The long-standing rivalry between India and Pakistan over Kashmir reached a dangerous peak in 2025, as missile strikes, drone warfare, and rapid military escalation brought the two nuclear-armed neighbours to the brink of full-scale war.
The crisis was set into motion in April when a devastating attack near Pahalgam killed 26 civilians. India quickly accused Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism, a claim Pakistan denied, calling the attack a “false flag operation.”
The incident marked a turning point, prompting a swift diplomatic rupture, military mobilisation, and a series of military actions. Both nations blamed each other for the escalation, leading to growing fears of a full-scale war.
Operation Sindoor and Escalation
On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, a series of missile strikes aimed at what it called “terrorism-related infrastructure” linked to the militant groups Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir.
The Indian government insisted that no Pakistani military or civilian facilities were targeted, framing the strikes as part of the fight against terrorism.
However, Pakistan claimed the missile strikes hit civilian areas, including mosques, and resulted in significant civilian casualties.
Border skirmishes erupted, and drone strikes became a common feature of the conflict, marking what would be referred to as the first-ever drone battle between two nuclear-armed countries. The tension continued to rise as both sides exchanged fire across the border and ramped up military operations.
Pakistan’s Retaliation: Operation Bunyan al-Marsus
On May 10, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyan al-Marsus, claiming to target several Indian military bases.
In response, India expanded its scope of Operation Sindoor to include Pakistani military installations.
With the situation rapidly spiraling out of control, both nations stood at the precipice of an all-out war, with the international community watching closely and urging restraint.
Breakthrough came after urgent hotline communications between the Directors General of Military Operations from both sides.
On the same day, both India and Pakistan announced a ceasefire, effective from 5:00 pm IST on May 10.
The ceasefire was a crucial moment in de-escalating the conflict, and normalcy began to return. Commercial flights resumed, and both sides claimed victory in the face of a potentially catastrophic war.
While the ceasefire halted the immediate military confrontation, the crisis left lasting tensions between the two nations.
Kashmir remains a highly sensitive and volatile region, with both India and Pakistan continuing to assert their claims over the territory.
Diplomacy ultimately played a pivotal role in pulling the two countries back from the brink.
However, the 2025 conflict underscores the ongoing risks posed by the Kashmir dispute and the complex dynamics between nuclear-armed nations.
Georgia and Uzbekistan are aiming to nearly quadruple annual trade to $1 billion, up from $267.6 million in 2025, as the two countries seek to stre...
Iran has warned against the military use of Starlink, saying it has developed domestic technology capable of countering cyber threats linked to the...
Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of blaming Kabul for its domestic political and security problems, as Islamabad repeated claims that militants are...
One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a fresh attack on Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, Saudi authorities reported, a day after a strike claimed by Yemen's Houthis killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said late Monday that it intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi group toward Khamis Mushait in southwestern Saudi Arabia.
The Houthi movement has escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the airport in Riyadh and other cities, killing more than a dozen people.
The Kremlin on Monday rejected a 60-day ceasefire idea proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to allow his country to hold presidential elections, saying it wanted an overall peace deal instead.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia hit at least six energy targets in deadly strikes across Ukraine, showing Moscow is unwilling to accept the energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Amid ongoing conflicts and geopolitical tension, 2025 became a year defined not only by confrontation but also by a series of diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing violence, easing humanitarian crises and opening paths to long-term stability.
In 2025, climate talks, security negotiations and trade diplomacy defined a year of high-level summits. Leaders met across continents to confront conflict, debate climate responsibility and shape global priorities. Some eased tensions, others exposed divisions, but all left their mark.
The year 2025 was marked by widespread protests and civil unrest across multiple regions, as citizens took to the streets to voice anger over political decisions, economic pressures, governance failures and social inequality.
From the invasion of Ukraine to today’s border ceasefire in Southeast Asia, the global security architecture has undergone a period of unprecedented strain.
The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, held in Tianjin, China, has been hailed as one of the most significant gatherings in the bloc’s history.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment