Tensions between India and Pakistan have reached a boiling point following a series of cross-border attacks and counterattacks in the disputed Kashmir region.

The conflict, rooted in decades of territorial disputes and mutual accusations of supporting terrorism, has escalated significantly since a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22, 2025.

Both nuclear-armed nations have engaged in missile strikes, drone attacks, and heavy shelling, raising global concerns about the potential for a broader conflict.

The India-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir dates back to the 1947 partition of British India, which created the two nations.

Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region, has been a flashpoint ever since, with both countries claiming it in its entirety but administering separate portions.

A Line of Control (LoC) divides Indian-administered Kashmir from Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and the region has seen four wars, numerous skirmishes, and periodic escalations.

India accuses Pakistan of supporting armed groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), responsible for attacks on Indian soil, while Pakistan denies these claims and accuses India of human rights abuses in Kashmir.

The current crisis was triggered by an attack on April 22, 2025, in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, where gunmen killed 25 tourists and a local pony rider.

India blamed Pakistan-backed groups, specifically The Resistance Front (TRF), which it alleges is linked to LeT. Pakistan condemned the attack and called for an independent investigation, denying any involvement.

On May 7, 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor, a series of missile strikes targeting what it described as “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

The strikes hit nine sites, including Muridke in Pakistan’s Punjab province, which India claims houses LeT’s headquarters under the guise of a charity, Jamat-ud-Dawa.

Indian officials, including Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, insisted the strikes targeted armed groups, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh claiming 100 terrorists were killed. However, these claims remain unverified.

Pakistan reported that the strikes killed at least 31 civilians, including two children, and wounded 46 others. In Muridke, a mosque-seminary and other buildings were damaged, with Pakistan denying any link to armed groups.

The strikes also hit Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and other locations, marking India’s most extensive attack on Pakistani soil since the 1971 war.

Pakistan retaliated with artillery strikes along the LoC and, according to India, launched drone attacks on Indian cities like Pathankot, Jaisalmer, and Srinagar. Pakistan’s military denied initiating these attacks, calling India’s accusations “politically motivated.”

On May 8, Pakistan claimed it shot down 25 Indian drones over its cities, including Karachi and Rawalpindi, some near sensitive military installations.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister warned of a response at a “time and place of its choosing,” while experts suggested military bases could be the next targets.

On May 9, Pakistan’s military reported intercepting Indian missile attacks on three airbases, with blasts also reported in Indian-administered Kashmir and Amritsar, Punjab.

The tit-for-tat exchanges have resulted in at least 48 deaths, 32 in Pakistan, and significant damage to infrastructure on both sides.