MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan/NEW DELHI – On Wednesday (May 7), India carried out airstrikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, prompting Islamabad to claim it had downed five Indian fighter jets. This marks the most intense conflict in over two decades between the two nuclear-armed rivals. India stated it had targeted nine locations associated with "terrorist infrastructure" in Pakistan, some allegedly connected to a recent militant attack on Hindu tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir that left 26 dead. Pakistan reported that six of its sites were hit, denying they were militant facilities. It confirmed eight deaths from the strikes.

An Indian defense source informed Reuters that Indian forces had targeted the bases of militant groups Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. The Indian defense ministry emphasized that it had exercised restraint in both the choice of targets and the execution of the operation. According to a Pakistani military spokesperson, three sites were hit by Indian missiles. The spokesperson also claimed five Indian aircraft had been shot down, although India did not confirm this.

Meanwhile, four local government sources in Indian Kashmir told Reuters that three Indian jets crashed in separate areas of the Himalayan region overnight. All three pilots were hospitalized, though the Indian defense ministry did not confirm this. Photos circulating in local media showed a large, damaged metallic object at one of the crash sites, though Reuters was unable to verify its authenticity. Pakistan military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said, “All of these engagements were defensive,” adding that Pakistan remained responsible but would defend its sovereignty at any cost. Islamabad condemned the strikes as a “blatant act of war” and informed the UN Security Council that it reserved the right to respond appropriately to Indian aggression.

The two sides also exchanged heavy shelling and gunfire across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, according to local police and witnesses. India and Pakistan, which both claim Kashmir in full but control it in part, have fought two of their three wars over the region since gaining independence in 1947. Although both countries reaffirmed a ceasefire agreement in 2021, cross-border strikes of this scale—especially Indian attacks outside Pakistan-administered Kashmir—are extremely rare.

Analysts warned of a higher risk of escalation than in the past, given the magnitude of India’s operation, named “Operation Sindoor” (after the red powder worn by married Hindu women). U.S. President Donald Trump described the escalation as “a shame” and expressed hope it would end soon. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for maximum restraint from both nations.

Damage and Casualties: The Pakistani military reported eight deaths, 35 injuries, and two people missing as a result of the Indian strikes. Pakistan’s retaliatory shelling in Indian Kashmir killed seven civilians and wounded 35, according to police. Indian media aired footage of explosions, fires, and smoke in Pakistani areas, though Reuters could not confirm the authenticity of the videos. In Muzaffarabad, Pakistani Kashmir’s capital, one strike damaged a mosque whose minaret collapsed.

In the aftermath, schools were closed in Pakistani Kashmir, Islamabad, much of Indian Kashmir, and Punjab province. District official Imran Shaheen reported two fatalities in Forward Kahuta from mortar fire, with more injuries in surrounding areas. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan had responded but did not share specifics. Punjab province declared a state of emergency, putting hospitals and emergency responders on high alert. A Pakistani army spokesperson told Geo News that two mosques were among the targets, and Pakistan’s defense minister claimed that all impacted sites were civilian—not militant—infrastructure. He dismissed India’s claims as false. Following the attacks, India’s army declared on social media: “Justice is served.”

Broader Impact: An Indian embassy spokesperson in Washington reiterated that evidence suggested involvement of Pakistan-based terrorists in the April attack on tourists. India identified two of the three suspects as Pakistani nationals but provided no specific evidence. Pakistan denied any involvement. The news affected Indian stock futures slightly, with the Gift Nifty falling 0.3% to 24,311.6. Multiple airlines, including IndiGo, Air India, and Qatar Airways, canceled flights due to airspace restrictions in affected areas.

Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and senior officials from the UK, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, according to an Indian source. This strike marks a significantly stronger response from India compared to earlier retaliatory actions, such as its 2019 airstrike following the death of 40 paramilitary personnel and the 2016 response to the killing of 18 soldiers. Michael Kugelman, a South Asia expert at the Foreign Policy magazine, noted that the scale of India's strike could trigger a substantial Pakistani retaliation. "All eyes will be on India's next move," he said. “We’ve seen a strike and a counter-strike—what follows will determine how serious this crisis becomes.”