The recent conflict between India and Pakistan in May 2025 was triggered by a terrorist attack on April 22, 2025, in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, where militants killed 26 civilians, mostly Hindu tourists
. India accused Pakistan of supporting the militants responsible, which Pakistan denied, calling the attack a possible false flag operation
. In response, on May 7, 2025, India launched missile strikes inside Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir under "Operation Sindoor," targeting camps and infrastructure of militant groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e- Taiba
. India claimed to have killed over 100 militants, while Pakistan reported civilian casualties and said Indian strikes hit civilian areas including mosques
. This marked the deepest Indian strikes into Pakistan since the 1971 war and included the first drone battles between the two nuclear-armed neighbors
. Pakistan retaliated with its own missile strikes, "Operation Bunyan-un- Marsoos," targeting Indian military bases, which India said also hit civilian religious sites
. The conflict involved aerial strikes, drone attacks, and cross-border skirmishes, escalating tensions significantly
. Both countries accused each other of ceasefire violations amid a media misinformation campaign
. After four days of fighting, a ceasefire was agreed upon on May 10, 2025, following direct military communication between the two sides
. The ceasefire has held since, with some normalization such as resumed commercial flights, but the conflict has left bilateral relations severely strained and altered the traditional limits of their military engagement
. In summary, the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict was a rapid escalation triggered by a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir, leading to reciprocal missile and drone strikes, border skirmishes, and a fragile ceasefire after four days of intense hostilities
