Escalating Tensions: Pakistan Launches Retaliatory Military Operation Against India
In a significant escalation of tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, Pakistan launched a retaliatory military operation against India early on Saturday, targeting multiple bases including a missile storage site in northern India. According to reports from The Guardian, the Pakistani military said the operation, dubbed Operation Bunyan Ul Marsoos, an Arabic phrase meaning “wall of lead”, was in response to Indian missile strikes on Pakistani air bases earlier that day.
The Pakistani military officials told state-run media that the Pathankot military airfield in Punjab and Udhampur air force base in Indian-administered Kashmir were among the targets, with loud explosions heard from both. This development comes after Pakistan said India had fired missiles from fighter jets at three air bases, including one close to the capital, Islamabad. Pakistani air defences reportedly intercepted most of the missiles, but the strikes caused panic in the densely populated area, with residents running into the streets.
The Indian military had launched a series of strikes inside Pakistan on what it called militant bases, sparking daily clashes between the two countries since Wednesday. According to The Guardian, at least 48 people have been killed since Wednesday, although casualty estimates on both sides of the border have not been independently verified. The dramatic flare-up comes after a deadly attack on Hindu tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir last month, when 26 civilians were killed. India has accused Pakistan of supporting militants behind the attack.
In response to the escalating tensions, Pakistan prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, called a meeting of the National Command Authority, the top body of civilian and military officials that takes security decisions including those related to the country’s nuclear arsenal. The authority’s meeting was convened to discuss the situation and potential next steps. Following Saturday’s strikes, Pakistan shut down its air space, adding to the sense of unease in the region.
India’s defence and foreign ministries did not immediately comment on the strikes, but India’s military said it had actively begun large-scale mobilisation of additional forces to the border, including activating its reserve territorial army (TA), to ensure full operational strength of the army in the event of any further conflict escalation. This move has raised concerns about the potential for further escalation, with the G7 calling for an “immediate de-escalation” and “maximum restraint” between India and Pakistan.
The G7 foreign ministers said in a statement on Saturday that “further military escalation poses a serious threat to regional stability.” As the situation continues to unfold, international leaders are urging caution and restraint from both sides. The ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan have significant implications for regional security, and The Guardian will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
The confrontation between India and Pakistan has been a longstanding one, with the two countries locked in a dispute over Kashmir. The current escalation marks the steepest confrontation in decades, bringing the two countries to the closest they have been to war in nearly three decades. As the situation continues to deteriorate, it remains to be seen how the international community will respond to the crisis. One thing is certain, however: the people of the region are bracing themselves for the worst.
The escalating tensions have sparked concerns about the potential humanitarian consequences of a full-blown conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations. According to The Guardian, India and Pakistan have engaged in several wars and skirmishes over the years, with the Kashmir dispute at the heart of the conflict. As the situation continues to unfold, it is essential that both sides exercise restraint and work towards a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
