Fifteen days after the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India has launched a missile strike on Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The Indian Army has codenamed the operation as "Operation Sindoor", targeting terror infrastructure believed to be responsible for plotting attacks on Indian soil.

According to Indian officials, the missile strikes hit locations in Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Gulpur, Kotli, Bhimber, Sialkot, Muridke, Chak Amru, and Bahawalpur. As per Indian media outlet Dainik Bhaskar, at least 30 people have been reported dead, with several areas severely impacted.

India Targets Terror Bases

In its official statement, the Indian Army said:

“This operation targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir from where terrorist activities were being planned and executed against India.”

The strikes were reportedly precise and aimed at training camps, safe houses, and logistic hubs used by militant groups.

Pakistan's Response

Reacting to the strike, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denied India’s claims and accused it of attacking civilian areas. In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Sharif wrote:

“India cowardly attacked five civilian locations in Pakistan. We have every right to respond and are doing so. The entire Pakistani nation stands united with its military.”

He also stated that Pakistan would not allow any enemy to achieve its objectives.

Civilian Casualties Claimed

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif alleged that India’s strikes hit civilian settlements, not terrorist hideouts. He said:

“They (India) claimed to target terrorist bases, but the truth is different. I urge international media to visit the locations and see for themselves – those were civilian neighborhoods. Two mosques were also struck, one child and one woman were killed.”

He added that out of the seven confirmed missile targets, two were in Kashmir and five in Pakistan – all civilian zones, according to him.

Eyewitness Accounts from the Ground

Speaking to the BBC, residents from Muzaffarabad described the horror of the attacks. A local named Shahnawaz said:

“We were asleep when the explosions shook our homes. We rushed outside with our families. Now we’re searching for a safe place.”

Another resident Mohammad Waheed, who lives near Bilal Mosque, said his house shook violently after the first explosion.

“Before we could make sense of anything, three more missiles hit nearby. Panic and fear have gripped the whole area,” he said, adding that dozens were injured.

International Reactions

U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking from the White House, called the incident “disgraceful.”

“We just learned about it as we were walking into the Oval Office. It’s disgraceful. We hope this ends soon,” he told reporters.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged both India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint.

“The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the escalation along the Line of Control and urges both countries to de-escalate. The world cannot afford another military confrontation between India and Pakistan,” his spokesperson said.

Kashmir Tense Again

The missile attacks have reignited tension across the Kashmir region. Reports suggest that women and children have been affected, with families displaced and seeking shelter.

The India-Pakistan relationship has been particularly strained since the April 22 Pahalgam attack, in which 26 tourists, including one Nepali national, were killed. India has accused Pakistan of aiding the attackers and violating ceasefire agreements.

With both countries exchanging words and fire, global powers are closely monitoring the situation, hoping that diplomacy prevails over further military escalation.