Operation Sindoor: India’s Precision Strikes and Rising Regional Risk
On May 7, 2025, early‑morning Indian Air Force jets unleashed “Operation Sindoor,” firing missiles at nine sites in Pakistan’s Punjab province and Pakistan‑administered Kashmir. New Delhi described the strikes as “focused, measured, and non‑escalatory,” aimed at dismantling Lashkar‑e‑Taiba and Jaish‑e‑Mohammed camps blamed for the April 22 Pahalgam tourist massacre that killed 26 people 3. Pakistan denounced the raids as an “act of war,” reporting at least 26 civilian deaths (including children) and 46 wounded, and asserted it downed five Indian aircraft in self‑defense 4.
Details of Operation Sindoor
According to Indian defence officials, Rafale jets armed with SCALP missiles and AASM Hammer bombs struck nine “terrorist infrastructure” sites—ranging from training camps to command centers—over a 23‑minute sortie 6. Locations hit included Bahawalpur, Muridke, Tehra Kalan, Sialkot, Bhimber, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad. India insisted no military bases were targeted, only non‑state militant hideouts 7.
Pakistan’s Response & Escalation
Pakistan’s military spokesperson stated at least 26 civilians were killed and private property damaged, including mosques in Bahawalpur and Kotli. Islamabad claimed to have shot down five Indian jets—a charge New Delhi labeled “disinformation” 8. Cross‑border shelling along the Line of Control intensified, resulting in additional civilian casualties on both sides.
International Reactions
UN Secretary‑General António Guterres urged maximum restraint to prevent a wider war among two nuclear‑armed neighbors 9. China and Russia also called for de‑escalation, while the United States, through State Department envoys, appealed for immediate crisis diplomacy to restore the 2021 ceasefire agreement 10.
Implications for Regional Security
Analysts warn that the scale of Operation Sindoor—India’s most extensive cross‑border strike since the 1971 war—raises the risk of a tit‑for‑tat spiral. Markets reacted nervously: Pakistan’s stock index tumbled over 6% intraday before partial recovery, and the Indian rupee hit its lowest level in weeks against the U.S. dollar 11. Any further miscalculation could draw in external powers and destabilize South Asia’s fragile security balance.
Location: New Delhi, India
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