Tensions Surge as India Launches Strikes on Pakistan-Linked Targets

India launched a wave of airstrikes on what it called “terrorist infrastructure” inside Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, dramatically escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Branded “Operation Sindoor,” the offensive follows weeks of heightened hostility and marks one of the most dangerous flashpoints in the region in recent years.

Pakistan said the strikes killed at least eight people, including children. Officials in Islamabad condemned the attack as unprovoked and warned of severe retaliation, signaling a deepening crisis with potential global ramifications.

In response, Pakistan claimed to have shot down five Indian fighter jets and one surveillance drone. While India has not acknowledged the alleged losses, Pakistani sources reported that three of the jets were Rafale aircraft — state-of-the-art fighters recently acquired by New Delhi from France.

The airstrikes come on the heels of a deadly assault in Indian-controlled Kashmir last month, where gunmen killed 26 civilians, many of them tourists. India blamed Pakistan for orchestrating the attack, an accusation Islamabad rejected as baseless.

The contested Himalayan region of Kashmir remains at the heart of the conflict. Both India and Pakistan claim the territory in its entirety but currently control separate parts. The two countries have fought three wars since gaining independence, with Kashmir being the trigger for most confrontations.

Diplomatic channels between the rivals have remained largely frozen in recent months, leaving regional observers deeply concerned about the possibility of further military escalation. As tensions continue to mount, global powers are urging restraint and calling for immediate dialogue to prevent another war in South Asia.

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