•Cross-Border Attacks Launched
New Delhi/Islamabad| A ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, brokered and announced on Saturday, has dramatically unraveled within hours of coming into force, plunging the region back into a dangerous cycle of military hostilities.
Reports of airstrikes, missile interceptions, and cross-border attacks have emerged from both sides, renewing fears of a broader regional confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
According to Indian officials, explosions and aerial threats were reported late Saturday in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Air defense systems responded with live fire, marking the first reported breach of the truce.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah confirmed the activity via social media, saying Indian forces were responding to “serious and credible aerial threats” near the Line of Control (LoC).
The ceasefire, scheduled to take effect at 5:00 p.m. local time, was jointly confirmed by both New Delhi and Islamabad earlier on Saturday following a high-profile announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump, who praised the agreement as a breakthrough in de-escalating one of the world’s most volatile flashpoints.
A Rapid Escalation
The ceasefire was short-lived. Just hours after it was declared, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyan Al Marsoos (“Unbreakable Wall”), a large-scale military campaign it described as a “measured retaliation” against India’s Operation Sindoor, which had targeted suspected militant infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar defended the offensive, claiming Islamabad had “no choice” but to respond to what it termed “blatant Indian aggression.”
The Pakistani military claimed to have struck several Indian air bases, including those in Pathankot and Udhampur, and reportedly destroyed a BrahMos missile storage facility in Vias.
Military spokesperson Maj. Gen. Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry confirmed that multiple Indian missile attacks had earlier targeted three Pakistani airbases, characterizing them as “an unprovoked assault on national sovereignty.”
He added that Pakistani air defenses had intercepted most incoming missiles and launched counterstrikes aimed at “neutralizing military threats.” One of India’s primary targets was said to be the Noor Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi, a key installation near Islamabad.
Indian Justifications and Counterstrikes
India, for its part, stated that its actions were in direct retaliation for a recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that killed 26 tourists.
The attack was claimed by The Resistance Front, a group with suspected links to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. Indian intelligence claimed to have traced communication hubs and operational planning of the attackers to locations inside Pakistan.
As part of its response, India reportedly launched precision airstrikes on Pakistani air defense radar sites, military depots, and suspected insurgent launch pads near the LoC. A statement from India’s Ministry of Defence said that all targets were “verified military objectives” and emphasized that care had been taken to avoid civilian casualties.
Indian air defenses, including the Russian-made S-400 systems, were activated to intercept incoming missiles and drone swarms.
Reports indicate that several Pakistani drones and missiles were successfully shot down, while retaliatory strikes were launched across the border shortly afterward.
Civilians Caught in the Crossfire
Initial casualty figures remain unverified, but early reports suggest at least 13 civilian deaths in Pakistan and five on the Indian side.
Images from commercial satellite providers indicate heavy troop movements and heightened military activity along the LoC, suggesting preparations for sustained engagement.
Pakistan also accused India of launching missiles that veered off course and struck areas in neighboring Afghanistan, a claim that has not yet been independently verified. Afghan officials have so far declined to comment.
International Reaction and Escalation Risks
Global powers have expressed alarm at the rapid breakdown of the ceasefire. The United States and China issued coordinated statements urging both countries to exercise restraint and return to diplomatic channels.
President Trump, whose administration had helped facilitate the brief truce, called the collapse of the agreement “deeply concerning” and urged both parties to “pull back from the brink.”
Military analysts warn that the current situation is among the most dangerous escalations in the subcontinent since the 2019 Pulwama-Balakot crisis. The presence of nuclear weapons on both sides continues to raise concerns of a catastrophic miscalculation.
“The post-ceasefire strikes mark a sharp turn toward sustained conflict,” said Rakesh Sharma, a retired Indian general and security analyst. “We’re no longer in the realm of surgical strikes or limited operations. The scale and coordination indicate a more strategic military calculus.”
Meanwhile, Pakistani analysts suggest the operation reflects a “doctrinal shift” in Islamabad’s military posture. “Pakistan is signaling that it will not absorb Indian strikes without consequence,” said Ayesha Jalal, a South Asia historian and political commentator.
Looking Ahead
With diplomacy now stalled and both militaries on high alert, the situation remains precarious. Experts warn that the longer the confrontation continues, the harder it will be to de-escalate. The LoC, historically a powder keg, is once again witnessing direct combat—this time under the shadow of failed diplomacy.
Despite mounting calls for restraint, neither side appears willing to retreat. Without urgent international mediation and renewed political will, South Asia may be edging closer to a conflict with global implications.
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