This article is about the diplomatic crisis following the 2025 Pahalgam attack. For the escalation that began on 7 May 2025, see2025 India–Pakistan conflict.
Following thePahalgam terrorist attack on 22 April 2025, a crisis emerged betweenIndia andPakistan,[4] sparked by the killing of 26 tourists by the militants inKashmir.The Resistance Front (TRF) initially claimed responsibility for the attack.[10][11] Armed skirmishes between India and Pakistan were reported along theLine of Control (LoC) beginning on 24 April. On 7 May 2025, India launched missile strikes in Pakistan, leading to amilitary conflict between the two countries. On 7 May 2025 Pakistan's Army responded by launching a blitz onPoonch,Jammu killing 16 civilians and leaving hundreds of homes destroyed.[12][13] A ceasefire was announced on 10 May 2025 following an agreement between India and Pakistan.[14]
The crisis emerged between the two countries after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, as India accused Pakistan of sponsoring the militants, leading Pakistan to deny its involvement and state they would be willing to cooperate with an international inquiry.[15] India responded to the attack by expelling Pakistani diplomats, recalling its diplomatic staff, cutting off visa services, and suspending theIndus Waters Treaty.[1] Pakistan initially responded with trade restrictions, closure of airspace and border crossings, and suspension of theShimla Agreement.[4] Between 24 April and 6 May, Pakistan and India engaged in skirmishes including cross-border firing and intermittent artillery shelling.[16]
On 7 May 2025, India launched missile strikes on Pakistan, codenamedOperation Sindoor. According to India, the missile strikes targeted the militant groupsJaish-e-Mohammed andLashkar-e-Taiba. According to Pakistan, the Indian strikes targeted civilian areas, including mosques, killing 31 Pakistani civilians. In return, said they had downed a number of Indian jets and damaged Indian infrastructure. It was believed to be the heaviest shelling attack since theIndo-Pakistani war of 1971.[17] On early 10 May 2025, Pakistan launched their retaliatory operation codenamed Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos and military hostilities continued until a ceasefire was reached on late 10 May 2025.[18]
On 22 April 2025, aterrorist[20][21][22] attack at Baisaran Valley nearPahalgam in theAnantnag district of Indian-administeredJammu and Kashmir killed at least 26 tourists and injured more than 20 others.[23][24] According to eyewitness testimonies provided to Indian media outlets, assailants reportedly questioned potential victims about their religious identity before opening fire, specifically targeting non-Muslims.[25] All tourists killed were Hindus,[26] except for one identified as a Christian.[27][28]
The attack became among the deadliest attacks against Indian civilians in the region since 2000.The Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be an offshoot of the Pakistan-based,UN-designated terrorist groupLashkar-e-Taiba,[11][29][10] initially claimed responsibility. They stated that the attack was in opposition toIndian government policy allowing Indian citizens to live and work in Kashmir, resulting in non-local settlement in the region.[30][29] Four days later, they retracted their claim.[31]
Diplomatic crisis
On the night of 23 April 2025, the Indianforeign secretaryVikram Misri held a special press briefing after a meeting with theCCS. He announced India's decision to temporarily suspend theIndus Waters Treaty with Pakistan with immediate effect until Pakistan ceases its support for cross-border terrorism.[32] He further announced the closure of the integrated check post atAttari–Wagah Border, a travel ban for all Pakistani nationals to India under theSAARC Visa Exemption Scheme, and cancellation of all previously issued visas. Additionally, Pakistani military advisers at thePakistan High Commission in New Delhi were expelled, while their Indian counterparts inIslamabad were withdrawn, and the staff strength of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad was reduced from 55 to a minimum of 30. The posts of such military advisors were deemed abolished.[33][34]
Pakistan'sforeign ministry expressed condolences to the families of the victims,[35] and its defense minister,Khawaja Asif, dismissed the allegations of his country's involvement in the attack and regarded such events as revolutions.[36][37] However, in an interview withSky News, while responding to allegations of terrorism, Asif said that Pakistan had backed terrorist activities at the direction ofUnited States,Britain and theWest going back three decades.[38][39]
Pakistan responded to the suspension of the treaty by describing it as inappropriate and lacking seriousness.[40] Pakistan also warned India of a comprehensive retaliation in response to the actions announced by the Indian government in the aftermath of the incident,[41] further stating that any action affecting water resources would be considered an act of war.[42][43] On 24 April, Pakistan suspended visas issued to Indian nationals and closed its airspace to Indian aircraft, expelled Indian diplomats and instructed Indian military advisers to depart the country no later than the 30 April.[44] However, theKartarpur Corridor remained open for Sikh pilgrims.[45] Pakistan also cut off all trade with India.[46] Pakistan also suspended theSimla Agreement, on 24 April 2025 in retaliation.[47][48] TheAttari–Wagah border ceremony was also reduced and the symbolic handshake did not take place.[49][50] Cross-border families were affected where their visas revoked.[51][52][53][54][55]
