India has launched a military operation dubbed Operation Sindoor in various parts of Pakistan-controlled territory after 26 people were killed in a horrific terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir.
Pakistani security officials said at least eight people were killed and dozens injured in the attack, according to a Newsweek report. India said the move was in response to cross-border shelling that killed 10 civilians. However, Islamabad has denied any connection to the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam and rejected claims of sheltering those responsible for the incident.
Operation Sindoor
“Sindoor” is a vermilion mark worn by married Hindu women and warriors, symbolizing an ancient cultural tradition. It has become a mark of loss after the April 22 Pahalgam massacre by terrorists, in which men, including newlyweds, were killed on the grounds of Hindu religion.
Newsweek reported that, according to intelligence documents, the Indian military said the targets inside Pakistan were operated by Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM)—which India has designated as terrorist groups.
Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian armed forces on Wednesday, 7 May, targeting nine sites in Pakistan, including Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur (JeM); Markaz Taiba, Muridke (LeT); Sarjal, Tehra Kalan (JeM); Mehmoona Joya, Sialkot (HM); Masjid Ahle Hadith, Barnala (LeT); Masjid Abbas, Kotli (JeM); Maskar Raheel Shahid, Kotli (HM); Shawai Nalla Camp, Muzaffarabad (LeT); and Syedna Bilal Camp, Muzaffarabad (JeM).
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s National Security Council has authorized its military to “retaliate” for India’s attack, according to a report. That could spark a new war. The US and several countries around the world, including China and the UK, have urged the two nuclear-armed countries to maintain peace.
Causes of the India-Pakistan Conflict
Both nuclear-armed countries, India and Pakistan, control parts of Kashmir, but both claim the entire resource-rich region, leading to frequent clashes and tensions between the two countries. Kashmir, a region rich in natural beauty, is home to about 13 million people—about seven million (7,000,000) live in the Indian-administered territory and six million (6,000,000) live under Pakistani control.
The United States has long said that the Kashmir issue should be resolved through direct talks between India and Pakistan, but the recent military operation has once again highlighted the long-running conflict. The India-Pakistan conflict has posed a new test for US foreign policy under 47th President Donald Trump.
The two countries have previously fought several historic wars over Kashmir, including the First Kashmir War after the partition of British India, the 1947-48 war, the 1965 war, and the 1999 Kargil War. India has suspended all trade routes and the Indus Water Treaty and has further strained diplomatic relations with Pakistan following the attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir.
Is India an ally of the United States?
India, while not officially a US ally, has become a key strategic partner – especially as both countries increasingly try to counter China’s regional influence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Washington in February after Trump became president, and the two countries deepened their ties to boost cooperation in defense, energy and technology. And India’s deep economic and military ties with Washington have grown steadily.
