India launches missile attack on Pakistan

BarcelonaAfter weeks of skirmishes, India claims to have launched a missile attack on at least nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Under the nameOperation Sindoor, Delhi's armed forces have launched an offensive against "terrorist infrastructure" where "terrorist attacks against India" were being planned, according to a statement from the Indian government. "Our actions have been focused, measured, and non-escalated. No Pakistani military installation has been attacked," the statement added. The country's military also posted a message on X: "Justice has been done."

The Pakistani military spokesman, who confirmed the attack, released an initial toll of three dead and twelve wounded and stated that the victims were civilians. "We are preparing Pakistan's response," the spokesman threatened. India has fired several projectiles from its airspace that reportedly hit three locations: Muzaffarabad, Kotli (in Pakistani-administered Kashmir), and Bahwalpur, according to a statement by Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Geo TV. At least two fell on two mosques.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned what he called "cowardly" attacks by India and said he reserves the right to issue a forceful response to the aggression. He has also called a meeting of the National Security Committee in Islamabad to review the situation at 10:00 a.m. local time.

Minutes later, the Indian military said Islamabad had responded with an artillery attack on Bhimber Gali in Indian-administered Kashmir.

The incident marks a further, decisive step in the escalation of tension that has shaken the region since the murder of 25 Indian tourists and one Nepalese man at the end of April, in an attack in the tourist hill station of Pahalgam, located in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. India accuses Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism, while Islamabad vehemently denies the accusation. In fact, Islamabad has distanced itself from the insurgent militias responsible for the attack, which are fighting for the independence of Indian-controlled Kashmir or its union with Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.

In response to the attack, India closed a key land border with India, canceled a water-sharing treaty, and banned visa-free entry for Pakistani citizens to pressure Pakistan to "credibly and irrevocably renounce its support for terrorism." Delhi then threatened Islamabad with a "robust" response if the skirmishes on the Kashmir border continued. Tensions had reached the point where the United Nations issued an urgent call for "restraint," which has been ignored.

It is too early to tell if any diplomatic action is underway to end the hostilities, but significant international pressure is expected, given that these are two nuclear powers and the scope for any escalation could be significant. For now, US President Donald Trump only said Tuesday afternoon that the recent attacks were "a shame." "I hope they run out quickly," the leader said.