A jointcordon and search operation was initiated by theIndian Army,paramilitary forces, andJammu and Kashmir Police. A temporary lockdown was imposed in Pahalgam, andIndian Army helicopters were deployed to track down the militants, who reportedly fled to the upper reaches of thePir Panjal range.[56][57] On 25 April, soldiers demolished the family residences of two individuals suspected of involvement in the Pahalgam attack.[25] An Indian soldier was killed and two other soldiers wounded during a gunfight withinsurgents in the Basantgarh region ofUdhampur.[58] SeniorLashkar-e-Taiba Commander Altaf Lalli was also killed in the gunfight.[59]
Both Pakistani and Indian air forces conducted intensive flights near the LoC.[60] An IndianBorder Security Force soldier belonging to the 182nd battalion of the BSF was captured byPakistan Rangers after he accidentally entered the Pakistani side of theFerozepur border.[61][62][63]
Also on 24 April, theIndian XV Corps reported that it had thwarted an infiltration attempt by insurgents nearUri and killed 2 insurgents.[64]
Between 24 April and 5 May, Indian and Pakistani army engaged in skirmishes and exchanged small arms firing.[25][65][66][16][67] Reportedly, Pakistan's army initiatedsmall arms firing across various sectors along the LoC,[68] which was described as "unprovoked" by Indian media.[69][70][71] The Pakistani army stated it shot down two Indian military quadcopter drones along the LoC in the Satwal sector and in theManawar sector ofBhimber district.[72][73][74][75]
On 28 April, Pakistani Defense Minister Asif stated that an attack from the Indian armed forces was "imminent".[76] On 30 April, Pakistan claimed it has "credible intelligence" that India is going to launch military action within several hours.[77] On the night of 29 April, Pakistani forces opened fire on theinternational border along Kashmir.[78][79] On 1 May, IndianHome MinisterAmit Shah said that no terrorist involved in the attack would be spared by India.[80]
On 3 May, a soldier from thePakistan Rangers was captured byBSF after crossing the border to India.[81]
On 5 May, the IndianMinistry of Home Affairs announced an "effective civil defence in the event of a hostile attack" on 7 May across 7states. Such drills were last conducted by India during1971. As per reports, the drill includes operationalisation of Air Raid Warning Sirens, crash blackout measures, training of civilians on civil defence and evacuation plans.[82][83]
Release of river water
Following the suspension of theIndus Waters Treaty of 1960 on 23 April 2025, local media in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, reported on 26 and 27 April that India had released water from the Uri Dam into the Jhelum River unannounced, resulting in flooding.[84][85] Additional reports indicated a sharp decline in water levels of theChenab River inSialkot, Pakistan, with satellite imagery showing significant drying of the riverbed.[86] On 4 May 2025, India had closed the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River and was planning a similar move at the Kishanganga Dam on the Neelum River.[87][88]
On the night of 6/7 May, India launched "Operation Sindoor", striking what it described as "terrorist infrastructure" in Pakistan.[89] The operation lasted 23 minutes and consisted of missile strikes byIAF jets.Rajnath Singh,Minister of Defence (India), said on 8 May that at least 100 militants had been killed in the strikes.[90]
According to India, the missile strikes of Operation Sindoor targeted the camps and infrastructure of militant groupsJaish-e-Mohammed andLashkar-e-Taiba, and no Pakistani military facilities were targeted. According to Pakistan, the Indian strikes targeted civilian areas, including mosques, killing 31 Pakistani civilians. Following these strikes, border skirmishes and drone strikes occurred between the two countries. Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar accepted that 10 members of his family and four of his aides were killed in India's airstrikes on the group's headquarters at the Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur.[91]
On 7 May, Pakistan's army launched mortar shells on the border district ofPoonch in the Hindu-majority Jammu region.[92] It was considered the worst shelling attack of the ongoing armed conflict in over 50 years, and the heaviest shelling attack since theIndo-Pakistani war of 1971.[17] Indian sources claimed it killed one Indian soldier, 16 civilians, including 12-year-old twins, and leaving 43 wounded,[12] and destroyed 31 schools,[13][12] hundreds of homes, and aSikh temple and itsragi.[13][92]
In retaliation, on 10 May, Pakistan launched an operation codenamed "Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos" targeting several Indian military bases.[93] India also continued Operation Sindoor, expanding its scope to target Pakistani military installations.[94] This conflict marked the first drone battle between the two nuclear-armed nations.[95]
Ceasefire
