India Launches Missile Strikes Against Pakistan

India has conducted missile strikes against multiple targets in Pakistan and Pakistani-administered Kashmir, escalating the two-week crisis that began with the Pahalgam tourist massacre, as reported by Reuters. Defense officials confirmed the operation targeted nine sites believed to be militant facilities, marking the most significant military action between the nuclear-armed neighbors since 2019, according to CNN’s latest coverage.

The strikes, described by Indian officials as “precision operations,” come after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government faced mounting pressure to respond to the April 22 attack that killed 26 tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, documented by Al Jazeera. Pakistan has vowed to retaliate against what it calls “unprovoked aggression,” raising fears of a broader conflict, according to the latest Wikipedia updates.

Tensions Reach Breaking Point After Diplomatic Failures

Diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis collapsed after both nations implemented increasingly severe measures against each other in the past week. The standoff escalated significantly as India closed its airspace to Pakistani commercial flights, matching Pakistan’s earlier ban on Indian aircraft. Both nations had already expelled diplomats, suspended vital treaties, and closed border crossings, according to Wikipedia’s documentation.

“India’s response was inevitable after Pakistan continued denying involvement despite clear evidence linking Pakistani nationals to the attack,” said Manjari Chatterjee Miller, Senior Fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations. The April 22 massacre marked “one of the worst attacks in the region since 2019, resulting in a tit-for-tat measure between India and Pakistan.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had attempted to mediate between the two countries, as reported by CNN, speaking directly with officials from both governments, but these efforts failed to prevent military escalation.

Military Capabilities Raise Escalation Concerns

Defense analysts note both countries have significantly upgraded their military capabilities since their last major confrontation in 2019. During that conflict, as Reuters reports, “India carried out air strikes inside Pakistan after the bombing of an Indian military convoy in Kashmir and said it destroyed ‘terrorist camps’. Pakistani jets conducted a retaliatory air strike and shot down an Indian aircraft during actions spread over two days.”

The current operation involved multiple missile platforms rather than fighter jets, reducing the risk of pilot casualties while demonstrating India’s expanded strike capabilities. India’s Navy had signaled this approach days earlier when it announced successful missile tests to “revalidate and demonstrate readiness,” according to Al Jazeera.

Military experts warn that both nations now possess more sophisticated weapons systems, including advanced drones and missiles acquired from allies. Frank O’Donnell, a South Asia security researcher at the Stimson Center in Washington, told Reuters that “decision makers in both states now have a higher risk appetite” compared to previous confrontations.

International Community Calls For Restraint

The United Nations Security Council has called an emergency session as world leaders urge maximum restraint from both sides. US President Donald Trump had previously downplayed tensions, telling reporters the dispute would “get figured out, one way or another,” but the administration has now expressed “serious concern” about the potential for escalation.

Meanwhile, civilians near the Line of Control (LoC) face growing dangers. Approximately 1.5 million people live near this de facto border in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, where residents have been “living in constant fear” and preparing underground shelters in anticipation of further conflict.

China’s Foreign Ministry has called for immediate dialogue between the two nations, while Iran and Saudi Arabia have offered to mediate. However, with missile strikes already underway and a Pakistani response expected, regional powers face significant challenges in preventing further military actions.