Indian-Pakistan Conflict May 2025

Tensions between India and Pakistan have significantly risen in May 2025. The current crisis began with a deadly terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir. In this attack, 26 people, including 25 Indian tourists and one Nepali national, lost their lives. India blamed the attack on the Islamic Resistance Front, a group linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. They also identified Hashim Musa, a former Pakistan Army Special Forces soldier, as a key suspect.

In response to the attack, India launched "Operation Sindoor" on May 6, 2025. This military operation involved air and missile strikes on nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. These targets were said to be terrorist facilities belonging to groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. India claimed the strikes were precise and aimed only at these facilities, avoiding any Pakistani military bases.

However, Pakistan reported that these strikes caused civilian casualties, including women and children, and claimed to have shot down five Indian fighter jets. India denied these claims. The strikes also caused panic in regions like Muzaffarabad, leading to power outages and widespread fear.

The situation worsened when India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a critical water-sharing agreement between the two countries. This treaty, signed in 1960, governs the sharing of water from six major rivers in the Indus Basin. By suspending it, India aimed to put pressure on Pakistan. Additionally, India accelerated hydroelectric projects on the Chenab River, which could significantly impact Pakistan’s water supply. Pakistan strongly condemned this move, calling it an act of war and accusing India of using water as a weapon.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries have rapidly declined. Both India and Pakistan have expelled diplomats, closed border crossings like the Attari-Wagah border, and suspended visa services. Pakistan even suspended the 1972 Shimla Agreement, which was meant to ensure peaceful resolutions to disputes between the two countries. The Shimla Agreement is a vital treaty that has maintained a fragile peace between the two nations for decades.

The international community has expressed deep concern over the growing conflict. The United States has urged both countries to show restraint, while the United Nations Security Council has held emergency consultations on the crisis. China, a close ally of Pakistan, has called for dialogue, while Russia has offered to mediate between the two countries. Despite these efforts, neither India nor Pakistan has shown a clear interest in de-escalating the situation.

Military build up continues along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, with both countries increasing their forces. Fighter jets, tanks, and heavy artillery have been moved to border areas, raising fears of a larger conflict. Civilians on both sides of the border are living in fear, with some regions experiencing power cuts and disruptions in communication.

The Kashmir dispute remains the core issue behind the conflict. India and Pakistan have fought three major wars over this region (1947, 1965, and 1999) and have a history of smaller skirmishes and proxy conflicts. The unresolved status of Kashmir has fueled decades of hostility.

The world is watching closely as tensions continue to rise. Without diplomatic solutions, the situation could easily spiral out of control, leading to a full-scale war between two nuclear-armed neighbours. It is crucial for both India and Pakistan to consider the devastating consequences of further escalation and explore peaceful solutions to their differences.