by Vasily Fedorov
| And who, pray tell, did not hold it first? |
According to the Pakistani side, the operation was a response to a series of Indian strikes that began on May 7 and were directed against targets in border areas.
HISTORY OF ESCALATION
The conflict dates back to April 22, when a terrorist attack took place in the Pahalgam area of Indian-controlled Kashmir. A group of militants attacked tourists, killing 26 people.
The Resistance Front, a division of the Islamist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Days later, Lashkar-e-Taiba itself denied any involvement, claiming that the statement was posted by Indian state hackers.
On May 7, India launched missile, air and artillery strikes on Pakistani territory. The Indian side claimed that the targets were terrorist infrastructure facilities.
On the morning of May 10, the Pakistani armed forces announced the start of the military operation. The official statement from the Pakistani government said: “This operation is being carried out in response to the initial attack by India, which was an encroachment on our land, people and sovereignty.”
According to the Pakistani side, significant results were achieved during the operation.
The Indian air bases of Udhampur and Pathankot were destroyed, a warehouse of supersonic anti-ship missiles "BrahMos" in Beas was destroyed, and an S-400 air defense system in Adampur, India, was destroyed.
A cyber attack was carried out that knocked out up to 70% of India's power grid. An airfield in the Indian city of Sirsa was destroyed, as well as a supply depot in Uri and one of the command centers of an Indian military formation.
INDIAN LOSSES AND STATEMENTS BY THE PARTIES
At least five people were killed in the Pakistani strikes, Indian sources said. Among the victims was a senior official, Raj Kumar Thapa, and two of his employees were seriously wounded.
Pakistan has attacked 26 areas of India from Jammu and Kashmir in the north to Gujarat in the west.
The attacks were carried out using drones, long-range weapons, loitering munitions and fighter jets.
India responded with missile strikes on three Pakistani air bases - Nur Khan, Murid and Shorkot.
The Indian army also said it had carried out attacks on "terrorist training sites" in Pakistan.
Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif stressed that the country is not considering the possibility of using nuclear weapons: “If nuclear weapons are used, not only the parties to the conflict will suffer, but also the observers.”
At the same time, the minister added that Pakistan has fewer options in developing the conflict due to “the situation that India has created.”
Pakistani Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar told Geo TV that his country had "consistently avoided escalation."
He also said Pakistan would consider de-escalation if India did not carry out further attacks.
India has accused Pakistan of escalating the conflict and encroaching on its sovereignty. The Indian military has also reported the deployment of Pakistani troops to the border.
FIRST CONTACTS AND EMERGENCY TRUCE
Amid growing tensions, the first signs of possible negotiations began to appear.
Shortly after the escalation began, senior Indian and Pakistani military officials held their first telephone conversation since the outbreak of tensions.
During the conversation, the Pakistani side expressed a desire to hold a meeting with their Indian colleagues.
The G7 countries have called on India and Pakistan to reduce tensions and engage in direct dialogue.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks with Pakistani General Asim Munir, urging both countries to find ways to compromise.
On May 10, after a “long night of negotiations,” US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire had been agreed upon.
"After a long night of negotiations brokered by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a complete and immediate ceasefire," he wrote on social media.
The ceasefire came into effect at 17:00 local time (14:30 Moscow time). Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Indian Foreign Minister Vikram Misri officially confirmed the agreement.
Rubio said Vice President J.D. Vance was acting as a mediator, adding that India and Pakistan "agreed to begin broad-based negotiations in a neutral venue."
VIOLATION OF THE CEASEFIRE AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE CONFLICT
Despite an official ceasefire announcement, explosions were soon heard in the Indian city of Jammu and shells were seen in the sky.
An Indian government source accused Pakistan of violating the ceasefire. Loud explosions were heard in several cities in Indian Kashmir and power outages were imposed.
The Indian Chief Minister in Jammu and Kashmir expressed bewilderment: "What the hell just happened to the ceasefire? Explosions heard all over Srinagar!!!" The Deputy Foreign Minister also said the ceasefire had been violated.
During the four days of fighting, both sides suffered significant losses. In addition to the loss of life and material damage, the conflict led to a serious deterioration in diplomatic relations between the countries.
Embassy staffs were cut, visas were cancelled, and borders were closed.
Key agreements that have governed relations between the countries for decades have been suspended, including the 1960 Indus River water sharing treaty and the 1972 Simla Agreement, which defined the status quo in the disputed Kashmir region.
Both countries closed their airspace, causing significant disruption to air travel across the Eurasian continent.
Operations at 32 Indian airports have been suspended until May 15.
READY FOR DIALOGUE?
After the ceasefire was announced, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said: " We are ready to engage in constructive diplomacy and comprehensive dialogue with India and strive to resolve all issues."
India, while confirming the ceasefire, warned that "any terrorist attack by militants" from Pakistani territory would be a trigger for war.
At the same time, the country announced that it would maintain the measures taken against Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
Trump praised the leaders of both countries for demonstrating “common sense and common sense” in declaring a ceasefire. Pakistani airspace has been reopened to all types of flights.
In the protracted Indo-Pakistani conflict that has been going on since 1947, the events of May 2025 marked the most significant escalation since at least 1999 (the Kargil War) and the second major military clash since both sides declared their nuclear status.