Nuclear neighbors at war: India strikes Pakistan, fighter jets shot down as Kashmir crisis spirals

• India and Pakistan engaged in cross-border airstrikes over Kashmir, escalating tensions and raising global fears of an uncontrollable conflict.
• India conducted “Operation Sindoor,” targeting alleged terrorist camps in Pakistan in retaliation for a deadly attack on civilians in Kashmir.
• Pakistan shot down multiple Indian jets, including advanced Rafale fighters, and vowed further retaliation, calling India’s strikes an “act of war.”
• Global powers, including the U.S., Russia, and China, urged de-escalation, but nationalist rhetoric in both countries intensified the crisis.
• The conflict risks spiraling further as India suspends the Indus Water Treaty, cutting off river flow to Pakistan, while nuclear tensions loom.

The fragile peace between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan shattered this week as cross-border airstrikes and dogfights erupted over the disputed Kashmir region, leaving wreckage, civilian casualties, and the world fearing an uncontrollable escalation.

India launched missile strikes deep into Pakistani territory, targeting what it called “terrorist infrastructure” in retaliation for a deadly April attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. Pakistan responded by shooting down multiple Indian fighter jets and vowing further retaliation. With both nations trading blame and military action intensifying, global powers are scrambling to prevent a full-scale war.

India’s preemptive strikes spark crisis

Indian forces are conducting “Operation Sindoor,” striking nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, including Kotli, Muzaffarabad, and Ahmed Pur East. The operation, named after the red vermilion powder symbolizing Hindu marital commitment, was framed as a direct response to the April 22 massacre of 26 civilians in Pahalgam, Kashmir, most of whom were tourists. Indian officials accused Pakistan-based militant groups Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed of orchestrating the attack, though Islamabad denied involvement.

“Intelligence and monitoring of Pakistan-based terror modules showed that further attacks against India were impending,” said Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. “Therefore, it was necessary to take preemptive and precautionary strikes.”

Pakistan, however, rejected India’s justification, calling the strikes a “blatant act of war” that killed at least 26 civilians and injured dozens more. Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khawaja Asif, insisted that none of the sites hit were militant camps.

Pakistan retaliates, claims downing Indian jets

Within hours, Pakistan’s military announced it had shot down five Indian Air Force jets, including three advanced French-made Rafale fighters. Video footage showed an Indian pilot being assaulted by villagers before Pakistani soldiers intervened. India confirmed losing two jets but claimed its air defenses had downed a Pakistani F-16.

“Pakistan would respond to Indian attacks at the time and place of our own choosing,” warned Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Pakistan’s military spokesman. “These attacks would not go unanswered.”

The aerial clashes marked the most severe military confrontation between the two nations since their 1999 Kargil War. Heavy artillery shelling across the Line of Control (LoC) further inflamed tensions, killing civilians on both sides.

Global calls for restraint

The U.S., Russia, China, and the U.N. swiftly urged de-escalation. President Donald Trump called the conflict “a shame.” China, balancing ties with both nations, expressed regret over India’s strikes but stopped short of condemning Islamabad.

Despite diplomatic pressure, nationalist fervor surged in both countries. Indian media celebrated the strikes with dramatic visuals, while Pakistani officials framed their response as a defense of sovereignty.

India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, which cut off river flow to Pakistan, adds another flashpoint. With both nations armed with nuclear weapons and a history of mistrust, the risk of further escalation looms large.

For now, the world is watching nervously, hoping restraint will prevail over retaliation. But in Kashmir, where millions of people live under military occupation and sporadic violence, the cycle of conflict shows no signs of ending.

Sources for this article include:

TheNationalPulse.com

Reuters.com

CNN.com