On the evening of May 6, India announced that its armed forces, as part of Operation «Sindur», struck nine targets in Pakistan and on the Pakistani side of the disputed Kashmir region. The Indian military insists they were destroying «terrorist infrastructure» from which attacks were being planned.
As noted by CNN, this is the first instance of India striking within Pakistan's undisputed borders since the two sides last went to war in 1971.
«Sindur» means the red paint worn by married Hindu women. This is a clear reference to the widows left after the April 22 terrorist attack in Indian Kashmir, which killed 26 people, most of whom were Hindus. Authorities in Pakistan-administered Kashmir closed educational institutions and canceled exams. It was after this that the simmering conflict between the two countries escalated.
Pakistan stated that the strikes resulted in civilian casualties and that two mosques were destroyed. India rejected these accusations. «Our actions were targeted, measured, and non-escalatory in nature. India demonstrated significant restraint in choosing targets and methods of engagement», according to an official statement from the country's General Staff.
The Pakistan Air Force launched a retaliatory airstrike on Indian-controlled territories, reporting the destruction of one of the Indian military brigades. The country's armed forces reported hitting the headquarters of an Indian army brigade and shooting down five Indian fighter jets, including two Rafale.
There is no independent confirmation of such losses. Meanwhile, Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif promised «an even louder response at sunrise». Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif announced a meeting of the National Security Committee to discuss the form of this response.
As reported by Reuters, Indian police reported 10 dead and 48 injured as a result of shelling from Pakistan. In turn, the head of the Pakistani army stated that 26 civilians were killed and 46 injured as a result of India's military actions.
Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized in its statement that India's actions «jeopardize regional stability and could lead to direct confrontation between nuclear powers», and also stated that the country has the right to invoke Article 51 of the UN Charter on the right to self-defense.
India informed the United States, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia about the military operation against Pakistan.
Donald Trump called the situation «a disgrace», expressing hope that «it will end very quickly».
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed «extreme concern», adding that «the world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan». Meanwhile, according to several sources, Pakistan does not plan to convene an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
Photo: Reuters