New war breaks out? India launches missile strikes on Pakistan

The Indian Army has launched a military operation in the Pakistani-controlled areas of Kashmir. Pakistan has deployed its air force and is responding with strikes, according to Reuters and the Indian Army's X account.

A series of intense blasts echoed through the mountain areas surrounding Muzaffarabad, which serves as the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, along with two additional spots in the vicinity.

As reported by witnesses, power was cut off in Muzaffarabad after the blasts occurred.

The Indian Ministry of Defence initiated "Operation Sindoor," targeting terrorist infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled Jammu and Kashmir.

"We have maintained our approach as focused, calibrated, and not escalatory. We have refrained from targeting any Pakistani military installations. India has shown significant restraint both in choosing targets and executing their operations," the Indian statement said.

It was noted that these steps were taken after a "barbaric Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were murdered."

A spokesperson for the Pakistani military told local broadcaster ARY that India attacked Pakistan with missiles in three locations and that Pakistan would respond.

Eyewitnesses on social media shared footage of the first explosions in the mentioned provinces.

Bahawalpur in Pakistan Indian Army in action. pic.twitter.com/hXgeSHOZty

— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) May 6, 2025

Video shared by Pakistani journalists from Bahawalpur (Pakistan) showing an attack by the Indian army. pic.twitter.com/3Dm2Bf2zcX

Ihtisham Ul Haq tweeted on May 6, 2025. Unfortunately, the content of the tweet was not provided.

Pakistan launches retaliatory operation

Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations, stated that the attacks killed three Pakistanis and injured twelve.

He said the Indian army struck the cities of Kotli, Bahawalpur, Muridke, Bagh, and Muzaffarabad.

"Earlier this year, the timid adversary India conducted aerial attacks on the Subhanullah mosque in Bahwalpur’s Ahmad Town area, as well as locations in Kotli and Muzaffarabad," he stated.

Chaudhry added that all aircraft of the Pakistani Air Force were scrambled.

"This despicable and disgraceful assault was conducted using Indian air space. They were never permitted to enter and encroach upon Pakistani territory," he stated.

According to a PTV News report on X, quoting security sources, Pakistan has initiated a counter-operation.

"As a consequence of the despicable assault, an unarmed child lost their life, while a woman and a man sustained severe injuries. India conducted a cowardly attack on unsuspecting Pakistanis during the nighttime," the statement said.

The Defense Minister, Khawaja Asif, informed ARY News that civilian zones were hit.

Tension rising between India and Pakistan

On April 22, a team of armed persons assaulted visitors in the town of Pahalgam, resulting in the deaths of 25 Indians and one Nepalese individual. The attack was claimed by an organisation called "Kashmir Resistance."

India accused Pakistan of being responsible for the attack. Nevertheless, Islamabad refuted these claims, asserting that it was part of a local insurgency.

Delhi reacted by shutting down the regional border crossing, enforcing visa limitations, and pulling out of the Indus Waters Treaty. The Pakistani administration viewed these actions as acts of war.

In the following weeks, both the Indian and Pakistani armies brought their troops to full combat readiness and repeatedly closed their airspace.