Operation Sindoor, India’s ongoing counter-terror campaign, remains active following Pakistan’s missile and drone strikes on Indian military installations on May 9–10. In a prior conversation with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned that any Pakistani aggression would be met with a “harder, bigger, and deeper” Indian response. India’s air defense systems successfully intercepted most incoming attacks, and retaliatory precision strikes caused major damage to Pakistani airbases. India clarified that the U.S. is not mediating, reaffirming its stance of decisive and escalated counter-response to further provocations. (PC: The Print)  

On May 7, 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Punjab, including Jaish-e-Mohammed camps. Using Rafale jets and precision bombs, Indian forces reportedly eliminated top militant commander Abdul Rauf Azhar. In response, Pakistan initiated Operation Bunyan Ul Marsoos, triggering intense shelling and drone activity along the Line of Control (LoC) and international borders in Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire on May 10, violations resumed within hours. India claimed 35–40 Pakistani fatalities, as global powers urged restraint to prevent further escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbors. (PC: The Economic Times)  

India has said it will only talk to Pakistan about the return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and the handover of wanted terrorists. Government sources said there will be no discussion on any other issue. India also rejected US President Trump’s offer to mediate in the Kashmir dispute, saying no third party is needed. This statement came after Pakistan violated the recent ceasefire agreement with heavy shelling. India’s Operation Sindoor was a response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. Officials said it was also a reply to 40 years of terrorism from across the border. (PC: India Today)

In his inaugural Sunday address on May 11, 2025, Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, appealed for global peace, emphasizing the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan. He expressed hope that this truce would lead to lasting peace through negotiations. The ceasefire followed heightened tensions after India's Operation Sindoor targeted terror infrastructures in Pakistan, retaliating against the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. Despite the ceasefire, Pakistan reportedly violated it with drone incursions. Pope Leo also called for peace in Ukraine and Gaza, urging an end to conflicts he described as a "third world war in pieces," echoing his predecessor Pope Francis. He concluded by extending Mother's Day wishes to all mothers worldwide. (PC: People)

On May 10, 2025, India and Pakistan agreed to a U.S.-mediated ceasefire following a devastating militant attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives. Despite initial hopes for peace, fresh violations erupted within hours, including drone strikes near Srinagar and artillery shelling along the Line of Control. Both sides accused each other of initiating hostilities, casting doubt on the truce's sustainability. U.S. President Donald Trump urged restraint and offered trade incentives to promote dialogue. However, rising tensions and civilian unease in border regions suggest the ceasefire’s future remains uncertain. (PC: AP Photo)

Hours after a US-brokered ceasefire was announced, Pakistan violated the agreement by launching missile and drone attacks across the Line of Control and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir. This escalation followed India's Operation Sindoor, a counter-offensive in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. Despite the ceasefire, tensions remain high, with India on high alert and Prime Minister Modi holding security meetings with top officials. Pakistan has called for communication on the ceasefire and urged troops to exercise restraint, while denying any violations. The situation along the LoC is currently stable, but western border states remain vigilant. Questioning the timeline of developments in regard to the India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement on Saturday evening, Congress leader P Chidambaram wrote on X that the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), Pakistan called DGMO, India at 3.35 pm and proposed a cease-fire, and India agreed. "India's Foreign Secretary made no reference to President Trump or Secretary Marco Rubio or a forthcoming meeting or a neutral site. That is intriguing too," Chidambaram added. (PC: The Hindu)

A fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan held on Sunday after four days of intense conflict, which marked the worst fighting in nearly three decades between the nuclear-armed neighbors. The violence, which included missile and drone attacks on military installations, left nearly 70 people dead in both countries. The ceasefire was brokered following diplomatic efforts and pressure from the United States, although brief artillery exchanges continued shortly afterward in Indian-controlled Kashmir. U.S. President Donald Trump praised both nations for halting hostilities and offered help in resolving the long-standing Kashmir dispute. Trump also mentioned intentions to boost trade with both countries. Kashmir, a contested region claimed in full by both India and Pakistan but ruled in parts, remains a flashpoint. Recent clashes were sparked by a deadly attack in Pahalgam, Indian Kashmir, which India attributed to Pakistan; Islamabad denied the claims. In the aftermath, residents along border areas faced evacuations and blackouts. Although relative calm has returned, sporadic military operations and safety warnings persist, especially around damaged infrastructure such as the Uri power plant. Civilians on both sides hope for lasting peace and are beginning to cautiously return home. (PC: Reuters)

India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accused Pakistan of targeting Indian civilian areas and religious sites in overnight attacks, including temples, gurudwaras, and churches. He emphasized that India's response, Operation Sindoor, was a measured yet forceful retaliation aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Singh highlighted the Indian Army's courage and restraint, asserting that the operation demonstrated India's political, social, and strategic resolve against terrorism. He noted that Indian forces struck multiple military bases, extending their reach to Rawalpindi, the location of Pakistan's army headquarters. Singh contextualized Operation Sindoor alongside previous responses to terror attacks, such as the 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, reinforcing India's commitment to counterterrorism. (PC: PTI)

On May 11, 2025, the Indian National Congress strongly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, calling it an attempt to internationalize the Kashmir issue. Congress leaders warned that such intervention undermines India's consistent stance that Kashmir is a bilateral issue with Pakistan, not open to third-party involvement. While Pakistan welcomed the ceasefire and praised U.S. mediation, India remained silent on the diplomatic effort. Congress urged the Indian government to firmly oppose any external interference and reiterate its commitment to handling Kashmir internally and through bilateral channels. (The Week)  

India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri faced online backlash after the India-Pakistan ceasefire, with critics accusing him of compromising national security. In response, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi defended Misri, stating that the Foreign Secretary shouldn't be blamed for the ceasefire agreement. Owaisi emphasized that diplomatic decisions involve multiple stakeholders and that singling out Misri is unjustified. The ceasefire followed Operation Sindoor, India's military response to a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 civilians. The operation targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan. Despite the ceasefire, tensions remain high, with both nations accusing each other of violations. Owaisi's defense highlights the complexities of diplomatic negotiations and the importance of collective responsibility in such decisions. (PC: Arab News & NDTV)