Echoes of the Line: Ceasefire Shaken as India Strikes Back at Pakistan

 

By Special Correspondent
May 12, 2025 | New Delhi / Islamabad

In a dramatic escalation along the volatile Line of Control (LoC), India has launched a series of precision strikes against Pakistani military positions, claiming to have neutralized 35 to 40 enemy combatants in what officials described as "retaliatory action" for ceasefire violations. The strikes—part of Operation Sindoor—have once again pushed the decades-old India-Pakistan conflict to the global stage, raising fears of a wider military flare-up despite a ceasefire pact signed just days earlier, on May 10.

Background: A Fragile Pact Fractured

On May 10, India and Pakistan agreed to a fresh ceasefire along the LoC following months of backchannel diplomacy. The truce, brokered with quiet support from international actors, was seen as a positive step after a prolonged period of skirmishes and diplomatic frost. However, within 48 hours, Indian intelligence reported renewed shelling and infiltration attempts on multiple forward posts in Jammu & Kashmir’s Poonch and Rajouri sectors.

According to Indian Army sources, the decision to retaliate was made after it became clear that the ceasefire had been "deliberately violated" by Pakistani forces.

Operation Sindoor: Targeting the Architects of Terror

Launched under high secrecy, Operation Sindoor was a coordinated aerial and ground offensive involving drones, missiles, and special forces units. Indian military spokesperson Lt. Gen. A.K. Malhotra confirmed that the operation was aimed at "neutralizing high-value targets" involved in past terror attacks, including:

• The masterminds behind the 1999 IC-814 hijacking,

• Perpetrators of the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing, and

• Individuals linked to recent cross-border drone incursions.

Lt. Gen. Malhotra stated: “This was not just retaliation—it was a calibrated message. Those who shelter and sponsor terrorism will be held accountable, regardless of geography.”

Diplomatic Fallout and Hotline Diplomacy

Following the strikes, India reportedly sent a hotline message to Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), highlighting the ceasefire breaches and reiterating its commitment to peace—if reciprocated in good faith. The Pakistani government, while denying any violations on its part, has condemned the Indian action as "an unprovoked act of aggression."

A statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Office called the Indian strikes “reckless” and warned of “consequences that could destabilize regional peace.”

Global Reactions and Regional Uncertainty

International reactions have been swift. The United Nations has urged both nations to exercise “maximum restraint,” while the United States and European Union have called for renewed dialogue. China, a key regional player with strategic ties to both nations, has offered to mediate.

The Road Ahead

As the situation remains tense, both militaries have heightened their alert levels. Inhabitants of border villages have been advised to remain indoors, with emergency bunkers opened in several districts.

While the Indian government has maintained that it seeks peace, not provocation, analysts believe the latest strikes signal a hardened stance. “New Delhi is no longer content with just diplomacy—it’s demonstrating the will to act decisively,” says Dr. Meera Rao, a senior fellow at the South Asia Institute.

Whether the ceasefire can be salvaged now depends on what comes next—calm heads or further firepower.