By Asmita - May 13, 2025
The Pahalgam attack on April 22, 2025, led to significant tensions between India and Pakistan. The attack, claimed by the Resistance Front (TRF) but with suspicions of cross-border involvement, resulted in diplomatic and military escalations. India's retaliation through Operation Sindoor targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoJK), signaling a new policy of holding terrorists and state sponsors equally accountable.
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The April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack marked a turning point in India’s ongoing conflict with terrorism and its relationship with Pakistan. Five armed militants stormed a tourist site in Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam, killing 26 civilians-mainly Hindu tourists, but also a Christian and a local Muslim who tried to resist the attackers. The Resistance Front (TRF), linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility before retracting, while Indian investigations pointed to Pakistani nationals among the suspects, deepening suspicions of cross-border involvement.
The massacre triggered a wave of outrage across India and led to swift diplomatic and military escalations. India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and expelled Pakistani diplomats, while Pakistan retaliated by suspending the Simla Agreement and closing its airspace. The diplomatic fallout stranded hundreds on both sides of the border and heightened fears of further violence, as both nations accused each other of supporting terrorism and violating international agreements.
In response, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, a series of deep military strikes targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoJK). The operation destroyed nine high-value launchpads linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen, and marked a doctrinal shift by striking deep inside Pakistan’s mainland, including strategic areas like Punjab province and Bahawalpur. This move signaled India’s new policy of holding both terrorists and their state sponsors equally accountable, discarding previous distinctions.
Operation Sindoor also marked a new “red line” in India’s counterterrorism doctrine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized decisive retaliation, a zero-tolerance stance on nuclear blackmail, and no distinction between terror sponsors and terrorists. The operation showcased India’s advanced military coordination and sent a clear warning to Pakistan that state-sponsored terrorism would now invite visible and proportional retaliation, fundamentally altering the security landscape in South Asia.
