India’s Strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-Administered Kashmir On May 7, 2025, India launched a series of military strikes, codenamed "Operation Sindoor," targeting multiple locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The operation was a response to a deadly militant attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians, mostly Indian tourists. India accused Pakistan-based militant groups, specifically Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, of orchestrating the attack, a charge Pakistan denied.The Indian Armed Forces conducted 14 attacks across nine sites, using Rafale aircraft equipped with SCALP missiles, AASM Hammer glide bombs, BrahMos cruise missiles, and Indo-Israeli SkyStriker loitering munitions. The strikes targeted alleged terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, including the capital Muzaffarabad, as well as Kotli and Bagh, and extended into Pakistan’s Punjab province, hitting locations such as Ahmedpur Sharqia (near Bahawalpur), Muridke, and Shakargarh. India claimed the strikes were "focused, measured, and non-escalatory," targeting no Pakistani military facilities. However, Pakistan reported civilian casualties, including a three-year-old girl, and damage to civilian structures like a mosque-seminary in Muzaffarabad, rejecting India’s claims of targeting only terrorist sites.Pakistan reported 31 to 36 civilian deaths and 46 to 57 injuries from the strikes, while India claimed 10 to 21 civilian deaths on its side due to Pakistani retaliatory shelling along the Line of Control (LoC). Pakistan also claimed to have shot down five Indian aircraft, including three Rafale jets, though India dismissed these claims as disinformation. Local reports confirmed at least two Indian aircraft crashed in Indian-administered Kashmir and Punjab.The conflict escalated with tit-for-tat drone and missile attacks, with India alleging Pakistan launched 300 to 400 drones targeting 36 Indian sites, most of which were intercepted. Pakistan denied these claims but reported downing 25 Indian drones. Both nations engaged in heavy cross-border shelling, particularly in Kashmir, causing widespread fear and disruption.On May 10, a U.S.-mediated ceasefire was announced, with President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio claiming credit, though India emphasized bilateral negotiations. Despite the truce, both sides reported violations, with explosions in Srinagar and Jammu. The ceasefire appeared to hold by May 12, but punitive measures like trade suspensions and the Indian suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty remained in place.The conflict, rooted in the long-standing Kashmir dispute, marked the deepest Indian strikes into Pakistan since 1971, highlighting the volatile dynamics between the nuclear-armed neighbors. While the ceasefire offers temporary relief, the underlying tensions and mutual accusations suggest a fragile peace.
As a retired world history teacher, I have to admit you taught me something for which I thank you. I knew about the British dividing India before leaving and thought that kashmir was supposed to be independent and neutral. Thank God it wasn't part of the curriculum I had to teach. My students might now be thinking I was an idiot. Who am I kidding? They probably haven't picked up a book since they left school or read any history of note.
I really like your stuff, but I feel this post is rather biased. It is interesting to see what Pakistan has done to find peace, but it is not the whole picture:
1) Pakistan sponsors Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, two Islamic extremist groups
2) Following the Nov. 12 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, Pakistan denied responsibility, until India captured and arrested a key individual.
3) It was in fact Pakistan who started the war. The Indian Independence Act of 1947 said that any princely state could either join India or Pakistan. While the maharaja was choosing between the two nations, Pakistan got impatient and encouraged an invasion. The maharaja then got scared and joined India.
4) Pakistani terrorist groups have also been involved in the 2000 Indian Parliament attack, the Akshardam temple attack, the Mumbai attacks, the Pulwama attacks, and (maybe) the Pahalgam attack.
No, not confused at all. This has CIA fingerprints all over! Remember this was one nation until the colonisator Britain used US and the West motto: Divide and Conquer in 1947 yet again to get Muslims killing Muslims and Hindus (of India) killing Muslims (of India and Pakistan). USA has been waging wars, invasions, military interventions and killings for 222 years out of their 239 year of existence and still continuing. Israel, their number one welfare queen is doing the same to the indigenous Palestinians since 1936. US, UK and IS are the biggest terrorists of this world, axis of EVIL, their track record speaks louder.
