After India’s precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, Pakistan retaliates with heavy mortar shelling and claims of drone attacks, even as both sides signal willingness to avoid full-scale war.
New Delhi | May 8, 2025:
Tensions between India and Pakistan have dramatically escalated following India’s Operation Sindoor — a coordinated military strike targeting nine major terrorist camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians on April 22.
In retaliation, the Pakistan Army launched heavy-calibre artillery and mortar shelling across the Line of Control (LoC), targeting forward villages in Jammu and Kashmir. This resulted in at least 12 civilian casualties and one soldier’s death, according to Indian defence officials.
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Pakistan Claims Indian Drone Strikes, Airspace Closed
Pakistan’s military has alleged that India launched drone attacks in key urban centres like Lahore and Karachi, a day after the missile strikes. While the Karachi airport was shut down till 6 pm, Islamabad and Lahore airports were temporarily closed for what Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority termed “operational reasons.”
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In response, India’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that Pakistan had attempted to target military installations in several Indian cities on the night of May 7, including Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Chandigarh and Awantipura. These were successfully intercepted by India’s air defence systems, and the government said debris from those attacks was being recovered as proof.
Operation Sindoor: Swift, Surgical and Strategic
The 25-minute coordinated air assault, conducted between 1:04 am and 1:30 am, targeted nine terror hubs linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed in PoK and Pakistan. The Indian military emphasized that no Pakistani military infrastructure was targeted and the operation was “measured and non-escalatory.”
Defence officials also reported that at least 100 terrorists were killed and over 60 injured, including top operatives from banned terror groups.
Pakistani Response: Conflicting Signals
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called India’s actions an “act of war” and warned of a “befitting response”, even as Defence Minister Khawaja Asif offered a conditional path to de-escalation. He stated that Pakistan is ready to “wrap up tensions” if India backs down.
India on Alert: Airports Closed, Drills Conducted
In preparation for possible escalation, India has:
- Shut 27 airports in northern India for commercial operations till May 10.
- Closed 25 international flight routes over Pakistan-bound corridors.
- Conducted civil defence drills and blackout exercises across sensitive regions.
Political Unity Across Party Lines
The Centre convened an all-party meeting to brief national leaders on Operation Sindoor. Politicians across party lines — including from the Congress, TMC, SP, RJD, DMK, NCP (SP), Left, BSP and Shiv Sena (UBT) — extended support to the government and praised the military for its swift and precise action.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, along with Col Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, led the briefing, reiterating India’s resolve to dismantle terror networks without escalating into full-blown conflict.
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Operation Sindoor, India Pakistan conflict, Pahalgam attack, Indian airstrikes, Pakistan artillery shelling, drone warfare, Vikram Misri, Shehbaz Sharif, Khawaja Asif, Pakistan retaliation, terror infrastructure, air defence systems, blackout drills, all-party meeting, national security, OperartionSindoor,