Operation Sindoor: India Strikes Back After Pahalgam Terror Attack – Latest Updates May 2025

India Launches 'Operation Sindoor' in Retaliation for Pahalgam Terror Attack

On May 7, 2025, the Indian Armed Forces launched "Operation Sindoor," carrying out precision airstrikes on nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The mission was a direct response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 Indian civilians, mostly Hindu pilgrims, lost their lives.

The Indian Ministry of Defence stated that the operation targeted infrastructure linked to terrorist organizations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. Over the course of 23 minutes, India deployed Rafale fighter jets armed with SCALP missiles and AASM Hammer bombs. Officials emphasized the operation was "focused, measured, and non-escalatory," carefully avoiding Pakistani military installations.

In contrast, Pakistani authorities reported that the strikes resulted in the deaths of at least 26 civilians, including women and children, and injured more than 46. The Pakistani government condemned the action as an "unprovoked and blatant act of war," claiming that residential areas and religious sites were among the targets.

Following the strikes, Pakistan claimed to have downed five Indian fighter jets and launched retaliatory attacks that allegedly destroyed an Indian brigade headquarters. India has not confirmed these counterclaims but acknowledged the loss of three aircraft and injuries to three pilots.

The rapid escalation has drawn sharp concern from the international community. The United Nations and the United States have called for restraint, urging both nations to de-escalate and re-engage in dialogue to avoid further conflict.

Meanwhile, India has increased its security readiness, conducting extensive drills across nearly 300 civil defense districts—the largest mobilization of its kind since the 1971 war. Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally oversaw Operation Sindoor, he has yet to release an official statement.

As tensions rise between the nuclear-armed neighbors, the world watches closely, hoping for a swift return to diplomacy over further military escalation.