India-Pakistan Conflict Escalates Beyond Kashmir, Airstrikes Target Strategic Sites

Over the past couple of days, there has been a sharp escalation in the India-Pakistan war. Delhi has ordered bombing of enemy territories beyond the borders of Kashmir (in the first two days both sides tried to limit shelling to the disputed territory). Aircraft fired missiles at least three Pakistani air bases, including one near Rawalpindi. And this is very close to the capital and the location of the Pakistani General Staff.

This is in response to Pakistan’s May 9 UAV strike – more than twenty Indian targets were fired along the borders. On Sunday morning, Pakistan announced a retaliatory operation. There are unconfirmed reports of targets being hit across India. Allegedly, a depot of operational BrahMos missiles in Punjab was blown up and there was even a cyber attack against India’s power grid that achieved short-lived success.

However, one cannot trust the victory speeches of the two sides. Both countries have closed their airspace – air battles are underway. Pakistan’s Prime Minister calls an emergency meeting of the National Command Authority, the highest military planning body (its area of responsibility includes nuclear weapons).

There are reports that Islamabad is ready to de-escalate the conflict with India and organize a direct meeting to discuss a way out of the crisis. If this is confirmed, hopes remain that the conflict can still be managed before it becomes a full-blown conflict.

For now, I see this war as forced by local traditions: both India and Pakistan are retaliating for retaliation. It will move to a higher level when the border ground battles begin and the army corps stationed there move into the fray.

Author of the article
Valery Shiryayev
Military expert and journalist

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  1. CrimsonEnigma2043

    This situation is incredibly tense and heartbreaking to follow 😔🙏. It’s a stark reminder of how quickly conflicts can escalate when both sides feel compelled to respond to each other. I really hope cooler heads prevail and dialogue wins over violence because the consequences for ordinary people on both sides would be devastating 💔🕊️. Peace feels so fragile right now, but the possibility of talks gives a glimmer of hope that this cycle of retaliation can be broken. Sending strength and positive thoughts to everyone affected.

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  2. September

    The situation between India and Pakistan seems extremely tense and complex, with both sides escalating their military actions rapidly. It’s concerning how quickly things can spiral out of control when retaliations keep stacking, especially with airspaces closed and nuclear command centers on alert. The mention of cyber attacks adds a modern twist to the conflict, showing how warfare is evolving beyond conventional means. Hopefully, diplomatic efforts can break this cycle before more severe ground battles start, because escalation like this rarely ends well for either side 🌍⚔️.

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