Following an attack that killed 26 tourists in Pahalgam on 22 April 2025, India on the night of 6 May 2025 launched unprovoked strikes against civilian infrastructure at six locations across Pakistan, naming it Operation Sindoor. It was a deeply reckless act by a nuclear armed state against another nuclear neighbour resulting in the martyrdom of 36 innocent Pakistanis, including women and children. India's actions were a clear violation of Pakistan's sovereignty, international law and the UN Charter. Pakistan responded under UN Charter Article 51 in a calibrated manner with precision and lethality. On 7 May, PAF downed four Rafales, one SU-30, one MiG-29, one Mirage 2000 and one UAV. This was followed by Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos on 10 May 2025 in which 26 high-value targets were struck across Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Mainland India. Indian S-400 missile systems were destroyed, exposing critical gaps in their air defences. India having suffered grievous military and economic losses estimated at over $84 billion, ultimately sought US mediation to end the conflict in an embarrassing retreat from its politico-military ambitions.

This conflict saw several notable firsts. For instance, it marked the first time that India violated the sanctity of International Border while accusing Pakistan of an act of terrorism across the Line of Control. It was also the first time India used cruise missiles on Pakistan, both the BrahMos cruise missiles (co-developed with Russia) as well as the European SCALP-EG (Storm Shadow). More significantly, it was the first time in the history of air warfare that a classic........

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