• India launched strikes inside Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, citing a need to address terrorist infrastructure after a militant attack killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in Indian-administered Kashmir.
• Pakistan claims to have shot down five Indian Air Force jets and a drone in response, including advanced Rafale fighter jets, though India has not confirmed these losses.
• The international community, including the UN, US, and China, has urged both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and de-escalate tensions to prevent a wider conflict.

Tensions between India and Pakistan have sharply escalated after India conducted military strikes on what it claims were terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. This action, dubbed "Operation Sindoor," was a response to the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, where militants killed 25 Indian tourists and one Nepali national. Pakistan has condemned the strikes as an act of aggression, claiming they resulted in civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure, including mosques. Pakistan further asserts that its forces shot down multiple Indian aircraft, a claim India has not verified. The international community has expressed concern over the heightened tensions and called for both countries to exercise restraint to avoid further escalation.

• What: India launched military strikes on targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, claiming they were aimed at terrorist infrastructure. Pakistan claims the strikes hit civilian areas and that its forces retaliated by shooting down Indian aircraft.
• Who: Key actors include the governments of India and Pakistan, their respective militaries, and international bodies like the UN, US, and China. Involved are also militant groups allegedly operating in the region, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.
• When: The strikes occurred on Wednesday, following the April 22 attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. Tensions have been escalating in the two weeks since the tourist massacre.
• Where: The strikes targeted locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, including Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Bahawalpur, Ahmedpur East and Muridke. The Line of Control (LOC) is a key area of contention.

The strikes represent a significant escalation in the long-standing conflict between India and Pakistan, particularly concerning the disputed Kashmir region. India's action is framed as a necessary response to cross-border terrorism, while Pakistan views it as an act of aggression violating its sovereignty. The conflicting claims regarding casualties and downed aircraft highlight the difficulty in verifying information from both sides. The international community's response underscores the concern that this could spiral into a larger conflict, potentially involving nuclear weapons.

The heinous act of aggression will not go unpunished.

Pakistan has every right to give a befitting reply to this act of war imposed by India and a befitting reply is being given.

Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted.

India started it, we’ll finish it.

The situation between India and Pakistan is critically poised, teetering on the brink of full-scale conflict following India's "Operation Sindoor" targeting alleged terrorist infrastructure within Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, which India claims was a measured response to the Pahalgam attack. Pakistan vehemently condemns the strikes as an act of war, alleging civilian casualties and a violation of international law, and has promised a "befitting reply". Conflicting reports and claims from both sides obfuscate the reality on the ground, while exchanges of artillery fire and small arms continue along the Line of Control, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation for Kashmiri civilians who face increasing harassment and displacement. The international community, including the UN and major powers, is urgently calling for restraint and de-escalation, yet the absence of robust crisis management mechanisms and the potential for miscalculation, fueled by domestic pressures and disinformation, remain significant concerns. With both nations possessing nuclear capabilities, the risk of escalation with potentially catastrophic consequences is real, demanding immediate and concerted diplomatic efforts to avert further conflict.