April 22–May 12: From Pahalgam to ‘Operation Sindoor’ & a fragile ceasefire on Pak's request—A timeline of key events in border conflict
Indo-Pak Tensions: It’s been over twenty days since the brutal terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam claimed 26 civilian lives — one of the worst terror attacks on civilians in the Valley in recent memory. What followed was a dramatic escalation between India and Pakistan, marked by cross-border shelling, drone incursions, and precision military strikes. Taking matters into its own hands, India launched its retaliatory Operation Sindoor strike targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on the intervening night of May 6–7, vowing to eliminate terrorism at its roots.
The crisis intensified as both nations engaged in active military confrontation for several days, prompting alarm across the international community. De-escalation finally came on May 10, when both nuclear-armed sides agreed to a ceasefire in talks initiated by Pakistan. The truce was formally announced by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in a late-evening briefing and has largely held since—however, Islamabad briefly violated the understanding just hours later, prompting the Indian Armed Forces to issue a stern warning against any ceasefire violations, either that day or in the future.
In his first address to the nation following Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a firm message, stating that India would no longer tolerate acts of terror, nor be swayed by the threat of nuclear escalation.
“This is not an era of war, but neither is it an era where terror will go unanswered,” Modi said, referring to four days of intense military exchanges, including targeted strikes on terror camps and Pakistani military sites.
As tensions ease and the guns fall silent — for now — here’s a day-by-day breakdown of how the Pahalgam terror attack set off a 22-day flashpoint, shaking regional stability and redrawing the contours of India’s counter-terror response
Images: Pexels, PTI, IANS, ANI
April 22: Terror strikes Baisaran, Pahalgam; 26 civilians killed
A serene spring afternoon at the famed Baisaran meadow in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam turned into a scene of horror on April 22, as terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists. The attack claimed 26 lives—25 of them Indian nationals, and one Nepali tourist. With this, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed one of the deadliest civilian-targeted terror attacks in recent years.
April 23: India suspends Indus Waters Treaty, scales down diplomatic ties
The following day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened an emergency Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting and announced a slew of punitive measures against Pakistan.
Key decisions included:
Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty signed in 1960
Immediate closure of the Attari Integrated Check Post
Revocation of SAARC visa exemption for Pakistani nationals
Expulsion of Pakistani military attachés
Reduction in diplomatic staff at both High Commissions to just three
Withdrawal of Indian defence advisors from Islamabad
PM Modi also cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia and returned to Delhi to oversee national security preparedness.
April 24: Pakistan retaliates, shuts Wagah, suspends Simla pact
In a tit-for-tat response, Pakistan:
Shut its airspace to Indian flights
Suspended the 1972 Simla Agreement
Closed the Wagah border to all trade
Expelled Indian military diplomats
Revoked SAARC visa exemptions for Indian nationals
In Madhubani, Bihar, PM Modi, in his first public address since the Pahalgam terror strike, declared: “Those behind the attack will be punished beyond their imagination.”
May 1: Cross-border shelling enters sixth straight night
For the sixth consecutive night, cross-border hostilities showed no signs of easing as Pakistani forces opened fire across the Line of Control (LoC), targeting key sectors in Kupwara, Baramulla, and Akhnoor districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the Indian Army, the firing began during the night of April 30–May 1, with Pakistani posts initiating unprovoked small-arms fire across the LoC opposite Kupwara, Uri, and Akhnoor.
In response, Indian forces said they retaliated in a “measured and effective manner,” even as tensions along both the LoC and International Border (IB) continued to mount.
May 7: India launches ‘Operation Sindoor’ targeting nine terror camps
Two weeks after the Pahalgam terror attack, in a retaliatory move, India launched its largest cross-border military action since Balakot in 2019. Codenamed Operation Sindoor, the offensive targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in coordinated precision strikes.
The strikes were aimed at dismantling launchpads and eliminating handlers involved in the April 22 attack. Pakistan responded at night with low-altitude drones, but Indian surveillance systems intercepted and neutralised the attempts.
May 8 night: Pak drone attacks foiled across 36 Indian sites
In an escalated response, Pakistan launched 300–400 drones across 36 targets — ranging from Leh to Sir Creek — attempting to breach Indian military installations and civilian zones. All attempts were foiled by Indian air defence systems. India responded with targeted strikes on Pakistani military positions, while shelling intensified along the LoC and IB.
May 9: Another wave of drone attacks; key Indian cities on alert
The next night, Pakistan deployed drones to target 26 strategic locations across Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Key targets included air bases in Srinagar, Pathankot, Barmer, Bhuj and Jaisalmer.
Indian forces intercepted several drones mid-air and activated precision countermeasures. By morning, retaliatory strikes were launched targeting Pakistani radar stations and air-defence nodes.
May 10: Pak's DGMO reaches out, both sides agree to ceasefire
India launched precision missile strikes on eight Pakistani military targets, including command centres and air defence systems — one landing close to Rawalpindi. Later, Pakistan’s DGMO reached out to India, and a tentative ceasefire was agreed by 3:35 pm IST. However, Pakistan violated the truce within hours. In a late-night briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed the breaches and warned of “adequate and appropriate” Indian response, urging Islamabad to act with seriousness.
May 11: Indian strikes reached Rawalpindi, confirms Rajnath Singh
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that Operation Sindoor was not limited to border skirmishes — the “might of Indian forces was felt even in Rawalpindi”. Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi authorised local commanders to respond with full force in case of further violations.
The Indian military stated that 35–40 Pakistani soldiers were gunned down during the operations. Several Pakistani fighter jets were also shot down, though the Indian side refrained from disclosing specific numbers.
DGMOs agree to de-escalation; PM Modi delivers address to nation
On May 12, Indian and Pakistani DGMOs held another round of talks at 5 pm and agreed to initiate troop reduction along borders and forward posts.
Later that evening, PM Modi addressed the nation for the first time since the beginning of Operation Sindoor.
"Terror and talks cannot go hand in hand. India will not tolerate nuclear blackmail. This operation is not just a military action — it is a reflection of the nation's will. Over 100 terrorists have been eliminated in strikes across Pakistan and PoK."
With the world watching, Operation Sindoor has marked a turning point in India’s counterterrorism posture — combining military might with geopolitical messaging. Whether the ceasefire holds or escalates into a prolonged conflict remains to be seen.