India’s Targeted Airstrikes Shake Kashmir, Pakistan Warns of Fierce Retaliation

India declared on Wednesday that it had launched airstrikes against terrorist infrastructure located in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir. The Ministry of Defence emphasized that the strikes were carefully focused, designed to avoid escalating military conflict.

These strikes followed a recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 people lost their lives. India said it had exercised restraint and ensured only sites linked to terrorism were selected in what it called “Operation Sindoor.”

The Indian government said the operation was not aimed at Pakistani military sites or civilians. It plans to release more details later in the day. The operation’s name, “Sindoor,” refers to a traditional red powder worn by married Hindu women in India.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, condemned the strikes, calling them an act of war. He stated Pakistan had a right to respond strongly, and that a retaliation was already underway.

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed the strikes hit locations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and the eastern Punjab region. He warned that India would soon witness Pakistan’s response in full force.

According to reports from Pakistani media, three Indian fighter jets were taken down during the clash. India, however, reiterated that the mission avoided civilian and military targets, focusing solely on terror camps.

The incident disrupted air travel across the region. Flights were diverted from Pakistani airspace, with carriers like Qatar Airways halting services temporarily. Meanwhile, global leaders urged both sides to de-escalate the conflict and return to diplomacy.