Thank you. India and it's power as the soon to be or is it? most populous country on earth is still Ignored here on our big imagined island that borders 2 other powerful nations. Insert eye roll. Thank you for covering this major conflict in the vacuum.
I would like to subscribe but cannot add on right now. Is there a way to donate without subscription?
I recently watched an Indian made movie called "Fighter", which is a sort of Top Gun style military story told from a very Indian nationalistic point of view regarding feelings about Pakistan. I was startled at what was portrayed as deep hatred and mistrust. I realized I did not know anything near what I thought I knew about this political situation. Since then, I have been looking for just this analysis to fill that blank spot in my brain where this info ought to be. Once again, thanks for all you do
Any intervention should be diplomatic, not military, & since Trump has no aptitude for diplomacy, it's better he stay completely away. Neutral countries of Asia & Europe (that excludes Russia & China), perhaps Africa, are better suited for the task, but it's clearly a delicate one.
Thank you for clearly and factually presenting this information. What is so heartbreaking in all conflicts is that civilians always pay the ultimate price. I look forward to learning more from you in the coming days, weeks & months, etc. also if you have recommendations on books we can read about the history of this conflict that would be great. Thank you!
Thank you for this explanation. It is so disturbing to have to deal with lunatic/psychopath felon trump cult. But to see two neighboring countries with nuclear capabilities battle each other is also very frightening and upsetting. Everything feels out of control. It was very helpful to have you go over the story behind such deep and long term tensions between India & Pakistan.
We are exposing an entire generation of children to war, gun violence, fear at school, at home. It’s depressing.
Another excellent article Qasim Rashid, Esq. It explains the situation simply and fairly. We really are living on a precipice with the unrest and turmoil in the world today. Thank you for enlightening me. I look forward to more articles on the subject.
https://open.substack.com/pub/misablin/p/you-cant-sit-this-one-out?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=5fz5xe
India’s Strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-Administered Kashmir On May 7, 2025, India launched a series of military strikes, codenamed "Operation Sindoor," targeting multiple locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The operation was a response to a deadly militant attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians, mostly Indian tourists. India accused Pakistan-based militant groups, specifically Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, of orchestrating the attack, a charge Pakistan denied.The Indian Armed Forces conducted 14 attacks across nine sites, using Rafale aircraft equipped with SCALP missiles, AASM Hammer glide bombs, BrahMos cruise missiles, and Indo-Israeli SkyStriker loitering munitions. The strikes targeted alleged terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, including the capital Muzaffarabad, as well as Kotli and Bagh, and extended into Pakistan’s Punjab province, hitting locations such as Ahmedpur Sharqia (near Bahawalpur), Muridke, and Shakargarh. India claimed the strikes were "focused, measured, and non-escalatory," targeting no Pakistani military facilities. However, Pakistan reported civilian casualties, including a three-year-old girl, and damage to civilian structures like a mosque-seminary in Muzaffarabad, rejecting India’s claims of targeting only terrorist sites.Pakistan reported 31 to 36 civilian deaths and 46 to 57 injuries from the strikes, while India claimed 10 to 21 civilian deaths on its side due to Pakistani retaliatory shelling along the Line of Control (LoC). Pakistan also claimed to have shot down five Indian aircraft, including three Rafale jets, though India dismissed these claims as disinformation. Local reports confirmed at least two Indian aircraft crashed in Indian-administered Kashmir and Punjab.The conflict escalated with tit-for-tat drone and missile attacks, with India alleging Pakistan launched 300 to 400 drones targeting 36 Indian sites, most of which were intercepted. Pakistan denied these claims but reported downing 25 Indian drones. Both nations engaged in heavy cross-border shelling, particularly in Kashmir, causing widespread fear and disruption.On May 10, a U.S.-mediated ceasefire was announced, with President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio claiming credit, though India emphasized bilateral negotiations. Despite the truce, both sides reported violations, with explosions in Srinagar and Jammu. The ceasefire appeared to hold by May 12, but punitive measures like trade suspensions and the Indian suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty remained in place.The conflict, rooted in the long-standing Kashmir dispute, marked the deepest Indian strikes into Pakistan since 1971, highlighting the volatile dynamics between the nuclear-armed neighbors. While the ceasefire offers temporary relief, the underlying tensions and mutual accusations suggest a fragile peace.
