Pakistan says India fired missiles at key military bases and that retaliation is underway
Military conflict between India and Pakistan escalated Saturday. Here’s what we know
Islamabad/New Delhi, May 10, 2025 — Tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan escalated dramatically on Saturday, after Pakistan accused India of launching missile strikes on several of its key military installations. The Pakistani military has confirmed that a retaliatory operation is currently underway, marking one of the most serious confrontations between the two countries in over two decades.
In an emergency press conference held in Islamabad early Saturday morning, Pakistan's Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Haroon Aslam, stated that Indian forces had “deliberately and unprovokedly” targeted at least three high-security military facilities in Pakistan's Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces using long-range precision missiles. The alleged attacks occurred just after midnight local time.
“These acts of aggression are not only violations of international law but a direct threat to regional peace,” said Gen. Aslam. “Our armed forces have responded with measured but firm retaliation. India will bear the consequences of this reckless provocation.”
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan's military media wing, the missile strikes caused “limited structural damage” and “some casualties,” though it has not disclosed specific figures. Footage aired on local television showed smoke rising from what appeared to be a military depot outside Rawalpindi. Eyewitnesses in the area reported hearing “multiple loud explosions” and seeing emergency services rushing toward the scene.
Within hours of the initial report, Pakistan claimed its Air Force had carried out retaliatory strikes on Indian military positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir. Though official Indian sources have yet to confirm casualties, multiple media outlets reported the sound of air raid sirens in the border districts of Jammu and Rajouri.
India: “Acted in Preemptive Self-Defense”
India has not officially confirmed the missile strikes on Pakistani bases, but a senior official from the Ministry of Defence, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that Indian forces had conducted “precision defensive operations” against “imminent threats” originating from Pakistani territory.
“India reserves the right to act in preemptive self-defense, particularly when credible intelligence indicates direct threats to national security,” the official said. “We will not allow hostile actors operating from across the border to compromise our sovereignty and safety.”
The Indian government has called for an emergency meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Anjali Deshmukh. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) released a brief statement urging calm and stating that “India remains committed to regional stability but will not hesitate to act against those who threaten its citizens.”
Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned the Pakistani High Commissioner in New Delhi to “explain escalating hostilities” and accused Islamabad of harboring terror cells targeting Indian military convoys in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
Casualties and Ground Situation
As of Saturday afternoon, no official death toll had been released by either country. However, reports from both sides suggest that at least 12 soldiers may have been killed in the initial Indian strike, with dozens more injured. Pakistani military hospitals in Lahore and Peshawar are reportedly on high alert.
The Pakistani Air Force has confirmed that it intercepted multiple Indian aerial platforms near its airspace and claimed to have shot down two unmanned Indian reconnaissance drones over Gilgit-Baltistan. India, meanwhile, reported “attempted airspace violations” by Pakistani aircraft near Jammu and Kashmir and scrambled fighter jets in response.
The situation on the ground remains tense. Residents along the LoC have begun evacuating villages, with both sides issuing warnings to civilians to seek shelter in designated safety zones. Schools and government offices in affected districts have been shut indefinitely.
International Reaction
The sudden escalation has drawn immediate concern from the international community. The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued an urgent appeal to both countries to exercise restraint and resume diplomatic dialogue.
“We are deeply concerned by reports of missile strikes and military escalation between India and Pakistan. These actions carry the risk of catastrophic consequences in a region with nuclear capabilities. We urge immediate de-escalation and a return to diplomacy,” Guterres said in a statement from New York.
The U.S. State Department echoed the call for calm, stating it was in close contact with both governments and had activated its crisis management teams in the region. "We are monitoring the situation closely and urge both nations to refrain from further military action," said U.S. Secretary of State Linda Greenfield.
China, a long-time ally of Pakistan and a major regional player, called for “maximum restraint” and offered to mediate between the two countries. Meanwhile, Russia expressed "deep concern" and encouraged both nations to activate their military hotlines to prevent miscalculations.
Background and Possible Triggers
While tensions between India and Pakistan have simmered for decades — largely centered around the disputed region of Kashmir — this latest round of hostilities comes amid a series of flashpoints.
Last month, an Indian military convoy was ambushed in northern Kashmir, killing eight soldiers. India blamed the attack on the Pakistani-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a charge Pakistan has denied.
India’s internal intelligence agencies also reported “credible threats” of missile strikes from Pakistan-backed sleeper cells, which may have prompted what India now calls “preemptive action.”
In Islamabad, the government insists it had no role in the Kashmir attack and accuses India of fabricating threats to justify aggression ahead of key domestic elections. Pakistani analysts believe the strikes may have been designed to “rally nationalist sentiment” and “deflect from economic instability” within India.
The Road Ahead
Diplomatic channels between the two rivals remain open, though fragile. Military hotlines have been activated, and a senior-level dialogue is being pushed by international mediators including the European Union and Gulf nations.
Despite rising tensions, both sides appear reluctant to engage in a full-scale war. Military analysts say that while the strikes mark a serious escalation, they are likely calibrated actions intended to signal strength rather than provoke total conflict.
However, with both countries possessing nuclear arsenals and deep historical mistrust, the risk of miscalculation remains dangerously high.
For now, the world watches — anxiously — as two of Asia’s most powerful nations stand at a perilous crossroads once more.
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Md Soriful Islam
I am an imaginative and inquisitive person, always loving to know and learn new things. My interest in self-improvement constantly motivates me. I am honest, hardworking and responsible. Finally, I am proud of my small progress.
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