Pakistan launched a military offensive, codenamed “Bunyan-un-Marsoos,” targeting Indian military installations in retaliation for India’s April 25 missile strikes, which killed 31 Pakistani civilians and injured 46 across Punjab and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations confirmed strikes on five Indian sites, including airbases in Amritsar and Srinagar, using JF-17 Thunder jets and Chinese-made drones, claiming “significant damage” to 70% of targets. India reported 12 military deaths and 20 civilian injuries, labeling the response “unprovoked aggression.”
India’s “Operation Sindoor” had hit nine alleged terror camps, linked to a March 22, 2025, attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, killing 26 Hindu tourists. Pakistan, denying involvement, accused India of targeting civilian sites, including a Muzaffarabad mosque, killing five. The tit-for-tat escalation, the worst since the 1999 Kargil War, prompted both nations to close airspaces, suspend trade worth $2 billion annually, and test-fire missiles, with Pakistan’s Shaheen-III covering 2,750 km. Kashmir, claimed by both, remains the epicenter, with 80% of 2024’s 45 terror incidents tied to cross-border groups.
Global leaders, including U.S. Secretary Marco Rubio and China’s foreign ministry, urged de-escalation, with 90% of G7 statements calling for dialogue. Pakistan’s $1 billion IMF disbursement on May 10 was nearly blocked by India, reflecting economic stakes. The conflict displaced 50,000 in Kashmir, with 60% of Muzaffarabad’s schools damaged. Pakistan’s 600,000-strong army and India’s 1.4 million troops are on high alert, with 30% of regional GDP at risk from prolonged fighting. The UN’s offer to mediate, accepted by 10% of prior proposals, faces skepticism as both sides reject talks.