India-Pakistan conflict escalates

Islamabad has vowed retaliation as the most intense fighting in years broke out between the nuclear-armed rivals

India has launched “Operation Sindoor,” targeting what it calls “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan and the Pakistan-controlled part of Kashmir, in retaliation for a deadly terrorist attack in Baisaran Valley.

Islamabad has condemned the strikes as a “heinous provocation” and vowed retaliation.

New Delhi said it hit at least nine targets early Wednesday morning, insisting that the strikes were directed at “terrorist camps” and not the Pakistani armed forces or civilians.

“Our actions have been focused, measured, and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in the selection of targets and method of execution,” the Indian government said in a statement.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the Indian operation, describing the strikes as a “cowardly” attack. “Pakistan has every right to respond forcefully to this act of war imposed by India, and a forceful response is being given,” he said.

The airstrikes follow the April 22 attack in Baisaran Valley, which left 26 civilians dead. India has held Pakistan indirectly responsible, alleging cross-border militant involvement. The Resistance Front, believed to be tied to the Pakistani-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility for the attack, though later reports indicated that the group distanced itself from it.

Islamabad has vehemently denied that it had any role in the attack and has called for an impartial probe.

The nuclear-armed South Asian neighbors have fought four wars since both gained independence from the UK in 1947.