Tensions between nuclear-armed Pakistan and India reached a dramatic peak as Pakistan launched a Fatah-1 ballistic missile at India’s Udhampur Airbase, marking a significant escalation in their ongoing military standoff.
Pakistani military footage showed the precise launch of the Fatah-1 missile, a surface-to-surface guided tactical missile, as part of a larger operation named Bunyan ul Marsoos. Islamabad claimed the missile successfully struck key Indian military sites, including an airbase and a brigade command post. However, India countered that it had intercepted the missile and downplayed the extent of the damage.
Read more: ‘Operation Bunyan ul Marsoos:’ Pakistan Destroys India’s Udhampur and Pathankot Airbases
Pakistani officials referred to the missile strike as a “measured response” to Indian airstrikes launched on Pakistani positions the previous Saturday. The Ministry of Defence emphasized that the strike was meant to demonstrate Pakistan’s readiness to retaliate with force.
In turn, Pakistan accused India of launching missile attacks on three of its airbases, including Nur Khan Airbase near Islamabad, although these claims have not been confirmed by Indian authorities.
The heightened conflict stems from a previous wave of Indian airstrikes, which followed a deadly militant attack in Pahalgam that killed Indian tourists. While India blames Pakistan-based groups for the attack, Pakistan has denied any involvement and accuses India of using the incident as an excuse for aggression.
The situation along the Line of Control (LoC) has rapidly deteriorated, with both sides reporting casualties: Pakistan claims 36 deaths from Indian strikes, while India reports 16 fatalities from Pakistani shelling. Increased missile launches, drone activity, and artillery exchanges along the border have only escalated tensions.
Despite growing international concerns and calls for restraint, both countries remain entrenched in their positions, with no sign of backing down. The conflict’s potential to spiral further is alarming, as both nations showcase their military capabilities, raising the risk of a broader, more dangerous confrontation.
