India Attacks Pakistan
The India-Pakistan rivalry, which has gone on for decades and has historical roots, has erupted anew in 2025 to catch the eye of the world. The tensions ran very high after a deadly terror attack in Kashmir and an Indian retaliatory but risky military adventure, code-named Operation Sindoor. The missile raids and border skirmishes have seen fear of full-scale war between these two nuclear-armed neighbors.
In this article, we’ll dive into the Kashmir attack of 2025, explore why India attacked Pakistan, unpack the details of Operation Sindoor, and analyze Pakistan’s counterstrikes. We’ll also look at the broader India-Pakistan border clash and assess whether the two nations are heading toward war. Let’s unravel this complex story step by step.
Background of the India-Pakistan Conflict
India-Pakistan rivalry started in 1947, the year the British colonial era ended, dividing the subcontinent into two countries. Kashmir, a beautiful territory both countries claim in its entirety but have control over just half of, is the epicenter of their rivalry. The rivalry has initiated three wars—1947, 1965, and 1999—and numerous skirmishes.
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Kashmir’s Role: The Line of Control (LoC) separates Kashmir into Indian-administered and Pakistan-administered. Both accuse the other of sponsoring militancy to destabilize the other.
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Previous Conflicts: The 1971 war witnessed the birth of Bangladesh, while the 1999 Kargil conflict strained fragile ceasefires. In 2019, India’s Balakot airstrikes across the border against Pakistan in response to a militant attack set the precedent.
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Evolution by 2025: Hostilities brewed on through diplomatic tensions, economic blockade, and LoC shelling at inopportune moments. The surge of nationalism and militancy kept the genie in the bottle effect.
All the hype set the stage for escalation in 2025 when past wounds and present grievances converged.
The Kashmir Attack 2025: Catalyst for Escalation
On 22 April 2025, a horrific terrorist strike targeted Pahalgam, one of Indian-administered Kashmir’s tourist havens. Insurgents attacked tourists in Baisaran Valley, killing 26 people, most of them Hindu tourists, and injuring dozens. The deadliest attack in decades shocked India and ignited public outrage.
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Influence on Sentiment: Social media was abuzz with calls for revenge, compelling India’s government to respond sternly.
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India’s Accusations: New Delhi accused Pakistan of saying the attackers were associated with the Resistance Front, a group of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. India said it had proof, such as facial recognition evidence, linking the attackers to Pakistan.
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Denial from Pakistan: Islamabad denied the charges and demanded an objective inquiry, and refuted any involvement in the attack.
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Diplomatic Consequences: India sent out Pakistani diplomats, cancelled visas, and shut borders. Pakistan did the same, and both countries closed the other’s airspace to each other’s aircraft. India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty as well, an important water-sharing treaty, ratcheting tensions further.
This assault was not merely a tragedy—it was the match that lit the India-Pakistan war yet again.
Why India Attacked Pakistan in 2025
India’s move to use missile attacks on Pakistan in 2025 was a combination of political, strategic, and emotional logic. The Pahalgam attack touched a raw nerve, and the people’s anger required a decisive response. The government of the day in India, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, felt that action via the military would help restore deterrence and communicate determination.
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Strategic Goals: India claimed its strikes targeted “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, aiming to disrupt militant groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba.
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Political Pressure: Modi’s nationalist base expected a muscular response, especially after the targeted killing of Hindu tourists. A failure to act could have weakened his government’s image.
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Indus Waters Treaty Suspension: The suspension of this 1960 treaty by India was an economic and diplomatic brinkmanship act, a harbinger of war. Suspending the treaty endangered Pakistan’s water security, a matter that was delicate.
Indian strikes were framed as a pre-emptive strike to deter additional attacks, but also carried some political mileage domestically.
What Is Operation Sindoor?
During the evening of May 6–7, 2025, India conducted Operation Sindoor, a series of missile attacks against nine targets within Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation was a counter-attack measure in direct response to the attack on Kashmir, with India saying that it attacked “terrorist camps” and infrastructure.
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Military Information: The Indian Air Force utilized Rafale combat aircraft with SCALP missiles and AASM Hammer bombs. The 23-minute operation was aimed at Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen’s bases such as Bahawalpur, Muridke, Sialkot, Bhimber, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad.
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Symbolism of “Sindoor”: “Sindoor” is the Hindi term for the red vermilion powder that Hindu women wear to signify that they are married. India used this term to respect the widowed women of the Pahalgam attack, presenting the attacks as revenge for the victims.
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Execution: India focused on “precision” and “restraint,” asserting no Pakistani military targets were struck to prevent wider escalation.
Operation Sindoor was a show of restraint but with the ability to retaliate.
Pakistan Military Response and Missile Strike
Pakistan responded quickly and militarily to India’s attack. Describing the attacks as an “act of war,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif promised a “befitting reply.” Pakistan’s diplomatic and military response ratcheted up the crisis.
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Military Retaliation: Pakistan retaliated with intense mortar shelling along the LoC, during which three Indian civilians were killed. It also said it had destroyed five Indian aircraft, including three Rafale fighter jets, but India did not confirm these losses.
