Kashmir Crisis: From Surgical Strikes to Open Warfare

India’s recent launch of Operation Sindoor has marked a dramatic escalation along the Line of Control, shifting the long-running Kashmir conflict into a new and dangerous phase. What began as a response to the deadly Pahalgam attack quickly turned into a sweeping cross-border military campaign targeting militant infrastructure deep inside Pakistan-administered territory. For the first time in years, both countries engaged in direct, high-intensity strikes, moving beyond the usual pattern of deniable skirmishes and proxy operations. The result is a rapidly deteriorating security environment, with missile strikes, air losses, and rising casualties on both sides. As military pressure builds and political stakes rise, the risk of unintended escalation between two nuclear powers has never been greater.