India strikes Pakistan targeting terrorist infrastructure following tourist attack

On May 6, 2025, India carried out a military operation against Pakistan, targeting what it described as terrorist infrastructure in both Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. This escalation came in response to an attack that occurred on April 22 in Pahalgam, a town in Indian-administered Kashmir, during which 26 individuals, including Hindu tourists and a Nepali citizen, were killed by gunmen who opened fire at close range. Eyewitness accounts described a horrific scene where victims were specifically targeted, leading to significant outrage and subsequent calls for action from Indian authorities. The group claiming responsibility for the attack was the Kashmir Resistance, also known as The Resistance Front (TRF), although they later retracted their claim. The incident further exacerbated tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, with India accusing Pakistan of harboring militant groups responsible for such violence. Following the attack, India justified its military response by asserting its right to act against cross-border terrorism, a recurring issue in the region. In the hours following the operation, local reports indicated multiple explosions in various locations across Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir. The Indian Ministry of Defense stated that a total of nine sites were targeted, claiming that the strikes were focused solely on terrorist infrastructure and did not involve any Pakistani military facilities. Pakistani military sources, however, reported that civilian areas, including mosques, were among the sites affected, leading to accusations from top Pakistani officials regarding India’s intentions and the nature of the strikes. Consequently, the international aviation environment was impacted, with major airlines avoiding Pakistani airspace, a trend that had developed amid escalating hostilities. Prior to the military action, airlines like Lufthansa had already announced they would refrain from operating in the region until further notice, resulting in longer flight routes and increased operational costs due to the necessity of avoiding potentially dangerous airspace. As both countries have continued to engage in a tit-for-tat series of hostilities, the situation remains tense, with prospects for diplomatic dialogue overshadowed by increased military posturing.