India launches strikes on terror sites in Pakistan after deadly Pahalgam attack
India launches strikes on terror sites in Pakistan after deadly Pahalgam attack
India has launched “Operation Sindoor,” a precision military strike targeting nine terrorist infrastructure sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, according to reports from multiple sources including India Today and the Times of India.
Multiple explosions were heard in Pakistani Kashmir and several other locations as the Indian Armed Forces executed “Operation Sindoor” in the early hours of Wednesday, May 6, 2025.
The military operation specifically targeted what India described as “terrorist infrastructure” rather than Pakistani military installations, emphasizing that the strikes were designed to be “measured and non-escalatory.
Power outages were reported in some areas following the strikes, according to witnesses.
The operation came as a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that resulted in 26 civilian casualties, mostly tourists.
India has been building a diplomatic case for self-defense at the United Nations prior to launching the military action, with officials seeking international support for their position that Pakistan was backing militants involved in the attack.
Targeted Locations
The precision strikes were concentrated in and around Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir, with explosions reported in at least two other locations in the region.
According to Reuters witnesses, multiple loud explosions were heard in the Pakistani Kashmir area close to the mountains surrounding the city.
CNN reported that the strikes occurred early Wednesday, with India carefully selecting targets believed to be linked to terrorist infrastructure while deliberately avoiding Pakistani military facilities.
Power outages followed the military action in several areas, though specific details about the exact nature of the nine targeted sites remain limited in public reporting.
Videos of explosions in Pakistani cities and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir began circulating shortly after the operation commenced.
Pakistani Response
Pakistan’s military confirmed missile attacks at three locations and has vowed to respond at a “time and place of its own choosing” following India’s Operation Sindoor . Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir issued a swift warning that any “military misadventure” by India would be met with a “notched-up” response. The Pakistani government has called for an inquiry into the original terrorist incident before “jumping to conclusions,” while consistently denying any involvement in the Pahalgam attack that triggered the current crisis .
The situation has raised significant concerns internationally due to both nations’ nuclear capabilities . A chilling study from 2019 had eerily predicted a potential nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan in 2025, sparked by a high-casualty terror attack . The United States has reportedly been working diplomatically to prevent further escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors .
Escalation Risks
The military confrontation between the nuclear-armed neighbors has raised significant concerns about potential escalation, with both nations maintaining heightened military alertness along their borders. Following the April 22 Pahalgam attack, tensions have steadily increased, with the Center for Foreign Relations noting that India and Pakistan were “heading toward a conflict, with few signs of de-escalation” even before Operation Sindoor was launched.
UN-led closed-door consultations have begun as part of international efforts to defuse the situation.
Security drills are being conducted across 244 areas in India as a precautionary measure, highlighting the seriousness with which authorities view the potential for further conflict.
The Belfer Center reports that U.S. diplomatic intervention may have prevented immediate escalation following the initial terrorist attack, though the situation remains precarious following India’s military strikes.