Muzaffarabad, New Delhi, LOGIC.co.id – Tensions between India and Pakistan have flared once again after India launched missile strikes on Pakistani territory and Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Wednesday (May 7, 2025). This marks the worst confrontation in over two decades between the two nuclear-armed nations.
The Pakistani military reported that the attacks killed at least 31 civilians and injured 46 others. In a televised address, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed retaliation against India’s aggression.
“For the blatant mistake India committed last night, they will pay dearly,” Shehbaz declared in a live broadcast on PTV.
India Launches Large-Scale Military Strike
India claimed it had targeted nine sites allegedly housing militant infrastructure, including those linked to last month’s attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 25 Hindu tourists and one local resident.
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh stated that all targets were hit with precision, emphasizing that India avoided civilian casualties during the strikes.
However, Pakistan denied the existence of any terrorist camps within its territory. The Pakistani military said all the sites attacked were civilian areas, including a mosque and a madrasa in central Muzaffarabad, which were destroyed by five Indian missile strikes, killing three people.
Claims of Fighter Jets Shot Down
Pakistan's Ministry of Defense claimed it had shot down five Indian fighter jets and drones, although this statement has not yet been confirmed by Indian authorities.
However, government sources in Indian-administered Kashmir reported that three Indian jets had crashed in the Himalayan region and their pilots were being treated in hospital. India has yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
Images of large metal debris, believed to be parts of fighter jets, circulated on local media, though their authenticity has not been independently verified.
"Sindoor Operation" and the Targeting of Masood Azhar
India named the strike “Sindoor Operation,” targeting militant groups Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. India claimed that ten relatives of Masood Azhar, the Jaish-e-Mohammed leader who was released in a 1999 hostage exchange, were killed in the operation.
The Indian government also stated that two of the three perpetrators of last month’s Kashmir attack were Pakistani nationals, although no detailed evidence has been presented yet.
International Tensions and Risk of War
This escalation comes as Pakistan continues to struggle with an ongoing economic crisis. The Pakistani government is attempting to stabilize the economy and meet conditions for a $7 billion IMF loan program.
At the time of the strike, 57 commercial planes were flying through Pakistani airspace, putting thousands of lives at risk. Affected airlines included carriers from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Thailand, South Korea, and China.
Diplomatically, India informed 13 foreign ambassadors that if Pakistan retaliates, India will respond in kind. This has raised serious concerns in the international community over the potential for further escalation.
The United States, United Nations, China, Russia, and the United Kingdom have all called on both nations to exercise restraint.
“I want to see them stop, and if I can help, I’ll be ready,” said U.S. President Donald Trump.
Military Balance Between India and Pakistan
How do the military capabilities of the two countries compare?
Economic and Aviation Impact
Pakistan’s stock index dropped nearly 6% before closing down 2.2%. The Indian rupee also weakened by nearly 0.5% against the U.S. dollar.
Several airlines canceled flights to both India and Pakistan due to airport and airspace closures.