India has launched a series of missile strikes on targets inside Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir under a military operation dubbed “Operation Sindoor,” in what is being described as one of the most serious escalations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in recent years.
According to the Indian army, the operation targeted nine sites believed to be linked to “cross-border militant activity.”
In a terse statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), the Indian army declared, “Justice is served,” hours after the strikes were carried out.
Pakistan confirmed that six of the nine targeted sites were within its territory, with government officials reporting at least eight people killed and more than 35 others injured. Islamabad has denounced the strikes as an “act of war” and promised a “robust response.”
The missile strikes follow a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, which left several Indian soldiers and civilians dead. India swiftly blamed Pakistan-based militants for orchestrating the assault. Pakistan has strongly denied any involvement.
“This is a blatant aggression,” said Pakistan’s foreign ministry in a statement early Tuesday, warning that “India will be held responsible for the consequences of its reckless actions.”
India and Pakistan have fought three full-scale wars since independence in 1947, two of them over the disputed region of Kashmir.
As of Tuesday morning, both countries had placed military units along their shared border on high alert, with Pakistan’s National Security Council meeting in emergency session to assess response options.