Fabian Hoffmann
On May 10, at approximately 14:00 CET, Donald Trump announced via social media that Pakistan and India had agreed to an immediate ceasefire, bringing a halt — at least temporarily — to a dangerously escalating conflict in South Asia.
Major hostilities began on 7 May when India launched a series of airstrikes — code-named Operation Sindoor — in retaliation for terrorist attacks the previous month that killed 26 people (see my assessment of the operation here). In the days that followed, India and Pakistan exchanged fire, including further airstrikes and drone attacks on military infrastructure. Targets included ground-based air defense systems, likely with the aim of suppressing enemy air defenses to pave the way for a broader air campaign.
On the night of 10 May, India carried out a larger wave of strikes on Pakistani military infrastructure, hitting three air bases: Nur Khan (near Islamabad), Murid, and Shorkot. In response, Pakistan initiated Operation Bunyan Ul Marsoos, striking Indian military targets including airbases in Pathankot and Udhampur, as well as what Pakistani officials described as a missile storage facility for Indian BrahMos cruise missiles. Both sides appear to have employed drones and cruise missiles in these attacks; imagery suggests that Pakistan also used Fateh-1 short-range ballistic missiles. In the early hours of 10 May, reports emerged that Pakistan had convened the National Command Authority, which is responsible for operational decisions regarding its nuclear arsenal. The Pakistani defense minister later denied these reports.
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