India-Pakistan Conflict Escalates with Airstrikes and Artillery Exchanges in Kashmir

On May 7, 2025, tensions between India and Pakistan intensified as India launched “Operation Sindoor,” conducting airstrikes on nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. India stated these strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure linked to groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, in response to the April 22 attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 Indian tourists.

Pakistan condemned the strikes as unprovoked aggression, reporting at least 26 civilian deaths and 46 injuries, and claimed to have shot down five Indian aircraft. In retaliation, Pakistan initiated missile strikes on Indian-administered Kashmir, asserting the destruction of an Indian brigade headquarters and multiple checkposts.

The situation escalated further with heavy artillery fire exchanged along the Line of Control, resulting in additional civilian casualties on both sides. International leaders, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, have called for restraint to prevent further escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

The longstanding Kashmir dispute, rooted in the 1947 partition of British India, continues to fuel hostilities, raising concerns over regional stability and the potential for broader conflict. Let’s pray for peace…