Words by Ray Das
On the early morning of Wednesday (May 7th), the Indian military launched multiple missile attacks (Operation Sindoor) targeting nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The attacks were carried out as a result of the Pahalgam terror attacks of April 22nd that claimed the lives of 26 Indian tourists.
Three armed men indiscriminately fired at the tourists in Baisaran, Pahalgam in Kashmir; claiming the lives of 26 unassuming tourists. A statement issued in the name of ‘The Resistance Front (TRF)’, claimed responsibility for the attacks. The statement linked the rise of non-Kashmiri Indians in the valley to the attacks.
Following the attacks, the Indian government suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty. The pact governed how both India and Pakistan shared the water from the six Indus basin rivers. The mainland border crossing between both the Attari and Wagah check posts were closed with immediate effect. Both the countries cancelled the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme granted to Indian and Pakistani citizens – with India granting Pakistani civilians 48 hours to leave the country.
Despite India claiming Pakistan’s involvement in the attacks, Pakistan has denied any part in the attacks.
India claims that it hit “terrorist infrastructure” across nine regions, belonging to organizations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Muhammad; the latter claimed responsibility for the 2019 Pulwama (India-administered Kashmir) attack that killed 40 Indian paramilitary soldiers.
In a briefing, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri claimed that the strikes were “focused on dismantling terrorist infrastructure and disabling terrorists likely to be sent across to India.” Misri said any further action from Pakistan’s side would be considered an “escalation”, adding Islamabad will be held responsible for any further attack on Indian infrastructure. Indian military officials, Colonel Sofiya Quereshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh shared further details of the operation. Five of nine sites India attacked were in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and the remaining four were in Bahawalpur, Muridke, Shakar Garh and a village near Sialkot, identifying 21 “terrorist camps” across the region.
Responding to the attacks by India, Lieutenant Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the director general of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), media wing of Pakistani military, called the attacks “unprovoked” and targeted at civilians. In his statement, Chaudhry said at least 31 people were reported dead with a dozen wounded following the attack. As a result, heavy artillery exchanges were reported along the Line of Control (LoC) dividing the Indian and Pakistan administered Kashmir. At least 15 people have lost their lives in Indian-administered Kashmir as a result of Pakistan’s shelling.
Speaking to Reuters, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif says there is “hardly any space left to de-escalate”. In his current briefing, foreign minister, Ishaq Dar says while Pakistan has “exercised strategic restraint” and limited its response in accordance with International law and the UN charter.
Recent reports of 25 Indian drones being brought down by Pakistani air defence systems over the cities of Karachi and Lahore mention one civilian death and five injured. Claiming responsibility for this action, the Indian defence ministry has confirmed that it targeted Pakistan’s air defence radar and claimed it was able to “neutralise” one defence system in Lahore.
With increasing tensions between the two nuclear powers, countless world-leaders have urged both countries to exercise maximum restraint as this could potentially indicate a start of a drone war.