A History of Indo-Pak Tensions: From the First Kashmir War to Operation Sindoor

Late Tuesday evening, the Indian military conducted missile strikes against nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor. This was yet another decisive action in India’s anti-terrorism strategy. Reports stated that “India’s attacks have shaken the foundations of Pakistan.” Although not the first, this attack is a follow-up to India’s consistent campaign to destroy terror infrastructure functioning under the protection of Pakistan. It is added to the long list of military rivalries between the two countries.

The 1947 First Indo-Pak War

The initial Indian-Pakistani military conflict was in 1947, immediately after gaining their independence. It was provoked when tribal militias, supported by Pakistan, attacked the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. Maharaja Hari Singh responded by acceding to India, and Indian military action followed. This intensified into a full-fledged war that continued until January 1949. A ceasefire was eventually negotiated by the United Nations, resulting in the demarcation of the Line of Control (LoC), effectively splitting Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

1965 Second Indo-Pak War

The tensions renewed in 1965 when Pakistan launched Operation Gibraltar, an clandestine effort to infiltrate Jammu and Kashmir with soldiers disguised as local men. It aimed to inspire an uprising against Indian rule. Instead, India attacked a full-scale counter and brought about a ferocious war on the international border. The war ended on 23 September 1965 after a Soviet-American brokered ceasefire.

1971 Indo-Pak War: Liberation of Bangladesh

India joined the war against Pakistan in 1971 in favor of the liberation movement of East Pakistan. The war was sparked by the Pakistani army’s brutal suppression in East Pakistan. The war raged on both the eastern and western fronts. On 16 December 1971, the Pakistani military officially surrendered, resulting in the establishment of an independent Bangladesh.

1999 Kargil War

The Kargil War, which was waged between May and July 1999, was yet another high-risk encounter between India and Pakistan. Pakistani troops and militants had illegally taken over Indian positions along the Kargil region in Jammu and Kashmir. India retaliated with Operation Vijay, aided by the Air Force’s Operation Safed Sagar, to regain lost ground. The operation ended successfully on 26 July, which is now celebrated every year as ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’.

Surgical Strikes in 2016: Uri Attack

Following 19 Indian soldiers being martyred in a terror attack on an Army base in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, on 18 September 2016, India retaliated with surgical strikes along the Line of Control. Indian forces blasted several terror launch pads in PoK on the night of 28-29 September. The operation was a measure to check further attempts at infiltration and destroying the infrastructure of the attackers.

Balakot Air Strike 2019 after Pulwama Massacre

The Indian Air Force carried out air raids on 26 February 2019, against a Jaish-e-Mohammed training facility in Balakot, Pakistan. The mission was taken in response to the Pulwama terror attack when 40 CRPF jawans were killed. India’s air raid was an important moment because it was “the first such air strike since the 1971 war,” hitting deep within Pakistani territory.

Operation Sindoor 2025 in response to Pahalgam Attack

Continuing its zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, India attacked once again in 2025 with Operation Sindoor. Targeting several terror hotbeds in Pakistan and PoK, India reasserted its strategic intent to eliminate terror threats at their origin. “India’s attacks have shaken the foundations of Pakistan,” reflecting the profound effect of this operation on cross-border terrorism.