After three days of the conflict, both India and Pakistan announced that a ceasefire was agreed, effective from 5:00 pmIST/04:30 pmPKT (11:30 UTC) on 10 May, with talks set for 12 May.[96][97] Following the deadline, both countries accused each other of violating the ceasefire agreement.[98]
TheUnited Nations urged both sides to have "maximum restraint" and to resolve the issues diplomatically.[99]
Iran
On 25 April, theIslamic Republic of Iran proposed to mediate a solution aiming at de-escalation between Pakistan and India.[100]
Russia
Russia issued a travel advisory in April 2025, warning its citizens against traveling to Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir. The advisory cited increased security risks in the region.[101]
United States
TheU.S. State Department updated its travel advisory, issuing a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" warning for India'sJammu and Kashmir, citing high risks of terrorism and civil unrest.[102] Additionally, the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi confirmed it is closely monitoring the situation and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice, reaffirming its support for India's counterterrorism efforts.[103][104] On 26 April 2025, PresidentDonald Trump downplayed the diplomatic crisis, stating that the two nations "had that fight for 1,500 years", despite the fact that theKashmir crisis started in 1947.[105][106]United States Secretary of StateMarco Rubio stated that he is closely monitoring the situation after being advised byNational Security Advisor of IndiaAjit Doval via phonecall after Operation Sindoor.[107]
On 10 May, a few days after Vice President JD Vance stated the conflict was "none of our business", President Trump first announced the ceasefire on social media, claiming the US had an active role in mediating the agreement.[108][109] While Pakistan acknowledged American involvement, Indian officials maintained the agreement had been reached directly between the two countries.[110]
The Indian airstrikes targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, including a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) camp inBahawalpur. This camp was historically linked to the 2002 abduction and murder ofWall Street Journal reporterDaniel Pearl. The operation reportedly resulted in the death ofAbdul Rauf Azhar, a senior JeM commander and brother ofMasood Azhar, who was implicated in Pearl's beheading.[111][112][113]
India
The Government of India subsequently enacted a ban on several Pakistan-basedYouTube channels for spreading provocative and communally sensitive content, as well as false narratives targeting the country, its Army, and security agencies, as well as a ban onInstagram accounts of several Pakistani celebrities.[114][115]
As of 8 May 2025, the escalation has caused significant disruptions in air travel across the region. India has closed 27 airports in its northern and western regions until 10 May, resulting in the cancellation of over 430 flights. Major Indian airlines, includingAir India,IndiGo, andSpiceJet, have suspended operations to and from affected areas. International carriers such asLufthansa,KLM,Singapore Airlines, andThai Airways have rerouted flights to avoid Pakistani airspace, leading to longer travel times and delays on routes between Europe and Asia. Pakistan has also suspended flights from key airports, includingKarachi,Lahore, andSialkot, until further notice. The situation remains fluid, with both countries' airspaces experiencing closures and reroutings, impacting global aviation networks.[116][117]
In late July, more than two months after the actual crisis and subsequent four-day long conflict concluded, India's defence minister stated in an Indian parliament discussion that the military operations were halted only after it was ascertained by the Indian side that its political and military objectives were achieved, rejecting the claims made by U.S. President Donald Trump that he was part of mediation.[118] On 29 July 2025, during aLok Sabha debate, Prime MinisterNarendra Modi asserted that no world leader had asked India to halt the military operation, dismissing suggestions of foreign intervention. Modi stated that the ceasefire, implemented on 10 May, followed a request from Pakistan and reiterated that India's actions were non-escalatory. He also revealed that U.S. Vice President JD Vance had attempted to contact him on the night of 9 May but was unable to reach him as Modi was in a meeting with the armed forces.[119]
Pakistan
In May 2025 a coalition of Pakistani actors includingAdnan Siddiqui andGhulam Mohiuddin called for peace talks, emphasising the urgent need for dialogue and understanding to foster harmony and resolve conflict.[120][121]
Nepal
On 9 May 2025, a peace group held a mass demonstration to demand peace.[122]
China
In July 2025, Chinese air force chief Lt. Gen. Wang Gang visited Pakistan to learn how Islamabad had used Chinese equipment to put together the "kill chain” for the Rafale.[123]
TheUnited States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Commissioner condemned the killing of Indian tourists in the Kashmir terrorist attack in April 2025 stating “We are deeply concerned by the explicit targeting of Hindus and other non-Muslims”.[126]
China's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, urged for de-escalation between the two countries.[127] Bangladesh and UAE supported peace talks.[128][129]
India
Pakistan
