India-Pakistan Conflict: Response In Real Time

On April 22, 2025, terrorists affiliated with the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) opened fire on a group of tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam. The attack, considered to be the deadliest in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike, resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists, including one Nepali citizen.

Following this attack, India and Pakistan officially downgraded their ties, triggering a tit-for-tat visa cancellation, suspension of bilateral agreements and more. In the aftermath of the attack, several demolitions were carried out across Jammu and Kashmir targeting the homes of suspected active militants.

Fourteen days after the attack at Baisaran and a series of demolitions, India launched its response—Operation Sindoor.

Night of May 6-7

1:28 AM: The official X handle of the Indian Army shares a post hinting at retaliation.

From 1:28 AM to 1:30 AM: Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy launch a series of missile strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

1:28 AM to 1:51 AM: Loud explosions heard across Pakistan’s Bahawalpur, Muzaffarabad, Sialkot and other cities.

1:51 AM: Indian Army posts a picture of Operation Sindoor and states, “Justice Is Served”. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and other Indian leaders release statements confirming the military strikes.

2:30 AM: Pakistan retaliates to firing and heavy shelling along the Line of Control (LoC), killing 16 people, including three women and five children.

3:10 AM: US President Donald Trump comments on the military strikes.

10 AM: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) briefing confirms Operation Sindoor. Led by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, it is revealed that India targeted nine terror camps across Pakistan and PoK, run by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen. The Indian Armed Forces target Sarjal camp in Sialkot, Mehmoona Joya and Markaz Taiba, Muridke, and Markaz Subhanallah in Bahawalpur in Pakistan. In PoK, the targets include Sawai Nala and Syedna Bilal in Muzaffarabad, Gulpur and Abbas camps in Kotli, and Barnala camp in Bhimber.

11 AM onwards: India carries out nationwide war mock drills with air raid sirens, blackouts and mass evacuations for civil defence preparedness.

Night of May 7-8

Pakistan launches drone and missile strikes on Indian military installations in locations across northern and western states including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj. The attacks were thwarted, with debris found lying across border towns in India.

2:30 PM: Defence Ministry confirms Pakistani strikes and India’s swift retaliation. In response, Defence Ministry adds that the Air Defence System at Lahore has been neutralised.

5:30 PM: MEA holds another briefing on Operation Sindoor regarding the recent attacks, led by Misri, Colonel Qureshi and Wg Cdr Singh. During this, MEA combats disinformation regarding the escalations and states that the first escalation was by Pakistan in Pahalgam.

8 PM onwards: Pakistani drones spotted in the Jammu region, triggering air raid sirens and enforcing a blackout across the Union Territory. Defence Ministry and Armed Forces confirm presence of Pakistani drones and foil attack attempts.

Drones spotted in Punjab’s Pathankot and Jalandhar and Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer, triggering blackouts across the border cities. Along with this, Amritsar, Barmer, Bikaner, Sriganganagar, Jodhpur and other cities along the International Border and LoC enforce blackouts.

11 PM: Border Security Force (BSF) thwarts infiltration bid along the International Border in Jammu & Kashmir. Seven terrorists were killed in this bid according to the BSF.

(Compiled by Danita Yadav)

This article is part of Outlook’s May 22, 2025 issue, ‘Is This War?’, covering the tense four-day standoff that brought India and Pakistan to the brink of war. It appeared in print as'Response In Real Time'