India conducted Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, targeting what it claimed were terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation was a response to the horrific April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that claimed 26 civilians’ lives. India presented the attack as a measure necessary to protect national security.
But Pakistan swiftly reacted against the Indian version. Islamabad said that Indian missiles killed 26 civilians, several of them women and children, and wounded 46 others. This allegation changed the tone of the war, increasing the stakes considerably.
Accusations of Civilian Targeting
While India stood firm on its claim that it struck only terror targets, Pakistan denounced the air raid as “an act of war.” The officials of Pakistan blamed India for bombing residential zones, such as houses and mosques. Shortly afterward, the Pakistani media broadcast haunting scenes of leveled houses and civilians, including children, injured by the explosions.
PM Shehbaz Sharif denounced the strike as unprovoked and threatened a “strong response.” He also accused India of being in breach of international law and targeting innocent civilians deliberately. India, on its part, hotly denied the allegations and claimed that no civilians were injured during the attack.
India’s Defense of Its Action
Indian authorities claimed that Operation Sindoor was aimed at camps identified with Lashkar-e-Taiba, the outfit behind the Pahalgam attack. They said 24 missiles were launched within a span of 25 minutes and struck nine important targets. India claimed to have killed more than 70 militants, including two top Lashkar commanders, Abdul Malik and Mudassir.
Indian officials highlighted that they made a conscious effort to steer clear of civilian zones and rejected Pakistan’s assertions of civilian casualties. India said the strike was a tactical military operation targeting only terrorists.
Escalation on the Ground
The situation kept escalating in a quick manner. Pakistan made a claim that it had shot down five Indian fighter planes and captured Indian troops. India did not confirm nor refute these claims, but the military mobilization along the Line of Control increased. The increased military activity on both sides raised concerns that the war would escalate into a bigger conflict.
Other analysts cautioned that Pakistan’s claims of civilian casualties might sway world opinion. If world powers begin to believe the reports, India might see increasing diplomatic pressure to stop its operations. Meanwhile, India can double down on its justification, presenting the strike as a necessary action for national security.
International Calls for De-escalation
The world reacted quickly. The United Nations, the United States, China, and the European Union all called on both countries to end fighting and enter into diplomatic talks. World leaders were deeply concerned with the prospect of further violence and called on both sides to desist from further military encounters.
These appeals for calm highlight the international stakes in the conflict. In the event evidence proves that civilians were killed, India could become the target of severe diplomatic blowback. South Asia’s fragile balance of power could tip over, with enormous implications for each country and for the wider region.
Dangerous Crossroads
Operation Sindoor has reopened hostilities between India and Pakistan, and with it two vastly different stories. India asserts that its attack was against terrorists, whereas Pakistan claims to have lost civilians. The facts are uncertain, but the impact is certain.
Without open communication and transparency, both countries are at risk of getting caught in a vicious cycle of retaliation. The international community needs to urge diplomatic talks, or else this unstable conflict may have even more catastrophic repercussions in an already volatile region.
