In a bold military move, India carried out precision missile strikes on Wednesday targeting key terror camps operated by banned outfits such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The operation, codenamed Operation Sindoor, was launched as a direct response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 civilians dead two weeks ago. The strikes triggered an immediate global reaction, drawing widespread media attention and becoming the lead story in major outlets across the United States, the United Kingdom, and beyond.
International coverage largely framed the action as a tactical counter-terror initiative, rather than a provocative escalation between two nuclear-armed neighbours.
The New York Times featured the headline: “India Launches Missile Strikes Inside Pakistan After Kashmir Attack”, calling the move a “major escalation” while noting that India had notified Washington in advance to prevent diplomatic fallout.
CNN’s report, titled “India and Pakistan on brink of wider conflict”, focused on India’s deployment of cutting-edge technology such as Rafale jets and SCALP cruise missiles. The piece emphasized that India had specifically avoided targeting Pakistani military installations.
According to The Washington Post, the strikes represented a “measured show of force”. It highlighted India’s deliberate approach in selecting targets and the clear intent to avoid civilian and military casualties.
The BBC’s coverage zeroed in on the strategic importance of Bahawalpur and Muridke, locations long believed to be operational centers for terrorist groups. Their reporting also reflected global concern about the possibility of further military escalation.
Other major publications mirrored similar sentiments while emphasizing the rising tensions in the region.
The Wall Street Journal: “India Targets Suspected Militant Sites in Pakistan Amidst Rising Tensions”
Chicago Tribune: “India Hits Pakistan with Missile Strikes Following Deadly Kashmir Attack”
The Guardian: “India Launches Military Strikes Inside Pakistan as Kashmir Tensions Explode”
Financial Times: “India-Pakistan Crisis Escalates as New Delhi Orders Missile Strikes”
The Times: “India Bombs Pakistan After Tourist Massacre, Raising Fears of Conflict”
ABC News: “India Strikes Nine Pakistani Targets”
Le Monde: “New Delhi Strikes Pakistani Territory in Response to Deadly Attack”
Japan Times: “India strikes Pakistan over Kashmir tourist killings”
Japan Today: “India strikes Pakistan over tourist killings; Pakistan says Indian jets downed”
The Times of Israel: “Israel Backs India’s Right to Self-Defence After Strikes on Pakistan”
These headlines underscore the intensity of the situation while also pointing to the growing international acceptance of India’s rationale.
The Indian government maintained that the strikes were deliberately calculated to avoid unnecessary escalation.
“India has demonstrated considerable restraint in the selection of targets and method of execution,” read a statement from the Defence Ministry, issued at 1:44 am on Wednesday.
“A little while ago, the Indian Armed Forces launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed,” the statement continued.
Indian officials reiterated that no Pakistani military facilities were attacked and that the objective was strictly to dismantle infrastructure used to stage terror strikes against India.
