Pahalgam terror attack has now grown into a full-scale war between India and Pakistan. In response to multiple drone and missile attacks by Pakistan on Indian territory, including Jammu, Jaisalmer, and Punjab, on Thursday night, Indian military forces reportedly launched an immediate and lethal retaliatory strike on Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital and other major Pakistani cities like Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Karachi etc later that same night. According to reports, all three branches of the Indian armed forces—the Indian Army, the Indian Navy, and the Indian Air Force—are currently in a heightened state of readiness, aggressively countering Pakistan’s provocations. The Pahalgam terror attack orchestrated by Pakistani terrorists has now expanded into a major war crisis in South Asia.
This major escalation follows heightened tensions between the two nations, sparked by Pakistan’s unsuccessful drone and missile attacks on Jammu. In response, India has deployed its Integrated Air Defense Systems across the northern and western sectors. As per reports, 08 Pakistani missiles were successfully intercepted and destroyed near Jammu. The attack led to a temporary power outage at the Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district, with similar blackouts reported in Srinagar amid increased security measures. Additionally, an Indian surface-to-air missile defense system shot down a Pakistan Air Force F-16 supersonic fighter jet in the evening.
“Military stations at Jammu, Pathankot & Udhampur were targeted by Pakistani-origin drones and missiles along the International Border in J&K today. The threats were swiftly neutralized using kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities in line with established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). No casualties or material losses were reported. India remains fully prepared to defend its sovereignty and ensure the safety of its people.”
Ministry of Defense, India
India’s Brutal Retaliation Ongoing:
According to emerging reports, India’s tri-service forces are engaged in a forceful, lethal counteroffensive, employing heavy weaponry in response to Pakistani provocations. The Indian Navy has deployed several warships, including the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, to the Arabian Sea, with both the Navy and the Indian Air Force reportedly launching a fierce assault on Pakistan’s Karachi Port. Details regarding the extent of damage remain unconfirmed at this time.
Simultaneously, the Indian Army and Air Force are conducting aggressive operations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), with reported strikes targeting even Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, the Army Headquarters in Rawalpindi, as well as Lahore and Peshawar. The Indian Air Force is also said to have inflicted significant damage on Pakistan’s Sargodha Air Base and some other air bases inside Pakistan. All major countries around world including the U.S., Russia, France, Israel, Japan have supported India’s War against Terrorism and have condemned the Pahalgam terror attack.
In a notable development, the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has reportedly captured two Pakistani Air Force pilots after their jets were downed by India’s air defense systems. Intense artillery exchanges are ongoing between the Indian and Pakistani armies along the border. It is being reported that India has shot down 2 F-16, 2 JF-17 fighter jets by using their air defense grid.
Indian Army Air Defense Units intercepted and destroyed two Pakistani drones in the Naushera sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Compounding Pakistan’s challenges, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has reportedly launched a simultaneous attack on Quetta.
On the night of Wednesday, May 7, India conducted precision airstrikes under Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, reportedly neutralizing approximately 100 militants. This operation was India’s response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attacks, which claimed 26 innocent lives.
Operation Sindoor represents one of India’s most decisive cross-border military actions since the 2019 Balakot airstrikes.