Ashraf AboArafe
On the night of May 6–7, 2025, the Indian military launched missile strikes against six locations in Pakistan and Pakistan‑administered Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of at least 26 civilians and injuries to 46 others. Pakistan’s Inter‑Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director‑General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry condemned the attacks as an “act of war” that deliberately targeted mosques, residential areas, and critical infrastructure, including the Noseri Dam. In a swift response, the Pakistan Armed Forces reported downing five Indian fighter jets and one drone and striking multiple enemy check‑posts, all while exercising strategic restraint by not violating Indian airspace. International leaders, including the UN Secretary‑General and senior U.S. officials, have called for immediate de‑escalation to avert a wider conflict between the two nuclear‑armed neighbors.
## Background and Context
In late April 2025, a militant assault in Pahalgam, Indian‑administered Kashmir, resulted in the deaths of 26 Indian civilians. India labeled Pakistan‑based groups Lashkar‑e‑Taiba and Jaish‑e‑Mohammed responsible and vowed retaliation. On May 6–7, under “Operation Sindoor,” Indian forces struck six sites across Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, claiming they were terrorist hideouts. India described these attacks as “focused, measured and non‑escalatory,” a characterization Pakistan vehemently rejects as baseless propaganda ([India fires missiles into Pakistani territory in what Islamabad calls ‘act of war’](https://apnews.com/article/21a2859557179f2b32d6b8d5628ac853?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
## Civilian Casualties and Damage
According to the DG ISPR, Indian missiles struck six distinct locations during the night, including Muridke, Bahawalpur, Kotli, Muzaffarabad, Bagh, and Sialkot, resulting in the martyrdom of 26 Pakistani civilians – among them women and children – and wounding 46 more ([26 civilians martyred, 46 injured in Indian strikes on Pakistan: DG ISPR](https://www.nation.com.pk/07-May-2025/26-civilians-martyred-46-injured-in-indian-strikes-on-pakistan-dg-ispr?utm_source=chatgpt.com)). The attacks, carried out “under the cover of darkness,” predominantly hit mosques and residential neighborhoods, illustrating what Pakistan calls the “extremist mindset of the Modi‑led government” ([Eight civilians martyred, 33 injured in Indian strikes on six locations](https://tribune.com.pk/story/2544387/eight-killed-33-injured-in-indian-strikes-on-six-locations-across-pakistan-dg-ispr?utm_source=chatgpt.com)). In addition, heavy Indian shelling along the Line of Control claimed five further lives, including that of a five‑year‑old child ([Pakistan downs 5 Indian jets as retaliation for late-night strikes at 6 sites: officials](https://www.dawn.com/news/1908824?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
Significantly, the ISPR chief highlighted damage to the Noseri Dam near the Neelum‑Jhelum Hydropower Project, warning that targeting water reservoirs is “illegal under international laws” and poses grave humanitarian risks to thousands downstream ([India targeted, damaged Neelum-Jhelum dam: ISPR chief – Samaa TV](https://www.samaa.tv/index.php/2087333032-india-targeted-damaged-neelum-jhelum-dam-ispr-chief?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
## Military Response
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) reacted decisively to India’s attempted air incursions, shooting down five Indian fighter jets—three Rafales, one MiG‑29, one Su‑30—and an Israeli‑made Heron drone, while “choosing strategic restraint” by not pursuing additional targets or crossing into Indian airspace ([Kashmir crisis live: India missile attack kills 26; Pakistan says five Indian fighter jets shot down](https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/may/06/pakistan-india-attacks-kashmir-live-updates?utm_source=chatgpt.com)). Simultaneously, Pakistan Army units destroyed several Indian check‑posts, including brigade headquarters and positions at Chhatri, Jura, and Sarlia‑1, thereby demonstrating Pakistan’s capability to sustain a calibrated defensive posture without escalation ([Operation Sindoor: Pakistani Army confirms Indian missile strikes …](https://m.economictimes.com/news/defence/pakistani-army-confirms-india-missile-strikes-deploys-jets-in-response/articleshow/120943139.cms?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
## International Reaction and Analysis
Global leaders immediately voiced alarm at the escalation. UN Secretary‑General António Guterres and senior U.S. officials urged both nations to exercise restraint, warning that a broader conflict between nuclear‑armed states would have catastrophic regional consequences ([Kashmir crisis live: India missile attack kills 26; Pakistan says five Indian fighter jets shot down](https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/may/06/pakistan-india-attacks-kashmir-live-updates?utm_source=chatgpt.com)). China and Russia also called for de‑escalation, emphasizing dialogue over military confrontation. Analysts note that this exchange surpasses the severity of the 2019 Balakot crisis and could undermine the fragile 2021 ceasefire if unchecked ([Pakistan decries ‘act of war’ after strikes from India](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/india-pakistan-war-attack-strikes-8lkwb8zn3?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
Moving forward, Pakistan has formally reserved the right to respond at a time and place of its choosing under Article 51 of the UN Charter, while simultaneously appealing to international aviation and water‑rights bodies to condemn India’s violation of civilian safety and critical infrastructure protections ([Pakistan responds as India starts war](https://www.nation.com.pk/07-May-2025/pakistan-responds-as-india-starts-war?utm_source=chatgpt.com)). The unfolding situation remains fluid, with both sides tightly monitoring any further developments along the Line of Control and in diplomatic capitals worldwide.
