Tensions between India and Pakistan have reached a boiling point after India carried out missile strikes targeting areas in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The Indian government says the strikes were in response to a deadly militant attack in the Pahalgam region last month, where 26 tourists lost their lives.

According to Pakistan, six locations were hit during the missile attacks. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the Indian strikes “an act of war” and claimed that Pakistan’s military shot down five Indian Air Force jets. India, however, has not confirmed any of its jets being downed. BBC’s verification team has reviewed videos on social media showing debris believed to be from Indian aircraft, but the authenticity remains unclear.

Pakistan also reported that 26 people, including women and children, were killed in the air strikes and cross-border firing, with another 46 injured. Meanwhile, the Indian Army reported that Pakistani shelling in Indian-administered Kashmir led to the deaths of at least 15 civilians and injured 43 others. The shelling reportedly targeted civilian areas near the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border between the two countries.

India has named its military response “Operation Sindoor,” launched following the Pahalgam attack. Indian officials stated that the airstrikes focused on militant camps associated with groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which India holds responsible for the attack. They also emphasized that the strikes were “targeted, measured, and non-escalatory,” claiming no Pakistani military installations were attacked.

Kashmir, a region claimed by both India and Pakistan, has long been a flashpoint between the two nations. Since their independence in 1947, the countries have fought multiple wars over the territory. The latest escalation brings back memories of past confrontations and has raised serious concerns among international observers.

Both countries have increased military activity along the border, with shelling heard on both sides. Residents near the LoC are taking shelter as fear spreads. Hospitals in Pakistan’s Punjab province are overwhelmed with injured civilians, while people in Indian-administered areas have also reported destruction of homes and infrastructure.

With the situation rapidly worsening, global leaders, including the United Nations and the United States, have urged both sides to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation.