India-Pakistan Military Tensions Escalate: Reports of Air Base Strikes Signal Renewed Hostilities

New Delhi/Islamabad —
Tensions between India and Pakistan have reached a boiling point in early May 2025, as unconfirmed reports and escalating rhetoric point toward a dangerous new phase in the historically fraught relationship between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. A flurry of overnight missile and drone strikes was reportedly carried out by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on multiple Pakistani airbases, signalling a potential reawakening of open conflict in the subcontinent.

Background: A Spark Ignited in Kashmir

The latest confrontation stems from the deadly April 22nd attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, where a tourist bus was targeted in an IED blast near the Anantnag-Pahalgam road, killing 26 civilians and injuring dozens. The Indian government quickly blamed Pakistan-backed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba for orchestrating the attack. Intelligence sources cited intercepted communications and financial transactions linking the attackers to handlers across the border.

In the days that followed, India’s political and military leadership promised a “decisive response.” Public sentiment surged in favour of military retaliation, evoking memories of the 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot air raid.

The Strikes: Targets Across Pakistan

According to open-source intelligence and regional media, the IAF carried out coordinated strikes on the night of May 7th and early hours of May 8th under what sources are calling “Operation Sindoor.” The operation reportedly involved advanced Rafale fighter jets and Mirage 2000 aircraft equipped with SCALP cruise missiles and precision-guided munitions like the Hammer bomb.

The reported targets included key military installations and suspected terror infrastructure deep within Pakistani territory. The following airbases and locations were allegedly struck:

• PAF Base Rafiqui (Shorkot)
• Chaklala Air Base (Rawalpindi)
• PAF Base Rahim Yar Khan
• Sukkur Military Facility
• Chunian Ammunition Depot
• Pasrur Airstrip (near Sialkot)
• Military compounds around Sialkot and Bahawalpur

Sources in New Delhi suggest the primary objective was the destruction of launchpads and command centres linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, both of which India considers transnational terror threats with links to the Pakistani military-intelligence ecosystem.

Pakistan’s Response: Vows of Retaliation and Denial

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) acknowledged drone incursions near several military installations but denied any significant damage, calling India’s claims “baseless and propagandistic.” In a televised statement, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared:

“Pakistan reserves the right to respond at a time and place of its choosing. Any act of aggression will be met with full force.”

Pakistan also announced the activation of “Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos,” a counter-strike protocol aimed at deterring further Indian escalation. Fighter jets were reportedly scrambled from bases in Multan and Sargodha, and several anti-air defence systems were activated across southern Punjab and Sindh.

Unverified local reports suggest Pakistan may have targeted Indian artillery positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in retaliation.

Casualties and Damage: Conflicting Reports

While India has not officially released casualty numbers, unofficial defense sources claim over 100 militants were neutralized in the strikes. Among the dead were reportedly senior aides to Jaish-e-Mohammed founder Masood Azhar and family members residing in safe houses.

Pakistan has disputed these claims, asserting that only civilian infrastructure suffered damage due to the misfiring of Indian drones and cruise missiles.

International monitoring agencies, including satellite imagery analysts, have detected signs of fire and structural damage at several Pakistani facilities consistent with the reported strike zones. However, due to restrictions on media access and the sensitive nature of the conflict, independent verification remains limited.

Ceasefire Under Strain: International Community Steps In

As global concern mounted, the United States, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia moved quickly to mediate a ceasefire. A U.S.-brokered agreement was reached late on May 9th, with both sides agreeing to halt cross-border operations.

However, hours after the agreement, India accused Pakistan of violating the ceasefire through artillery shelling in Poonch and alleged sightings of surveillance drones near Samba in Jammu.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs released a terse statement:

“Despite our adherence to the ceasefire, Pakistani elements continue to violate the sanctity of the agreement. We urge our counterparts to de-escalate in good faith.”

What Comes Next?

This latest chapter in Indo-Pak tensions highlights the ever-present volatility in South Asia. While full-scale war remains unlikely due to international diplomatic pressure and nuclear deterrence, the potential for miscalculation remains high. Both nations are politically invested in projecting strength, especially as India heads into regional elections and Pakistan grapples with internal unrest and economic instability.

Observers fear that if further provocations occur, a wider escalation could draw in external powers and severely impact regional stability.

Source : CNBCTV18