India-Pakistan Tensions Escalate: Operation Sindoor Sparks International Concern
India launched “Operation Sindoor,” a military operation targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in response to a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people on April 22. The operation involved precision strikes on nine locations believed to be involved in orchestrating attacks against India. According to India’s Defense Ministry, the actions were “focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature,” with no Pakistani military facilities targeted.
Pakistan condemned the strikes as a “blatant act of war,” saying they resulted in civilian casualties, including the death of a child and injuries to two others in Bahawalpur. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed to give a “befitting reply” to India’s aggression, stating that the country has every right to respond strongly to the imposed war. The military action has raised concerns about regional peace and security, with the United Nations expressing worries about the potential consequences of an escalation.
US President Donald Trump urged both nations to de-escalate the situation, saying, “It’s a shame… I just hope it ends very quickly.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio also called for a peaceful resolution, echoing the President’s sentiments. The situation remains volatile, with both countries exchanging gunfire across their heavily militarized border in contested Kashmir since the April 22 attack.
