India hits Pakistan with ballistic missiles, Islamabad vows response
4 Min Read
India says its Kashmir strikes were "measured", but a child was killed near Peshawar, raising fears of escalation with Pakistan.
-
A fireball can be seen as a result of the Indian ballistic missile attack on the disputed Kashmir region on May 6, 2025. (Social media)
Tensions between India and Pakistan flared dramatically Tuesday after explosions were heard in multiple areas of the Kashmir region. The Pakistani military accused India of launching missile strikes on its territory, targeting the cities of Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad.
BREAKING: The first clear footage of India bombing Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/OGglvTsJ3f
— Clash Report (@clashreport) May 6, 2025
Speaking on Geo News, a Pakistani military spokesman confirmed that while Indian tactical ballistic missiles struck Pakistani soil, no Indian aircraft had entered Pakistani airspace during the operation. He vowed that Pakistan would issue a response to what he described as an act of aggression.
"This violation of our sovereignty will not go unanswered," the spokesman stated, while emphasizing that the nature and timing of Pakistan's response would be determined by the military leadership.
India launches Operation Sindoor
The Indian government later confirmed it had launched Operation Sindoor, a series of strikes which it claimed targeted "terrorist infrastructure" inside Pakistan. According to an official statement, nine separate sites were hit as part of the operation.
"Our actions have been focused, measured, and non-escalatory in nature," the Indian government said, framing the strikes as a pre-emptive move to neutralize threats across the border.
While both sides have exchanged sharp rhetoric in the past, the confirmed use of these advanced missiles marks a significant escalation in cross-border hostilities.
No casualty figures have yet been released by either side, and there has been no independent verification of the specific targets struck.
Explosions rock Kashmir
According to Reuters, powerful blasts were reported in two border areas in the disputed Kashmir region. The violence escalated following India's announcement of a military campaign dubbed Operation Sindoor, which New Delhi described as a "focused, measured, and non-escalatory" response aimed at neutralizing what it called "terrorist infrastructure" on Pakistani soil.
The Indian government emphasized that its forces did not target Pakistani military installations. "Our actions were directed solely at terrorist sites," a government statement said. Meanwhile, the Indian Armed Forces took to the platform X, declaring, "Justice is served."
#PahalgamTerrorAttack
— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 6, 2025
Justice is Served.
Jai Hind! pic.twitter.com/Aruatj6OfA
However, the human toll of the strikes was quickly felt. Reuters reported that a child was killed and two others injured near the Pakistani city of Peshawar as a result of the Indian attack, raising serious concerns about civilian casualties and the accuracy of India's claimed precision targeting.
While India maintains the operation was non-escalatory in intent, the use of missile strikes and the resultant casualties mark a dangerous escalation in tensions between the two nuclear-armed rivals.
Pakistani military officials have accused India of launching an unprovoked attack and vowed a response, though they confirmed no Indian aircraft entered Pakistani airspace during the assault
Shehbaz Sharif: A befitting response is being executed
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan has every right to execute a "befitting response to this act of war imposed by India."
In a post on X, Sharif said that Islamabad is currently executing a retaliatory response.
"The entire nation is with the Pakistani forces and the morale and spirit of the entire Pakistani nation is high," he added.
Clashes along Line of Control continue
The de facto border Line of Control clashes have escalated since the Pahalgam attack, with Indian defense sources reporting nine consecutive nights of gunfire across the militarised de facto border.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries have deteriorated further, with tit-for-tat expulsions and the closure of several border crossings.
The latest escalation has drawn international concern. China has urged both sides to exercise “restraint", while the European Union has described the situation as “alarming".
In an interview for Fox News, US Vice President JD Vance called on India to act in a manner “that doesn't lead to a broader regional conflict.” He also pressed Pakistan to take action against militants allegedly operating from its territory.
The conflict in Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region claimed in full by both countries, remains at the heart of tensions. Rebels in Indian-administered Kashmir have waged an armed insurgency since 1989, demanding either independence or unification with Pakistan.
