Islamabad, Pakistan — India and Pakistan launched missiles at each other’s military bases on Saturday morning.
Pakistan accused India of attacking within the territory for four consecutive times and launched ballistic missile strikes on at least three air bases. Islamabad responded, saying it had launched an “Operation Bunyan Maroo Plant” (“Structures made of lead”) and “Arabic”) targeting at least six Indian military bases.
India accused Pakistan of being an invader. Indian military officials argued that Pakistan has targeted several Indian military bases, and that missiles to Pakistani territory are responding.
However, regardless of who first hit the others on May 10, the fact that India and Pakistan attacked each other’s military bases far beyond Kashmir, across such a wide territory, each partially controlled conflict zone, means that the conflict has now transformed into a nearly unknown territory.
No South Asian rivals have ever attacked each other on this scale outside the four wars they fought.
This is what we know so far about what India’s attacks, Pakistan’s response, and global authority like the US are saying, and the background to this intense conflict.
According to Pakistan, what happened on the morning of May 10th?
Pakistan said India fired a drone salvo at Pakistan, followed by ballistic missile strikes on at least three main air plaques.
The Pakistani bases covered by India are as follows:
Nur Khan Airbase: Located near Chaklala in Rawalpindi, it serves as a primary operational and training hub. It houses important Pakistani Air Force headquarters and supports transportation, logistics and VIP flight operations. Murid Airbase: Located in Chakwar, approximately 120km (75 miles) from Islamabad. This is an important future operating base for the Pakistan Air Force. It plays an important role in air defense and fighting preparation. Rafiqui Airbase: Located in Shokot, Punjab, the base hosts a squadron of fighter jets.
Pakistan responded, saying it launched air attacks on several Indian military bases. The foundations known to have been targeted are:
Udhampur Airbase: Located in India-controlled Kashmir, Udhampur is also the headquarters of the Indian Army Northern Command. Pathankot Airbase: The base in Punjab, India, is the heart of India’s frontline air force operations, targeted by armed fighters in the 2016 attack, in which six Indian soldiers were killed. India has condemned the attack on Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad. Dranjari Artillery Gun Location: Dranjari is in Jammu and Kashmir managed by India. URI Field Support Depot: URI is also home to a major Indian Army base attacked in 2016 by armed fighter jets that killed 19 Indian soldiers in Kashmir, managed by India. Blaming Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad for its attack, India launched what is called a “surgical strike” in Kashmir, registered in Pakistan. NAGROTA: The town of Kashmir, managed by India, has a storage location for Brahmos missiles, which was jointly designed and created by India and Russia. BEAS: This site is located in Punjab, India, a storage facility for Brahmos missiles. Adampur Air Base: This base in Punjab, India features an S-400 missile defense system purchased by India from Russia. Bhuj Air Base: The base is located in Gujarat, the hometown of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
What did India say?
During a media briefing, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Mithri denounced Pakistan with provocation and escalation, claiming that New Delhi is only responding to the actions of its neighbors.
He shared the event version of New Delhi with Colonel Sophia Kureshi of the Indian Army and Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force.
Pakistan said it “targeted civilian regions and military infrastructure using drones, long-range weapons, resilient munitions and fighter jets.”
“The Pakistani forces also resorted to air intrusion, using the launch of heavy caliber weapons along the lines of drones and control,” she said. Also known as a suicide drone, Reuters ammunition, is remotely controlled and designed to hit a target. The line of control is the de facto border between India and Pakistan’s managed Kashmir.
India said it had fired down most of the incoming missiles and drones, but Qureshi and Singh admitted that air bases in Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur and Bhuj suffered “limited damage.”
However, India rejected the proposal that the base had been severely damaged, and the military released time stamped photos of the facility supporting its claim. Pakistani forces on Thursday claimed that Udhanpur and Pathankot’s bases had been “destroyed.”
Indian officials said at least five people were killed in a Pakistan missile fire on Saturday.
What else happened on May 10th?
As neighbors exchanged the allegations for missile fire, Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Pakistan’s Army Chief General Said Asim Munier, and was widely regarded as the country’s most powerful figure, just like India’s foreign minister Jaishankar.
According to the US State Department, Rubio urged both parties to seek ways to “discalate” and provided US support in launching constructive dialogues to avoid further conflict.
How did India and Pakistan reach the brink of war?
Pakistan’s military response on Thursday followed four consecutive Indian attacks within the territory for four days two weeks after a deadly attack on tourists in the scenic Pahargam town of Pahargam, Indian-Kashmir.
The attack killed 26 men, all civilians. India denounced the armed groups claiming they were supported by Pakistan, accused Islamabad of denied accusations and instead called for a “fair and transparent” investigation that New Delhi rejected.
Multiple witness statements suggest that gunmen isolated men from women and chose to kill non-Muslims.
India began its strike on May 7th, targeting Pakistan and regions within Kashmir, managed by Pakistan. It claimed it destroyed “terrorist infrastructure” and eliminated at least “100 terrorists.”
It was called the attack operation Sindoor. This is a reference to the Hindi worm, which many married Hindu women apply to their foreheads. The name of the mission was an indication of how gunmen killed tourists in Pahargam.
Pakistan reported that the Indian strike killed 33 people, including several children, and injured more than 50 people. They denied that either of the deaths was a fighter, as India claimed.
As the attack unfolded, Pakistan deployed its air force accordingly and engaged in the fight against the Indian Air Force (IAF). Pakistani military claimed that the French-made aircraft had defeated five Indian jets, including three Rafales, which considered the IAF’s most advanced assets. India has not confirmed or denied the loss.
The drone war intensifies
India deployed drones on May 9 and 10, loit ammunition, and attacked at least 12 targets across Pakistan, including major urban centres such as Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.
India has said the drone strike corresponds to Pakistani drone use, claiming Islamabad continues to refuse.
“There is no credibility in their claims. They will continue to lie. Their allegations are false. Otherwise, where is their evidence?” During Pakistani military spokesman Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, told Al Jazeera during a news briefing in Rawalpindi on Friday.
He added that Pakistan’s response to the “Indian invasion” comes at “time, method and place of choice.”
I came on the morning of May 10th.
What does Operation Bunyan Marsoos mean?
The Pakistan operation is titled Bunyan Marsoos, an Arabic phrase translated as “structures made of lead.”
This phrase comes from the Quran. “As if they were solid cemented structures, God really loves those who fight in his cause.”
In the context of the Quran, this phrase symbolizes unity and strength that is fighting for the right cause among believers.
What’s coming next?
Experts have repeatedly warned about the need for immediate de-escalation among nuclear-armed neighbors before the situation becomes “irreversible.”
India said on May 10 that it would be willing to stop the cycle of escalation if Pakistan traveled back and forth.
However, Kamran Bokhari, senior director of the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy, said the Indian strike at an air force base in Pakistan dramatically escalated the conflict.
“Wars are getting worse with Pindi attacks and other air bases like Sargoda,” he told Al Jazeera. “We’re seeing a much larger war right now.”
Muhammad Faisal, a South Asian security analyst at Sydney Institute of Technology, said Pakistan has little option but a strong response.
“Pakistan can adopt the latest jets in standoff mode or launch long-range missile strikes at Indian air force bases that bypass the air force. Over the past three days, both sides have significantly mapped each other’s air defenses, and the next escalation is here,” he told Al Jazeera.
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