On Wednesday, after the Indian armed forces successfully hit nine terrorist locations in Pakistan, the Pakistan Army responded with intense mortar shelling along the Line of Control (LOC) for the 13th day in a row. The Indian Air Force did the strikes without breaching Pakistani airspace, catching Pakistan’s military completely off guard with the operation starting at around 1:44 a.m. To avoid further escalation, the Ministry of Defence clarified that no Pakistani military installations were targeted during the strikes. 

“During the night of 06-07 May 2025, Pakistan Army resorted to arbitrary firing, including Artillery shelling from posts across the Line of Control and IB opposite J&K. Three innocent civilians lost their lives in indiscriminate firing or shelling. Indian Army is responding in a proportionate manner”, according to the defence statement.

Three civilians were killed in the Mankot area of Poonch district due to shelling from Pakistan. There have also been reports of civilian injuries, and the injured have been taken to the hospital for treatment. A statement from the defence ministry confirmed the launch of ‘Operation Sindoor’, saying, “Altogether, nine sites have been targeted. Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature." “No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in the selection of targets and the method of execution. These steps come in the wake of the barbaric Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were murdered. We are living up to the commitment that those responsible for this attack will be held accountable. There will be a detailed briefing on ‘OPERATION SINDOOR’, later today,” as per the statement.

Indian strikes have targeted several terrorist locations, including Muridke near Lahore, Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Indian Army declared, "Justice is Served. Jai Hind," in a post on X late at night after carrying out multiple attacks on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK as part of 'Operation Sindoor'. The targeted sites were linked to the planning and direction of attacks against India. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) confirmed in a release at 1:44 a.m. that nine sites were struck during the operation. Just moments before confirming the strikes, the Indian Army shared a video on X with the caption, “Ready to Strike, Trained to Win.” ‘Operation Sindoor’ took place 14 days after the terrorist attack at the tourist resort of Baisaran in Pahalgam, where the suspects are thought to have connections with Pakistan. Muridke and Bhawalpur are known to be the headquarters of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) group, where its leader, Masood Azhar, and other top commanders used to take refuge. Reports indicate that several loud explosions were heard in Muzaffarabad City in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), where various terrorist groups have established training camps and launch sites. The explosions caused a power outage in Muzaffarabad. Additionally, Kotli is another area with terror-related infrastructure, including camps and launch pads. 

Following the terror attacks, panic spread across Pakistan and PoJK, with announcements being made from the mosques. After the Indian Armed Forces carried out multiple strikes, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh posted on X, saying, “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.”

Following the strikes, reports indicated heavy shelling in the Krishna Ghati, Bhimber Gali, Lam, Mendhar, and Kupwara sectors along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. Since April 24, the Pakistan Army has been using small arms to target Indian positions, and artillery shelling was used on this day to violate the ceasefire in sectors including Karnah, Uri, Poonch, Rajouri, and Akhnoor. The Indian Air Force confirmed the closure of Srinagar International Airport, with no civilian flights operating. Due to the ongoing situation, the Divisional Commissioner of Jammu announced that all schools, colleges, and educational institutions in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, and Poonch would remain closed for the day. Similarly, the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir declared that schools and educational institutions in Baramulla, Kupwara, and Gurez would remain closed due to the prevailing circumstances. 

Following the operation, India has informed the U.S., the U.K., Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Russia about its airstrikes on targets in Pakistan’s Punjab province and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) early on Wednesday (May 7, 2025), according to government sources. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that India had “credible leads,” including eyewitness accounts and evidence pointing to Pakistan-based terrorist groups being involved, and these groups were the targets of the strikes. Leaders from all five countries that were briefed have been in contact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the past two weeks. India is also expecting a visit from Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday, though officials noted his arrival had been slowed by a few hours. 

A statement from the Indian Embassy in Washington, shared by the MEA, said, “India’s actions have been focused and precise. They were measured, responsible and designed to be non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani civilian, economic or military targets have been hit. Only known terror camps were targeted.” The MEA also stated that it had hoped “Pakistan would take action against terrorists and the infrastructure that supports them. Instead, during the fortnight that has gone by, Pakistan has indulged in denial and made allegations of false flag operations against India.” 

Marco Rubio shared a post on X, “I am monitoring the situation between India and Pakistan closely. I echo [U.S. President Trump’s] comments earlier today that this hopefully ends quickly and will continue to engage both Indian and Pakistani leadership towards a peaceful resolution.”

China, not among the countries briefed by the MEA, described the strikes as “regrettable.” On Wednesday morning, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson expressed, “We are concerned about the ongoing situation,” stating that China, as a neighbour to both India and Pakistan, “opposes all forms of terrorism.” The spokesperson called both countries to “exercise restraint and refrain from taking actions that may further complicate the situation.”