Pakistan claims jets downed, UN urges restraint as South Asia faces its worst flare-up in decades
Author: Joe D. | May 7, 2025 | 10:30 AM IST
Tensions between India and Pakistan flare up following Kashmir attack
Early Wednesday morning, India fired a number of exact attacks on terror facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as two nuclear-armed neighbors dramatically escalated their conflict. Coming in direct response for the terrible April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 dead, including tourists and a pony operator, the coordinated assault known as Operation Sindoor was India’s first tri-services offensive since 1971.
Indian defense officials said the operation targeted nine major militant sites connected to groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen. But Pakistani authorities said the attacks struck civilian sites and refuted any terror camp presence.
Pakistan Claims Indian Jets Downed
Hours after the attack, Pakistan’s military claimed to have downed five Indian fighter planes and charged New Delhi with a “blatant act of war.” Not verified by Indian officials, the assertion was followed by retaliatory firing along the Line of Control (LoC), which claimed three Indian civilians and injured many more.
Though local reports informed Reuters at least three jets had crashed in the Himalayan area, Indian defense officials did not immediately verify aircraft losses. Both countries are trading great fire throughout several areas, hence the scenario is still shifting.
Global Powers & United Nations Call for Restraint
The United Nations made a strong statement asking both nations to show “maximum military restraint.” The world, according to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, “cannot afford a confrontation” between India and Pakistan. An artillery projectile from Pakistan, meanwhile, reportedly fell near a UN field station in Poonch, approximately 160 miles from Srinagar, missing the compound closely.
Geopolitical analyst Rahul Mehta’s fictional yet plausible tweet captured the time:
“This isn’t two thousand nineteen.” Though India’s new tri-services strategy is audacious, the price of escalation between two nuclear neighbors is quite expensive.
Also Read: Friedrich Merz Narrowly Elected German Chancellor After Second Vote
Operation Sindoor: Message, Symbolism, and Precision
Operation Sindoor, named for the scarlet powder used by married Hindu women, had great symbolic significance as it signaled both revenge and national will. In simultaneous operations involving the army, navy, and air force, the assault was unmatched in magnitude and coordination.
India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval signaled Delhi’s desire to keep openness with its worldwide allies by briefing senior officials from the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.
The official announcement from India read:
Justice has been done.
Schools in Indian Kashmir, Islamabad, Punjab, and Pakistani Kashmir were shuttered.
Several airlines, including IndiGo and Air India, stopped flights.
Indian stock futures dropped 0.3% on news of the strikes, reflecting market caution.
Several Pakistani provinces received emergency notifications; hospitals were on high alert.
Calling India’s behavior a breach of sovereignty and international standards, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Islamabad would react “at a time and place of our choosing.”
A Fiery Reaction to a Fragile Peace
Both countries had mostly refrained from cross-border activity since a 2021 revived peace agreement. Analysts, meanwhile, claim that the size of India’s attack and the targeting of purported terrorist sites deep within Pakistani land represent a major strategic change.
Michael Kugelman, a South Asia specialist located in Washington, observed:
Since 2019, this is the most hazardous flashpoint we have observed. The question now is not who hit harder but rather if the area can prevent a full-blown war.
Last Word
Operation Sindoor has made it plain that terror acts on Indian soil will no more go unaddressed. But as shelling continues and diplomatic tensions mount, both countries—and the globe—face an urgent question: how near are we to the edge?
