeted nine locations linked to militant groups Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, including facilities in Bahawalpur and Muridke. Indian officials stated that all strikes were carried out using precision-guided weapons and were launched from within Indian airspace, suggesting an effort to avoid violating international airspace laws. India’s Defense Ministry emphasized that no Pakistani military infrastructure was hit and that the operation was part of India’s vow to hold accountable those responsible for last month’s Kashmir massacre, where 26 Indian civilians were killed.

The strike was codenamed “Sindoor”, a reference to the sacred red powder worn by married Hindu women, symbolizing blood and sacrifice — underscoring the emotional and political symbolism of the retaliation.

In Pakistan-administered Kashmir, chaos quickly unfolded. In Muzaffarabad, residents reported hearing multiple explosions as power was cut across the city. “We were afraid the next missile might hit our house,” said local resident Mohammad Ashraf, while others took to the streets or sought refuge in open areas. A missile that hit a mosque in Bahawalpur killed a child and injured others. Hospitals across the region declared emergencies, while schools and religious seminaries were ordered shut across Kashmir and Punjab in anticipation of further escalation.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the strikes as a “cowardly act of war” and warned that retaliation would be swift and strong. “Pakistan has every right to give a robust response to this act of war imposed by India,” Sharif said, adding that the country’s armed forces “know very well how to deal with the enemy.” Sharif convened an emergency National Security Committee meeting to coordinate the next steps.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s state-run television claimed that the Pakistan Air Force had shot down five Indian jets in retaliation, though India has not confirmed any such loss. On the Indian side of the border, the army reported that three civilians were killed by Pakistani shelling in Indian-controlled Kashmir, part of heavy cross-border exchanges that included artillery fire and gunfire across the Line of Control (LoC).

In southern Wuyan village, near Srinagar, an aircraft fell on a school building, setting off a massive blaze and injuring several. “There was a huge fire in the sky. Then we heard several blasts,” said Mohammed Yousuf Dar, a local resident. Firefighters struggled for hours to control the flames, and police quickly sealed the area, citing security concerns.

In response to the growing conflict, India shut down civilian flights at Srinagar International Airport, following an order from the Indian Air Force, and temporarily suspended air traffic across multiple sectors of Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry issued a formal statement accusing India of reckless escalation that threatens civilian airspace and global commercial traffic. “This reckless escalation has brought the two nuclear-armed states closer to a major conflict,” it warned. The ministry confirmed that the Indian attacks hit sites near Muridke and Kotli, causing both civilian and infrastructure damage.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, through spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, expressed deep concern about the strikes and called for maximum restraint from both countries. “The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan,” the statement emphasized, urging both sides to step back from the brink.

Military analysts believe the situation is among the most volatile since the Pulwama-Balakot escalation in 2019, which also involved cross-border strikes and air battles. Michael Kugelman, a South Asia analyst, told the Associated Press, “These are two strong militaries that, even with nuclear weapons as a deterrent, are not afraid to deploy sizeable levels of conventional military force against each other.”

He warned that the risks of escalation are real and could intensify quickly if cooler heads do not prevail. The presence of civilian casualties, symbolic religious targets like mosques, and conflicting claims over military losses add to the volatility of the situation.

As the region braces for further developments, international observers are urging diplomatic de-escalation to avoid a broader war — but the cycle of retaliation, rhetoric, and military maneuvers continues to spiral, leaving millions in Kashmir and surrounding areas in a state of fear and uncertainty.

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