India-Pakistan Missile Strikes and the Shifting Paradigm of Conflict: An Analytical Reflection
Redrawing the Red Lines: India’s shift from restraint to response By Tajjamul Aly : Between the 7th and 10th of May 2025, the subcontinent stood on edge, and the world watched tensely, uncertain what would happen next. What unfolded wasn’t just another round of cross-border skirmishes, it was a bold and unprecedented air conflict between India and Pakistan, triggered by the brutal Pahalgam terror attack of April 22. That attack didn’t just kill civilians, it jolted the political and military apparatus of both countries into motion, reopening old wounds and setting in motion a chain of high-stakes decisions. India wasted no time. It suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, cut trade ties, and shut its airspace to Pakistani aircraft. Pakistan retaliated with airspace closure too, as expected. Tensions soared. And by the first week of May, it was clear: New Delhi was preparing for more than just words. Then came the night of May 7. In a daring and coordinated strike, India launched m...