“Operation Sindoor” targets terrorist infrastructure, escalating tensions in Kashmir; Pakistan claims it shot down five Indian jets
At least 26 civilians were killed and 46 injured following airstrikes by India in Pakistan, a Pakistani military spokesperson said, according to Reuters. The strikes occurred on Tuesday night (Brasília time) as part of “Operation Sindoor,” launched by India to target “terrorist infrastructure” in both Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Major escalation between nuclear-armed neighbors
The operation marks a significant escalation in hostilities between the two nuclear-armed nations. Pakistan claims to have shot down five Indian Air Force jets and a drone, including three Rafale fighter jets, which are among India’s most advanced assets. India has not confirmed any of these losses.
Retaliation after Kashmir massacre
The Indian offensive follows an attack in April, where gunmen killed 26 people, most of them tourists, in India-controlled Kashmir. India blamed Pakistan for the incident — a charge Islamabad denies.
Long-standing conflict
India (predominantly Hindu) and Pakistan (predominantly Muslim) both control parts of Kashmir but claim the entire region. Since their independence in 1947, the two countries have fought three wars over Kashmir, and this latest development raises fears of a broader military conflict.
