By Cliff Potts, Editor-in-Chief, WPS News

May 7, 2025 – Kashmir Line of Control

The fragile peace between India and Pakistan has shattered once more. In the early hours of May 7, 2025, Philippine Standard Time (PST), Indian forces launched “Operation Sindoor,” a series of missile strikes targeting nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. India claims these sites housed terrorist infrastructure responsible for the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 tourists, predominantly Hindus, in Indian-administered Kashmir .(Wikipedia)

The Indian Ministry of Defence emphasized that the strikes were precise and non-escalatory, deliberately avoiding Pakistani military installations . However, Pakistan reported civilian casualties, including the death of a child and injuries to others, when a mosque in Bahawalpur was struck . Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, condemned the attacks as unprovoked and vowed retaliation at a time of their choosing .(Financial Times, DIE WELT, Wikipedia)

The roots of this escalation trace back to the Pahalgam attack on April 22, where gunmen targeted tourists in the Baisaran Valley, asking their religion before opening fire. The Resistance Front (TRF), linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility but later retracted . India accuses Pakistan of harboring these groups, a charge Pakistan denies.(Wikipedia, Wikipedia)

Following the attack, India took several diplomatic and strategic measures:(Wikipedia)

  • Suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, affecting water sharing between the nations .(Wikipedia)
  • Expelled Pakistani diplomats and halted visa services for Pakistani nationals .(Wikipedia)
  • Closed border crossings and airspace to Pakistani flights .(Wikipedia)

In response, Pakistan suspended the Shimla Agreement, closed its airspace to Indian flights, and imposed trade restrictions .(Wikipedia)

Skirmishes along the Line of Control (LoC) have intensified since April 24, with both sides reporting casualties. India claims to have killed senior Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Altaf Lalli during operations in Udhampur . Pakistan alleges that India is supporting insurgent groups like the Baloch Liberation Army, which claimed a recent attack killing seven Pakistani soldiers in Balochistan .(Wikipedia, AP News)

International reactions have been swift. U.S. President Donald Trump labeled India’s strikes a “shame” and urged restraint . The United Nations called for both nations to exercise maximum restraint and resolve issues diplomatically .(El País, Reuters, Wikipedia)

Back home, India is preparing for potential escalation. On May 7, the government will conduct “Operation Abhyaas,” a nationwide civil defense drill involving air raid sirens, blackout simulations, and evacuation exercises across 244 districts .(Wikipedia)

As tensions mount, the world watches closely, hoping that diplomacy prevails over warfare.

Footnotes:

  1. FirstFT. (2025, May 6). India launches strikes in Pakistan. Financial Times.(Financial Times)
  2. Welt. (2025, May 6). „Operation Sindoor” – Indien fliegt Luftangriffe gegen pakistanische Ziele in Kaschmirregion.(DIE WELT)
  3. Wikipedia contributors. (2025). 2025 Pahalgam attack. Wikipedia.(Wikipedia)
  4. Wikipedia contributors. (2025). 2025 India–Pakistan standoff. Wikipedia.(Wikipedia)
  5. Reuters. (2025, May 6). Trump calls Indian strikes in Kashmir dispute a ‘shame’.(Reuters)
  6. AP News. (2025, May 6). Roadside bomb targeting security vehicle kills 7 soldiers in southwest Pakistan.(AP News)
  7. Wikipedia contributors. (2025). 2025 India–Pakistan border skirmishes. Wikipedia.(Wikipedia)
  8. Wikipedia contributors. (2025). 2025 India civil defence mock drill. Wikipedia.(Wikipedia)

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