Pakistan has vowed to retaliate following India’s airstrikes on Kotli, Bahawalpur, and Muzaffarabad as part of Operation Sindoor. In a statement, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, condemned the strikes, calling them a “cowardly attack” and emphasized that Pakistan would respond at a time and place of its choosing. The Pakistani military did not confirm casualties but warned of a firm response. Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors have escalated after India’s retaliation to the deadly Pahalgam attack, with both sides on high alert. (PC: India Today, BBC)

In retaliation for the deadly Pahalgam attack, India launched Operation Sindoor, striking terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The strikes targeted multiple sites, including suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) headquarters. The Indian government emphasized that the operation was "measured and non-escalatory," avoiding Pakistani military facilities. The Pakistan Army confirmed the strikes on civilian areas like mosques and warned of a response. The operation follows the massacre of 26 individuals, including 25 Indians and one Nepali, by terrorists, including Pakistani nationals, in Pahalgam. India’s response is a message of justice and resolve.

Several loud explosions were heard in Muzaffarabad and other areas of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) following India's Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025. The explosions caused a blackout in the region. Indian missile strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure, responding to the deadly Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives. Pakistan’s military confirmed the strikes, vowing retaliation. The Indian Ministry of Defence emphasized that the strikes were precise, non-escalatory, and focused solely on terrorist sites, avoiding Pakistani military targets. India’s response, marked by restraint, aims to hold those responsible for the Pahalgam attack accountable while maintaining security and stability. (PC: Hindustan Times)

In a decisive response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, including one Nepali citizen, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025. Targeting nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the precision strikes aimed at dismantling infrastructure linked to cross-border terrorism. The Indian military emphasized that the operation was calibrated to avoid escalation, deliberately steering clear of Pakistani military sites. Officials highlighted India's commitment to defending national security while maintaining strategic restraint. A formal government briefing is expected later today to provide further details. This marks a significant shift in India’s counterterror response. 

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer shared a video of his conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, congratulating each other on finalizing the historic UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Starmer hailed the deal as “the biggest since Brexit,” emphasizing its potential to raise living standards and strengthen ties between the two nations. Modi acknowledged Starmer’s leadership, calling the deal a “milestone in the India-UK comprehensive strategic partnership.” The FTA aims to slash tariffs on goods like whisky, cosmetics, and automobiles, boosting trade by £25.5 billion and benefiting both economies.

Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Keir Starmer announced the successful conclusion of a landmark India–UK Free Trade Agreement and a Double Contribution Convention, marking a major milestone in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The agreements aim to boost trade, innovation, job creation, and economic cooperation between the two nations. Both leaders emphasized the historic nature of the deal and its potential to elevate bilateral ties. PM Modi invited PM Starmer to visit India, reinforcing their shared commitment to deepening collaboration. PM Starmer highlighted the deal as part of the UK’s broader strategy to build a stronger, more secure economy through global partnerships.(PC: India Today)

On April 22, 2025, five militants attacked tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killing 26, including 25 Hindus and one Christian. The Resistance Front (TRF), linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility but later retracted. India attributed the attack to Pakistan-based groups, leading to the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, expulsion of Pakistani diplomats, and closure of the Wagah-Attari border. Pakistan denied involvement, conducted missile tests, and claimed intelligence of an imminent Indian strike. The UN Security Council urged both nations to de-escalate. Moody's warned of economic repercussions for both countries. The standoff has intensified military activities and diplomatic tensions, with international actors calling for restraint. (PC: Fortune India & The Indian Express)

Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has shifted tone, urging peace with India just days after threatening "blood in the Indus" over the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. Speaking in Pakistan’s National Assembly, Bhutto said Pakistan welcomes peaceful dialogue if India approaches with "open hands." His peace overture follows heightened Indo-Pak tensions after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26. India responded by suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and downgrading diplomatic ties. Bhutto's earlier remarks drew backlash, and social platform X has since suspended his account, citing inflammatory rhetoric. His statement signals a possible softening amid growing regional pressure. (PC: AFP)

India is projected to surpass Japan as the world's fourth-largest economy in 2025, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF forecasts India's nominal GDP will reach $4.187 trillion, slightly ahead of Japan's $4.186 trillion. In 2024, India ranked fifth with a GDP of $3.9 trillion, trailing Japan's $4.1 trillion. India's economy is expected to grow by 6.3% in 2025, maintaining its status as the fastest-growing major economy, while Japan's growth is projected at 0.6%. This anticipated shift underscores India's robust economic trajectory and its increasing influence in the global economic landscape. (PC: Swarajya & Advantour)

The Indian Finance Ministry and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have categorically denied media reports suggesting that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman requested funding cuts to Pakistan following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack. The Ministry labeled such claims as "incorrect" and "without basis in fact," clarifying that no discussions regarding halting funds to Pakistan occurred. Similarly, the ADB confirmed that during the bilateral meeting between Sitharaman and ADB President Masato Kanda at the 58th ADB Annual Meeting in Milan, issues related to Pakistan were not discussed. These denials aim to dispel speculations linking India's diplomatic engagements to financial decisions concerning Pakistan amid escalating tensions. (PC: The Tribune)