In a major flare up of tensions, India conducted precision missile attacks against centers all over Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. This brutal aggression was responsible for the killing of 31 people, 13 of them innocent young children. Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership have been much agitated denouncing this military move. In response to India’s decision, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that India “will have to pay the price” for its moves.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, insisted that Pakistan is doing everything possible to prevent an “all-out war.” He cautioned that Pakistan is prepared for a conventional conflict if it becomes necessary. Tension has spiked between the two countries following India’s rapid, preemptive overnight mission known as “Operation Sindoor.” India maintains this mission took out nine sites of “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan.
India’s airstrikes have prompted a strong reaction from Pakistan’s military, which has reported a rising death toll linked to the attacks. In addition to those already killed, there are thousands more seriously injured, leaving an already exposed powderkeg that much more explosive.
“In India’s cowardly attack, 26 innocent civilians were slain and 46 were injured … We just offered funeral prayers for a slain child, seven-year-old Irtaza Abbas.” – Shehbaz Sharif
For comparison, the Pakistani government itself is claiming it shot down five Indian Air Force jets. This step came after coalition airstrikes targeting healthcare faculty in the past week. To this effect, even a high-ranking French intelligence official has verified this assertion. He mentioned that Pakistan Air Force downed an Indian Air Force Rafale fighter jet.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi reacted to the recent escalation by calling off his scheduled visit to Europe. As events continue to unfold, tensions are still running high. Unfortunately, it has increasingly become so – though at times, U.S. President Donald Trump would seem to suggest the opposite. He deemed it “a shame” and said he looked forward to a speedy resolution.
“My position is I get along with both. I know both very well, and I want to see them work it out. I want to see them stop, and hopefully they can stop now.” – Donald Trump
Trump further offered his assistance, stating, “If I can do anything to help, I will be there.”
The UK Foreign Office responded to the escalation by revising its travel advice for the affected region. It now advises against all travel within 10 kilometers of the India-Pakistan border. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called Prime Minister Sharif, discussing the state of affairs.
China is calling on both sides to exercise restraint. It calls for them to settle their disputes through negotiations, and it highlights the preferential value of diplomatic resolution of conflicts, rather than military escalation.
With the war escalating, Pakistan’s defense minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif emphasized the country’s military preparedness as tensions mounted.
“What happens next is we are prepared for an all-out war. There is absolutely no doubt, because India is increasing the intensity, the stakes of this conflict. So… we can’t be caught with our guards down.” – Khawaja Muhammad Asif
The India-Pakistan conflict has profound historical antecedents and has caused several clashes through the years, most notably the 1947-48 and 1971 wars. The recent escalation of violence represents an unprecedented and dangerous escalation in hostilities that could change the face of Israeli-Palestinian, and possibly broader Middle East, relations.