Pakistan Declares State of War with India Amid Escalating Conflict

Pakistan has officially declared a state of war with India following a series of military strikes and retaliatory actions. On May 9, 2025, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, a spokesman for the Pakistani military, announced the declaration, citing New Delhi’s threats to Pakistan’s sovereignty. This conflict has intensified since a terrorist attack in Kashmir on April 22, which has now spiraled into missile and drone strikes, raising global alarm over the potential for nuclear confrontation between the two nations.

On the morning of May 9, Pakistan launched ballistic missile strikes targeting Indian military installations across Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan. This offensive was a direct response to India’s Operation Sindoor, initiated on May 7. Reports from India indicate that the Indian military detected the launch of several Shaheen-II ballistic missiles, capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Concurrently, Indian Air Force Wing Commander Viomika Singh reported that Pakistan deployed between 300 to 400 drones in a nighttime assault on military bases in Jammu, Uri, and Poonch, resulting in casualties among Indian servicemen.

In a tragic counterpoint, Pakistani officials reported 31 civilian fatalities due to Indian strikes in Kotli and Muzaffarabad, accusing India of targeting non-combatant areas. India, however, maintains that its operations were aimed at militant bases linked to the Pahalgam attack that claimed the lives of 26 tourists.

The military conflict has sparked an unprecedented diplomatic crisis. In the wake of the attacks, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, closed its borders, and expelled Pakistani diplomats. In retaliation, Pakistan implemented similar measures, barring Indian aircraft from its airspace and halting trade. Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif characterized India’s suspension of the water treaty as an “act of war,” emphasizing Islamabad’s readiness to deploy its nuclear arsenal of 170 warheads if India escalates the situation further.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to the crisis on May 8, asserting that India “will not tolerate terrorism” and granting the military “complete freedom of action” in addressing the threat.

The international community watches closely, apprehensive about the potential for further escalation between these two nuclear-armed neighbors.