The Indian armed forces launched "Operation Sindoor," hitting nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the government said in a statement.
A Pakistani military spokesperson said the incident killed at least 31 civilians and wounded 57.
It follows a militant attack in Indian Kashmir that killed 26 people two weeks ago, which India has blamed on Pakistan.
The Pakistani government has denied any involvement in the incident and described the recent strikes from India as “unprovoked”.
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The two countries have fought three wars over Kashmir since they both gained independence from British rule in 1947.
Each controls part of the region, but both claim it in full as part of their territory.
In 2019, the Indian government revoked Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status in a move it said would better integrate the region with the rest of the country.
Independent journalist based in Kashmir Aakash Hassan told Newstalk Breakfast there is “tension in the air” in the region as people await “imminent Pakistani military retaliation”.
“There is this line of control, it’s a border which divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan,” he said.
“People living on this border are now waiting for that military escalation, because they are the people who are at the receiving end.
“Yesterday alone, 13 people were killed in the cross-border shelling and roughly 50 more were injured.
“Several houses and other structures were damaged, so there is fear and there is restlessness among people in Kashmir.”
People inside a damaged house after shelling from Pakistan side following Indian Army's 'Operation Sindoor', in a village Salamabad URI near Line of Control Baramulla district, on May 8 2025 (Credit Image: © