The India-Pakistan war is escalating, and the whole world is tense because both countries possess nuclear weapons. The period from 7 May to 10 May 2025 marked one of the most intense and rapid escalations in recent India-Pakistan history, following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in April. What began as a targeted military operation quickly spiraled into a multi-domain conflict, involving missile strikes, drone warfare, cyberattacks, and fierce artillery exchanges, before a fragile ceasefire was brokered on the evening of 10 May.
Key points
Background: The Pahalgam attack and rising tensions
On 22 April 2025, a terror attack(Pahalgam terror attack) in the Baisaran Valley of Jammu and Kashmir claimed the lives of 27 people, most of them Hindu tourists, sparking outrage across India. The Resistance Front (TRF) initially claimed responsibility, but Indian authorities accused Pakistan-based groups Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) of orchestrating the attack, reigniting the long-standing dispute over cross-border terrorism. Pakistan denied any involvement.
Skirmishes along the Line of Control (LoC) began almost immediately after the attack, with both sides exchanging artillery and small-arms fire, setting the stage for a larger confrontation.
7 May: Operation Sindoor-India launches strikes
In the early hours of 7 May, India launched “Operation Sindoor,” a series of 14 coordinated missile and drone strikes targeting nine locations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Pakistan’s Punjab province. The Indian Air Force (IAF) reportedly used Rafale jets armed with SCALP missiles, AASM Hammer glide bombs, BrahMos cruise missiles, and SkyStriker loitering munitions in a 23-minute operation. According to Indian officials, the strikes focused on infrastructure linked to terrorists organizations Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, deliberately avoiding Pakistani military installations.
Terrorist Masood Azhar, leader of JeM, reported the death of ten family members. India claims that all the members were promoting terror activity. Many more terrorists were killed on the attack.
India described the operation as “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” but the strikes marked a dramatic escalation in the conflict, prompting Pakistan to place its military on high alert.
8-9 May: Retaliation, drone warfare, and escalation
The following days saw a rapid intensification. Pakistan responded with drone incursions and artillery barrages across the LoC and International Border. On the night of 8-9 May, Pakistani drones and aircraft attempted to target Indian military infrastructure, but most attacks were intercepted or caused minimal damage.
India claimed to have shot down several Pakistani drones, including Baykar YIHA III loitering munitions, and released images of debris as proof. Pakistani forces, meanwhile, asserted they had downed five Indian Air Force aircraft, a claim India denied. Pakistani media was seen showing old images and videos of jets and there defense minister also failed to provide any proof of any jets that they have shoot down to a news anchor of CNN in live broadcast.
Artillery duels and drone attacks targeted both military and civilian areas. In Jammu and Kashmir, blackouts were reported, and several civilian casualties occurred on both sides of the border. Indian sources claimed that Pakistan lost at least 35-40 military personnel in these exchanges.
10 May: Pakistan’s Operation Bunyan al-Marsus and Indian Counterstrikes
On 10 May, Pakistan launched its own retaliatory operation, codenamed “Operation Bunyan al-Marsus”-a name referencing a Quranic phrase about a wall of molten lead, symbolizing a defensive stand. Pakistan claimed to have targeted several Indian military bases, including air force stations in Udhampur, Bhuj, and Pathankot. While minor damage was reported, India denied any significant losses to key assets such as S-400 missile systems or BrahMos launchers. There were no any Indian airbase casualties seen in India.
Pakistan also claimed to have launched a Fatah-II guided artillery rocket at Delhi, which was intercepted near Sirsa Air Force Station in Haryana. Heavy fighting was reported near Sialkot and Rajouri, with shelling resulting in the death of Raj Kumar Thapa, the commissioner of Rajouri, and five others. Indian authorities accused Pakistan of targeting civilian areas, including a Hindu temple in Jammu.
For the first time, both nations engaged in extensive drone warfare, with Indian airstrikes reportedly damaging Pakistani air bases at Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Skardu, Sargodha, Jacobabad, and Bholari and Noor Khan airbase. Pakistan claimed to intercept several Indian missiles, while India released timestamped images to refute Pakistani claims of successful strikes on Indian airbases.
Cyberwarfare and Information battles was also part of the India-Pakistan war
A new dimension of the conflict emerged as Pakistan announced cyberattacks on Indian government and military domains, including websites of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Border Security Force. Pakistani sources claimed to have disrupted Indian military satellites and email servers, though Indian officials did not confirm these breaches. The cyber front added complexity to the conflict, with both sides engaging in information warfare to shape international perceptions.
Civilian Impact and International Reactions in India-Pakistan war
The conflict took a heavy toll on civilians. In Pakistan, India attacked many bases in which 33 civilians were reported killed and 58 wounded, while India suffered casualties from cross-border shelling and drone attacks. Blackouts, displacement, and damage to infrastructure were widespread in border regions.
The international community, including the United Nations and major world powers, called for restraint. Analysts warned that the conflict, though limited in duration, brought two nuclear-armed states dangerously close to a broader war.
Ceasefire and Aftermath
After four days of intense hostilities, India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire, effective from 5:00 pm IST on 10 May125. The agreement covered all military actions on land, air, and sea. However, within hours, both sides accused each other of violating the ceasefire, with reports of drone incursions and explosions in Srinagar and other locations. Indian forces stated they remained on high alert, ready to respond to any further provocations.
Diplomatic talks were scheduled for 12 May, with both nations under pressure to de-escalate and avoid further conflict.
Key Military and Political Developments
- Operation Sindoor: India’s precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK, using advanced missiles and drones.
- Operation Bunyan al-Marsus: Pakistan’s retaliatory strikes on Indian military bases, including cyberattacks.
- Drone Warfare: Both sides used armed and surveillance drones extensively, marking a first in Indo-Pakistani conflicts.
- Civilian and Military Losses: More than 100 terrorists and 50 military personnel killed in Pakistani sides, also Pakistan faced heavy damages on their military bases. India losses 5 military soldiers.
- Ceasefire: Brokered after four days of fighting but immediately tested by fresh violations.
The May 2025 conflict demonstrated the volatility of the India-Pakistan relationship and the dangers of rapid escalation in the nuclear age. While both sides avoided a full-scale ground invasion, the use of advanced missiles, drones, and cyberwarfare signaled a new era in South Asian military confrontations.
The conflict also exposed the persistent risks posed by cross-border terrorism and the fragility of ceasefire agreements. With both nations accusing each other of bad faith and civilian populations bearing the brunt, the need for sustained diplomatic engagement remains urgent.
The four-day conflict from 7 to 10 May 2025 will be remembered for its speed, intensity, and technological sophistication. As both nations return to the negotiating table, the world watches closely, hoping that the lessons of this brief but dangerous war will lead to a more stable and peaceful future for the region.
After 10 may 2025, further strikes also have been reported, we will update that later.