Context:

India launched airstrikes on Pakistan in retaliation for a terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed over two dozen civilians, escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations. Indian forces targeted nine sites, claiming the strikes were against known terrorist camps and intended to be nonescalatory, while Pakistan labeled the strikes as an unprovoked act of war. The conflict centers around the disputed Kashmir region, which has historically been a flashpoint for violence between the two countries. As global leaders call for restraint, both nations are poised for potential military escalation, with Pakistan vowing a measured response. The strikes represent a significant intensification of the conflict, raising fears of wider confrontation between the longstanding adversaries.

Dive Deeper:

• India conducted strikes on nine sites within Pakistan, following a terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 civilians. The Indian government justified the strikes as targeting known terrorist camps and described them as measured and responsible.

• Pakistan condemned the airstrikes as a violation of its sovereignty, labeling them an unprovoked act of war and promising a response at a time and place of its choosing. The strikes reportedly resulted in at least eight deaths and 35 injuries.

• The escalation follows a historical pattern of conflict over Kashmir, a region claimed in full by both India and Pakistan but divided between them. The area has been a frequent flashpoint since the partition of British India in 1947.

• Global leaders, including the United Nations, have urged both countries to exercise restraint to prevent a full-scale military confrontation, recognizing the grave risks posed by the involvement of nuclear-armed states.

• India's military action, named Operation Sindoor, is seen as crossing significant thresholds by targeting areas in Pakistan's heartland, Punjab, which could provoke a substantial retaliatory response from Pakistan.

• The conflict has led to heightened military readiness, with India activating all air-defense units along the border and closing several airports, while Pakistan has reportedly begun a measured military response.

• The ongoing tensions are rooted in long-standing accusations by India that Pakistan supports separatist violence in Kashmir, a claim that Pakistan denies. The region remains one of the most militarized areas globally, with a history of near-war incidents.