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Civilian Casualty: The Pakistani government confirmed 26 deaths, one of them a child, and 46 injured, inflicted by India’s shelling of mosques and civilian structures. Eight individuals were killed by Pakistani shelling, India reported.
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Diplomatic Position: Pakistan denounced the attacks as “cowardly” and approved “corresponding measures.” It also called for global support, with Sharif calling for an independent investigation into the Pahalgam attack.
The reaction of Pakistan revealed that it was willing to escalate, which heightened the fear of a widened war.
India-Pakistan Border Clash: Present Context
Since April 2025, the Line of Control has been the focal point of fire exchanges and induction of heavy forces from both sides. The India-Pakistan border clash has suddenly disrupted life in Kashmir, and the locals are being targeted by crossfire.
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Intense shelling and firing have been killing soldiers and civilians on both sides. Indian helicopters and Pakistani planes patrol the LoC, representing increased vigil.
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Local Impacts: Kashmiris are under curfews, evacuations, and economic hardship. They fear being caught in a cycle of violence.
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Militant Groups: Non-state actors such as the Resistance Front sustain the tensions by carrying out attacks that elicit military reactions.
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Military Preparedness: The two countries have deployed their forces, with India holding civil defense exercises and Pakistan conducting missile tests.
The border is still jittery with the end of the fighting in the offing.
What Triggered the Latest Escalation in India-Pakistan?
The escalation in 2025 did not occur suddenly—it was the outcome of a sequence of events and long-term conflicts. This is how it played out:
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Pahalgam Attack: The April 22 attack was the immediate provocation, reigniting India’s accusations of Pakistani support for terror.
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Political Decisions: India’s nationalist government didn’t want to appear soft, and Pakistan’s leaders couldn’t risk seeming weak. Both stiffened with diplomatic and military responses.
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Grievances of the Past: The Kashmir conflict, still unresolved since 1947, is at the root of the war. Historic betrayals and suspicion have soured diplomatic relationships.
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Regional Players: Pakistan’s increasing relationship with China and its own border conflicts with India complicated matters. The international players, caught up in other crises, were unable to intervene successfully.
The failure of trust and lack of communication converted a tragedy into a full-blown crisis.
Is India and Pakistan on the Brink of War?
The present confrontation has been the most antagonistic since 2019, with both countries wielding military muscle. But is it India and Pakistan’s walk toward war? Evenly balanced are these perspectives:
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Threats of War: Being nuclear powers, both would have faced horrific destruction should the war have been all-out. The retorts and attacks in 2025 are a demonstration of an effort to initiate major confrontations without desiring a run-amok war from either side.
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International Pressure: The UN, US, China, and Russia have called for restraint. Authorities respond that “the world cannot afford” war, quoting figures like UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
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De-escalation Options: Previous crises like the 2019 Balakot battle had been resolved through diplomatic off-ramps, such as Pakistan’s repatriation of an Indian pilot. The same conciliatory measures can temper tensions.
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Worst-Case Scenario: Miscalculations or attacks by militants may escalate into wider war, particularly if civilian casualties rise.
While war isn’t inevitable, the lack of dialogue keeps the region on edge.
Actionable Tip: Stay informed through credible news sources like Al Jazeera or Reuters, but avoid sensationalized media that amplifies fear. If you’re in the region, follow local government advisories for safety.
Conclusion
The 2025 attack on Pakistan by India, stoked by the Kashmir attack and carried out under Operation Sindoor, has elevated the India-Pakistan conflict to a new, risky level. From missile attacks to border skirmishes, the intensification is evidence of old historic wounds and new grievances. The retaliatory Pakistani strikes and LoC clashes continue to demonstrate the rapid escalation of tensions.
This war has many layers, attached to the future of Kashmir, national pride, and global geopolitics. And yet, only through negotiations can there be peace. Both nations must prioritize de-escalation to rescue their citizens—and the globe—at the cost of war. The future of South Asia hangs on an agreement amidst the chaos.
FAQs
Q: Why did India invade Pakistan in 2025?
A: India launched missile strikes, operation named Operation Sindoor, against Pakistan on April 22, 2025, in response to a terrorist strike that killed 26 tourists at
Q: What is Operation Sindoor?
A: Operation Sindoor was an Indian military operation on 6–7 May 2025 targeting nine “terrorist infrastructure” targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with Rafale aircraft and precision missiles. It is a memorial to the victims of the Pahalgam attack.
Q: How did Pakistan respond to Indian missile attacks?
A: Pakistan denounced the attacks as an “act of war,” responded by firing mortar rounds across the LoC, and claimed to have downed Indian planes. They reported 26 civilians killed and threatened a heavy retaliation.
Q: Why have tensions between India and Pakistan been escalated in recent times?
A: The tensions started with the April 2025 Kashmir attack, followed by Indian accusations against Pakistan, diplomatic breakdowns, and retaliatory military strikes, such as India’s missile attacks and Pakistan’s retaliatory attacks.
Q: Are India and Pakistan going to war?
A: Although tensions are high, global calls for restraint and nuclear stakes render large-scale war unlikely. But miscalculation or additional militant attacks could escalate the conflict.
