Following a deadly terrorist attack on Hindu pilgrims in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, India blamed Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba. India launched 'Operation Sindoor' on May 7, 2025, conducting precision air and missile strikes against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Punjab province. Pakistan responded with cross-border shelling and claimed to have downed Indian aircraft. Both nuclear-armed states entered the most severe military confrontation since the 1999 Kargil War, prompting emergency diplomatic interventions by the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, and the UN Secretary-General. A fragile ceasefire was brokered on May 10, 2025, though border skirmishes continued intermittently.
Gunmen opened fire on Hindu tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, killing 26 civilians. India attributed the attack to Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives backed by Pakistani intelligence (ISI), triggering a major diplomatic crisis and suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
Indian Air Force and Army conducted coordinated missile and air strikes on nine targets across Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Punjab, including alleged militant training camps in Bahawalpur and Muzaffarabad. Pakistan condemned the strikes as an act of war and placed its armed forces on full alert.
Pakistan Army launched heavy artillery shelling along the Line of Control in Poonch and Kupwara sectors. Pakistani officials claimed to have shot down two Indian Air Force jets; India acknowledged one aircraft lost while denying broader Pakistani claims. Multiple civilian casualties reported on both sides of the LoC.
US Secretary of State and Saudi Foreign Minister held back-channel negotiations with both New Delhi and Islamabad. CIA Director flew to the region to deliver direct de-escalation messages. India and Pakistan agreed to a temporary halt in offensive operations pending diplomatic resolution, though both maintained heightened military postures.
India and Pakistan jointly announced a ceasefire along the Line of Control effective 1700 hrs IST on May 10, 2025. The agreement, facilitated by the US and Saudi Arabia, included commitments to resume bilateral communication channels. Sporadic small-arms fire was reported within hours of the announcement, raising doubts about full compliance.