India Strikes Pakistan in Retaliation for Tourist Massacre, Sparking Global Alarm

In a major escalation of tensions between two nuclear-armed neighbours, India launched a military operation early Wednesday, striking what it described as “terrorist infrastructure” in both Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The offensive follows the massacre of 26 civilians—mostly Indian tourists—in Pahalgam, Kashmir, last month.

According to CNN’s reporting team, Indian missiles struck five targets: three in Pakistan-administered Kashmir—Kotli, Muzaffarabad, and Bagh—and two within Pakistan’s Punjab province, Ahmadpur East and Muridke. This marks the first Indian strike inside undisputed Pakistani territory since 2019. Pakistan’s military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed the attacks, describing them as “a heinous provocation” and vowed retaliation “at a time and place of its own choosing.” At least three people, including a child, were reportedly killed, and Pakistani officials claim mosques and civilian areas were among the targets.

The Indian Army issued a brief but forceful statement on X, saying, “Justice is served. Jai Hind!” The Ministry of Defense clarified that the strikes were “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” aimed solely at terror-linked sites and not military installations. India emphasized its intent to demonstrate “considerable restraint.”

Tensions between India and Pakistan have soared since the Pahalgam attack on April 22, where armed gunmen targeted a remote Himalayan tourist area, leaving 25 Indians and one Nepali dead. The group Kashmir Resistance initially claimed responsibility but reportedly retracted the statement. India maintains that cross-border terror support is behind the massacre. Pakistan has called for a neutral investigation and strongly rejected the accusations.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the Indian action as “an act of war” and convened the National Security Committee in response. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif accused India of killing women and children, urging the international media to verify the sites of the strikes independently.

International reactions were swift. U.S. President Donald Trump called the situation “a shame” and said he had just learned of the developments. The U.S. State Department announced it was “closely monitoring” the situation, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio had already engaged with Indian and Pakistani officials last week to urge de-escalation.

The attacks have had an immediate global impact. Airlines including Air France and Lufthansa have suspended flights over Pakistan, and several carriers are now rerouting via longer paths, increasing costs and flight times. Both India and Pakistan had already shut airspace to each other following the April massacre, but the conflict is now disrupting broader international aviation routes.

The strikes come amid a backdrop of historical volatility. Since their independence from Britain in 1947, India and Pakistan have fought three wars over Kashmir, which remains one of the most militarized and disputed territories on Earth. The region has seen waves of insurgency, military crackdowns, and diplomatic breakdowns for decades, but attacks on civilians—particularly tourists—are rare.

As both governments dig in and military rhetoric mounts, the international community watches closely, fearing the consequences of escalation between two nations armed with nuclear weapons.