On May 7, 2025, the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) destroyed a terrorist launchpad in Looni, Sialkot district, Pakistan, opposite Jammu’s Akhnoor sector. This action followed unprovoked firing by Pakistani troops along the International Border. The BSF responded by targeting the launchpad, causing significant damage to Pakistani border posts and assets. The BSF released video footage to support its claims. This incident occurred amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, with both nations experiencing civilian casualties due to recent hostilities. India has conducted precision strikes on identified military targets in response to Pakistani actions, while Pakistan has warned of retaliation if further aggression occurs. International actors, including the U.S., China, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, have urged restraint. Both countries have expressed willingness to de-escalate if the other reciprocates. (PC: India Today & Hindustan Times)

In a significant escalation, Pakistan launched overnight attacks on four Indian Air Force stations—Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur, and Bhuj—causing limited damage. A high-speed missile struck a Punjab airbase around 1:40 am. India responded with precision strikes on six Pakistani airbases: Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Chunia, targeting solely military infrastructure to minimize collateral damage. Colonel Sophia Qureshi reported that Pakistan attempted to strike 26 strategic sites, including airbases and transport hubs, and used drones, fighter aircraft, and long-range artillery along India's western front. Additionally, attacks on civilian infrastructure were reported near Srinagar, Awantipora, and Udhampur airbases. The Indian government dismissed claims of destruction at Sirsa and Suratgarh airfields. (PC: India Today)

Following India's "Operation Sindoor" targeting terror camps in Pakistan, Islamabad initiated its first official communication seeking de-escalation. The Indian operation was a response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 27, mostly Hindu tourists. India's strikes focused on Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed infrastructures. Pakistan's retaliatory "Operation Bunyan Ul Marsoos" targeted Indian military sites, escalating tensions. Both nations reported casualties and damage, with India intercepting multiple threats. Amid fears of further escalation, both sides expressed willingness to de-escalate if the other reciprocates. International actors, including the U.S. and G7, urged restraint. Diplomatic channels are active, aiming to prevent a broader conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors. (PC: NDTV & The Quint)

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has issued Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) announcing the temporary closure of 32 airports across northern and western India. This suspension of all civil flight operations is effective immediately and will continue until 5:29 AM on May 15, 2025. The affected airports include Adampur, Ambala, Amritsar, Awantipur, Bathinda, Bhuj, Bikaner, Chandigarh, Halwara, Hindon, Jaisalmer, Jammu, Jamnagar, Jodhpur, Kandla, Kangra (Gaggal), Keshod, Kishangarh, Kullu Manali (Bhuntar), Leh, Ludhiana, Mundra, Naliya, Pathankot, Patiala, Porbandar, Rajkot (Hirasar), Sarsawa, Shimla, Srinagar, Thoise, and Uttarlai. Delhi Airport remains operational but has advised passengers to anticipate potential delays due to enhanced security measures and evolving airspace conditions. Travelers are urged to stay informed through official channels and coordinate with their airlines for updates. (PC: Simple Flying & India TV News)

India has indefinitely suspended the Kartarpur Corridor, a visa-free passage for Sikh pilgrims to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, amid escalating tensions following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. The Ministry of External Affairs announced the closure on May 7, 2025, citing security concerns. This move follows India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, expulsion of Pakistani diplomats, and closure of border crossings. Pakistan responded by suspending the 1972 Simla Agreement and shutting down airspace and trade routes. The corridor, inaugurated in 2019, had been a symbol of religious harmony, allowing up to 5,000 pilgrims daily. India has repeatedly urged Pakistan to waive the $20 service fee per pilgrim, but no agreement has been reached. (PC: Wikipedia)

India reported that Pakistan moved troops into forward areas and attempted air intrusions at over 26 locations from Srinagar to Nalia, which were neutralized by Indian forces. In response, India executed precision strikes on six Pakistani military targets—Rafiki, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Juniya—using air-launched weapons, targeting radar sites at two locations. Indian officials stated Pakistan employed drones, long-range weapons, loitering munitions, and fighter aircraft against civilian and military sites along the western border, causing limited damage at Indian Air Force stations in Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur, and Bhuj. India emphasized its commitment to non-escalation, contingent upon reciprocal restraint from Pakistan. (PC: Reuters, The Indian Express & Al Jazeera)

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, in an interview with Al Arabiya, criticized Pakistan as a "bigoted power" attempting to claim Indian territory based on religious grounds. He accused Pakistan of deploying terrorists for 30 years in its pursuit to "bleed India with a thousand cuts" and capture Kashmir, asserting that these efforts have failed and will continue to fail. Tharoor emphasized that India, focused on economic growth and technological advancement, desires peaceful coexistence but will respond decisively if provoked: "We are not interested in going to war, but if Pakistan wants war, they will get it." (PC: PTI)

Amid escalating Indo-Pak tensions, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged de-escalation in a call with Pakistan's Army Chief, General Asim Munir. This follows Pakistan's intensified drone attacks on Indian cities, which India claims to have thwarted. Rubio offered U.S. assistance to initiate constructive talks, emphasizing diplomacy over conflict. The U.S. remains actively engaged with both nations to prevent further escalation. India condemned Pakistan's drone strikes as blatant violations of sovereignty. Earlier, Rubio also spoke with India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stressing the importance of holding perpetrators accountable and reaffirming U.S. support for counterterrorism efforts. The situation underscores the urgent need for diplomatic engagement to avert further conflict. (PC: Shutterstock & Wikipedia)

India's "Operation Sindoor" targeted nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, including Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba hubs, following the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 Indian tourists. India claims over 100 terrorists were killed, including Abdul Rauf Azhar, linked to Daniel Pearl's 2002 beheading. Pakistan denies Azhar's death, reports 31 civilian casualties, and launched "Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos" in retaliation, striking Indian military targets. Both nations report civilian deaths and military engagements along the Kashmir border. The conflict marks the most severe escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbors in decades, prompting international calls for de-escalation. India's strikes were described as "focused, measured, and non-escalatory," while Pakistan condemned them as "cowardly attacks" on civilians. (PC: The Quint & YouTube)

India has confirmed that Pakistan launched missile strikes on Udhampur, Pathankot, and Bathinda airbases, causing damage but no casualties. In a special briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that India is not seeking escalation but will respond decisively to any further aggression. The attacks are viewed as retaliation for India's earlier strikes on Pakistani military targets, which were in response to a deadly attack in Kashmir attributed to Pakistan-based militants. India has heightened security across key installations and remains on high alert. The government emphasized its commitment to peace, contingent on Pakistan's reciprocal actions, and has engaged with international partners to prevent further deterioration of regional stability.