India has carried out precision military strikes on terrorist launch pads located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), in what officials described as a pre-emptive move to dismantle imminent threats. The operations, executed late last night, targeted camps used by groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), with artillery shelling and precision-guided weapons deployed deep int Pakistani territory i. While official details remain sparse, the strikes mark the most serious cross-border escalation since the Balakot airstrikes in 2019. At that time, India responded to the Pulwama terror attack with an airstrike deep inside Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, signaling a shift from a defensive to an assertive military posture. The Indian military strikes on Pakistani territory were a direct response to the April 22, 2025, terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 28 people were killed and 20 injured. The attack targeted non-Muslim tourists, predominantly Hindus, and was carried out by militants linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Why now?
The strikes follow a steady uptick in militant activity in Jammu and Kashmir over the past several weeks. Intelligence reports pointed to infiltration attempts and planned attacks during the summer months — a period when snowmelt opens up key mountain passes along the LoC. There has also been an increase in arms and narcotics recoveries along the western border, with Indian authorities alleging support from Pakistani state-backed actors. Officials suggest that this round of military action serves both tactical and strategic purposes: to eliminate known launch pads and to signal India’s intent to respond decisively to cross-border terror activity. The decision to strike also comes amid growing regional security concerns and ahead of a sensitive electoral period in both India and Pakistan.
What was targeted?
Though the Indian Army has not officially released target details, sources indicate that multiple terror infrastructure hubs — including safehouses, communication nodes, and staging grounds for infiltrators — were struck. These were concentrated in the Neelum Valley, Tattapani sector, and parts of Leepa in PoK, areas that have long harbored militants awaiting infiltration orders. The timing and precision of the strikes suggest a calibrated approach designed to avoid civilian casualties while maximizing the impact on militant capabilities. Key oil and strategic installations in western India — including the Jamnagar refinery (Reliance), Koyali refinery (Indian Oil), and ports along Gujarat’s coast — have been placed on high alert, anticipating potential retaliatio
Pakistan’s response
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry swiftly condemned the strikes, labeling them as “unprovoked aggression” and warning of “appropriate retaliation.” However, its military has played down any significant damage — a familiar tactic aimed at controlling escalation narratives domestically. In previous instances, Pakistan has retaliated through ceasefire violations, diplomatic protests, and international outreach.
So far, there are no reports of direct counterstrikes by Pakistan, but security analysts warn that proxy attacks or escalatory posturing across the LoC remain a possibility. Pakistan may also leverage its diplomatic channels to spotlight India’s actions at the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
What does it mean for the India-Pakistan equation?
The strikes reaffirm India’s post-2016 “surgical strike doctrine”, which endorses limited cross-border action as a legitimate response to terror threats. They also reinforce the message that India’s response to cross-border terrorism will no longer be purely reactive or limited to diplomatic channels.
For Pakistan, the strikes present a dilemma. With its economy in crisis, negotiations ongoing with the IMF, and domestic political instability following former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ouster, a full-fledged military escalation may not be sustainable. However, the pressure to respond — even symbolically — remains high due to internal political optics.
What to expect next?
In the aftermath of the strikes, there is a heightened risk of retaliatory terror attacks within India. On the diplomatic front, Pakistan may escalate efforts to seek international intervention, reaching out to bodies like the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) while rallying support from Islamic nations. India, in turn, is expected to assert its right to self-defense and reiterate its counter-terror rationale.
Could this spiral into war?
While the risk of a full-blown conflict cannot be dismissed, current signals suggest that both sides are engaging in calibrated escalation — enough to show resolve, but not enough to provoke uncontrolled warfare. India has avoided striking deep inside Pakistani territory, and Pakistan, so far, has responded with caution. The next few days will be crucial, with much depending on the political calculus in Islamabad and New Delhi, as well as pressure from global stakeholders urging restraint.
