The 88-hour conflict between India and Pakistan in May 2025, often referred to as “Operation Sindoor” by India, was a brief but intense military confrontation that brought the two nuclear-armed rivals to the brink of a full-scale war.
Here’s a summary of what happened:
Background: The conflict was triggered by a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, which killed 26 civilians. India accused Pakistan of supporting and aiding the attack, a claim Pakistan denied.
Key Events of the 88-hour conflict (May 7-10, 2025):
* May 7: India’s “Operation Sindoor” begins.
* In the early hours, India launched missile and air strikes (Operation Sindoor) targeting what it described as nine “terrorist hubs” in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, including Muridke and Bahawalpur. India stated that no Pakistani military or civilian facilities were targeted.
* Pakistan, however, claimed the Indian strikes targeted civilian areas, including mosques, resulting in 31 Pakistani civilian deaths.
* Immediately after the initial strikes, a major air battle ensued between Indian and Pakistani fighter jets, lasting over an hour. Both sides claimed downing adversary aircraft, and there were reports of aircraft losses on both sides due to air defense systems.
* Pakistan responded with its own mortar attacks and a blitz on Poonch, Jammu, reportedly killing 16 civilians and destroying hundreds of homes.
* There were also reports of armed skirmishes along the Line of Control (LoC) starting as early as April 24.
* May 7-9: Drone Duels and Escalation.
* Over the next two nights, Pakistan heavily utilized its drone fleet, reportedly targeting 36 locations on May 8 and 26 on May 9, from Leh to Sir Creek.
* India’s integrated air and missile defense system reportedly largely defeated several waves of Pakistani drone attacks.
* Fighting along the Line of Control in Kashmir intensified and resulted in significant casualties for both sides.
* Concerns about nuclear escalation grew, particularly on May 8-9, leading to significant diplomatic engagement, primarily by the United States.
* May 9-10: Crisis Climax.
* In the early hours of May 10, both sides accused each other of launching missile attacks on airbases. India accused Pakistan of targeting Indian air bases, including Sirsa, while Pakistan accused India of attacking several Pakistani air bases, including Nur Khan, Rafiqi, and Murid.
* India claimed its air force established supremacy by targeting airfields and other military targets across Pakistan with impunity.
* Pakistan launched “Operation Bunyan al-Marsus,” targeting several Indian military bases.
* May 10: Ceasefire.
* After four days of intense fighting and under significant pressure from the United States, India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire.
* Despite the agreement, explosions were reportedly heard in border towns hours later, with both sides accusing each other of violations.
Aftermath and Analysis:
* Both India and Pakistan declared victory, and there was considerable misinformation and disinformation surrounding the events.
* The conflict marked a significant escalation, crossing previous thresholds in terms of geographic reach, systems employed (including modern Chinese weapons on Pakistan’s side), and impacts.
* It highlighted the growing use of standoff weapons, drones, and advanced air defense systems in modern warfare.
* The crisis underscored the fragility of peace between the two nuclear powers and the persistent risk of escalation.