As a retired world history teacher, I have to admit you taught me something for which I thank you. I knew about the British dividing India before leaving and thought that kashmir was supposed to be independent and neutral. Thank God it wasn't part of the curriculum I had to teach. My students might now be thinking I was an idiot. Who am I kidding? They probably haven't picked up a book since they left school or read any history of note.
Hi Qasim,
I really like your stuff, but I feel this post is rather biased. It is interesting to see what Pakistan has done to find peace, but it is not the whole picture:
1) Pakistan sponsors Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, two Islamic extremist groups
2) Following the Nov. 12 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, Pakistan denied responsibility, until India captured and arrested a key individual.
3) It was in fact Pakistan who started the war. The Indian Independence Act of 1947 said that any princely state could either join India or Pakistan. While the maharaja was choosing between the two nations, Pakistan got impatient and encouraged an invasion. The maharaja then got scared and joined India.
4) Pakistani terrorist groups have also been involved in the 2000 Indian Parliament attack, the Akshardam temple attack, the Mumbai attacks, the Pulwama attacks, and (maybe) the Pahalgam attack.
Thanks for this. I’m due to meet with a former professor of mine who hails from Lahore, Pakistan. We have much to discuss.
Thank you for this important primer into the crisis in Kashmir. I’ll be looking here for your updates on the situation 🙏
No, not confused at all. This has CIA fingerprints all over! Remember this was one nation until the colonisator Britain used US and the West motto: Divide and Conquer in 1947 yet again to get Muslims killing Muslims and Hindus (of India) killing Muslims (of India and Pakistan). USA has been waging wars, invasions, military interventions and killings for 222 years out of their 239 year of existence and still continuing. Israel, their number one welfare queen is doing the same to the indigenous Palestinians since 1936. US, UK and IS are the biggest terrorists of this world, axis of EVIL, their track record speaks louder.
Thank you for writing about this long running conflict.
A plebiscite sounds reasonable.
Thank you. India and it's power as the soon to be or is it? most populous country on earth is still Ignored here on our big imagined island that borders 2 other powerful nations. Insert eye roll. Thank you for covering this major conflict in the vacuum.
I would like to subscribe but cannot add on right now. Is there a way to donate without subscription?
I recently watched an Indian made movie called "Fighter", which is a sort of Top Gun style military story told from a very Indian nationalistic point of view regarding feelings about Pakistan. I was startled at what was portrayed as deep hatred and mistrust. I realized I did not know anything near what I thought I knew about this political situation. Since then, I have been looking for just this analysis to fill that blank spot in my brain where this info ought to be. Once again, thanks for all you do
Any intervention should be diplomatic, not military, & since Trump has no aptitude for diplomacy, it's better he stay completely away. Neutral countries of Asia & Europe (that excludes Russia & China), perhaps Africa, are better suited for the task, but it's clearly a delicate one.
They are copying from 2 countries defying UN, and rule based order!
Thank you for clearly and factually presenting this information. What is so heartbreaking in all conflicts is that civilians always pay the ultimate price. I look forward to learning more from you in the coming days, weeks & months, etc. also if you have recommendations on books we can read about the history of this conflict that would be great. Thank you!
Thank you for this explanation. It is so disturbing to have to deal with lunatic/psychopath felon trump cult. But to see two neighboring countries with nuclear capabilities battle each other is also very frightening and upsetting. Everything feels out of control. It was very helpful to have you go over the story behind such deep and long term tensions between India & Pakistan.
We are exposing an entire generation of children to war, gun violence, fear at school, at home. It’s depressing.
Another excellent article Qasim Rashid, Esq. It explains the situation simply and fairly. We really are living on a precipice with the unrest and turmoil in the world today. Thank you for enlightening me. I look forward to more articles on the subject.