In the stillness of night, across the heavily militarised and politically volatile border between India and Pakistan, a barrage of missiles lit up the sky...
COVER STORY
In the stillness of night, across the heavily militarised and politically volatile border between India and Pakistan, a barrage of missiles lit up the sky - not towards combatants, but towards the vulnerable. The Indian strikes on 7 May, which they dubbed ‘Operation Sindoor’, mark not just a moment of military aggression but a dangerous descent into symbolic warfare, where gendered grief is weaponised and civilians - particularly women and children - become expendable markers in nationalist narratives.
The choice of name is telling. Sindoor, the red vermilion powder traditionally worn by married Hindu women, is a loaded cultural symbol. It signifies marital status, devotion and - in this context - widowhood. The Indian government’s use of the term signalled its desire to avenge the image of a woman widowed by the 22 April Pahalgam attack, an incident in Kashmir which India blamed on Pakistan without providing any evidence and without taking up Pakistan’s offer of a joint investigation. The spilled sindoor, echoed in their social media visuals, resembles blood not just metaphorically, but literally - and ominously.
India used this image to justify new acts of aggression. Their media stirred frenzy for revenge to the extent that the killing of children was hailed by their press and public, as evident from the comments made by Indian people on social media.
The Indian strikes deep within Pakistani territory, targeting areas near Muridke and Shakargarh - far from any battlefield, closer to homes, lives and dreams - clearly demonstrate their callous disregard for civilian lives. This was not about defending their country; it was dramaturgy with a payload.
Pakistan, for its part, responded not only with diplomatic firmness but with clarity: the protection of civilians was non-negotiable to our leadership. Retaliation did not mirror provocation. Silence, however, was not an option for us, and would have been equally dangerous. Our armed forces responded to the cowardly attacks intelligently and efficiently, targeting military assets with precision and destroying the pride of the Indian Air Force, the Rafale jets, with J-10C jets, which broke the proverbial camel’s back.
Long live Pakistan!
By Us desk
Since partition in 1947, Pakistan and India have gone to war many times. The repeated conflicts with India can be traced to a combination of historical grievances and territorial disputes since their creation in 1947. The central and enduring issue between Pakistan and India has always been the status of Kashmir. Following Partition in 1947, the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, with a Muslim-majority population, became a major point of contention. Pakistan believed that Kashmir, with its Muslim demographic, should have acceded to Pakistan. However, the Hindu ruler of Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, chose to join India. This led to the first war in 1947-48. Despite a UN-brokered ceasefire, the Kashmir issue remained unresolved to-date. Since then, Pakistan has fought India to defend its sovereignty many times.
Here’s a brief timeline of Pakistan-India wars and major skirmishes…
Oct 22 1947-48: First Kashmir War
Following partition, the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, with a Muslim-majority population, was expected by Pakistan to join it. However, the Maharaja acceded to India against the wishes of the Muslim majority. Pakistan saw it as a betrayal of Kashmiri Muslims’ right to self-determination. Tribal fighters from Pakistan's side entered Kashmir and India sent troops after the accession. A UN-brokered ceasefire established the Line of Control (LoC). Pakistan gained control of Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, while India retained the rest of the territory.
6 Sept 1965: Second Kashmir War
India attacked Pakistan because of the unresolved dispute over Kashmir. Pakistan Army responded heroically. Ceasefire was mediated by the Soviet Union and USA and the Tashkent Agreement was signed.
3 Dec 1971: Indo-Pak War & creation of Bangladesh
India supported Bengali separatists (Mukti Bahini) and launched full military intervention, leading to the creation of Bangladesh.
13 April 1984: Siachen conflict
India occupied key passes in the Siachen glacier region. Pakistan viewed this as breach of Simla Agreement. Pakistan continues to contest the occupation.
3 May 1999: Kargil conflict
Pakistani soldiers and Kashmiri fighters fought Indian army in Kargil. Fierce battles occurred at high altitudes and international pressure mounted. It was considered as a bold move, highlighting the Kashmir issue.
18 Sept 2016: Uri attack and ‘surgical strikes’
India blamed Pakistan for attack on Indian army base in Uri, Kashmir, and claimed cross-border ‘surgical strikes’. Pakistan denied any such incursion occurred. Tensions rose, but there was no war. Pakistan dismissed Indian claims as media dramatics and called for UN investigations.
14 Feb 2019: Pulwama attack
Suicide bombing in Pulwama killed 40 Indian paramilitary personnel. India blamed Jaish-e-Mohammed, based in Pakistan. India bombed Balakot and Pakistan responded with air strikes, downing an Indian fighter jet and capturing its pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. The outcome was de-escalation through diplomatic channels. Pakistan denied involvement in the Pulwama attack and viewed India's strikes as violation of sovereignty. The captured pilot's return shows Pakistan’s moral superiority.
April 22, 2025 - Pahalgam attack
A terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Indian Occupied Kashmir, resulted in the deaths of 28 civilians, predominantly Hindu tourists. The Resistance Front (TRF), linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility but later retracted, citing a hack. India accused Pakistan of supporting the attackers, which Pakistan denied.
13 Dec 2001-2002: Military standoff
India claimed its parliament was attacked by Pakistan-based groups. Pakistan denied involvement and stressed need for dialogue over confrontation. There was a massive troop build-up along the border, and threat of war loomed for a time. There was no full-scale war and finally diplomatic de-escalation averted the threat of war.
May 7, 2025 - Operation Sindoor
India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, a series of 14 precision strikes over 23 minutes targeting multiple locations in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Punjab province. Targets included cities of Bahawalpur and Muridke. India utilized Rafale jets equipped with SCALP missiles and AASM Hammer bombs, as well as SkyStriker loitering munitions.
Pakistan accused India of targeting civilian areas and responded with drone and missile strikes. Pakistan has reported shooting down five warplanes and several Indian drones.
The situation remains volatile. Cross-border shelling has continued, with troops of both countries firing across the Line of Control (LoC) despite a ceasefire brokered by USA that ended the hostilities on 10 May.
Pakistan dedicates Al-Fateh missiles in ongoing counterattack to martyred children
