New Delhi /Islamabad, May 7: India launched airstrikes against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Wednesday in response to a deadly attack in the northern region of Pahalgam, prompting strong condemnation from Islamabad and urgent calls for restraint from the United Nations.
The operation, codenamed Operation Sindoor, targeted nine terror-linked sites across the border, India’s government said in a statement, adding that no Pakistani military facilities were struck.
“This was a calibrated strike against terror infrastructure. The operation was conducted with precision to avoid civilian and military casualties,” the Indian defence ministry said. Islamabad responded sharply, vowing to retaliate “at a time and place of its own choosing.”
“The Indian aggression will not go unanswered. We reserve the right to respond in a manner of our choosing,” Pakistan’s foreign ministry said, without confirming whether any infrastructure was damaged. Tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours spiked following the attack in Pahalgam that killed multiple Indian security personnel. India has blamed Pakistan-based militant groups for orchestrating the assault, a charge Pakistan has denied.
The Indian government has moved to bolster civil defence preparedness in light of the escalation. Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan is set to review measures including air raid drills, civilian self-protection training, and bunker inspections, according to officials.
At the United Nations, the Security Council met in closed-door consultations late Tuesday to discuss the deteriorating situation. Though no formal statement was issued, Pakistan’s mission to the UN said its diplomatic objectives had been “largely served.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the Pahalgam attack and urged both countries to avoid further confrontation. “Make no mistake, a military solution is no solution,” he said. “The perpetrators must be brought to justice. I offer my good offices to both governments in the service of peace.”
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since gaining independence in 1947 and routinely engage in cross-border skirmishes, particularly in the contested Kashmir region. The latest escalation is seen as one of the most serious in recent years.
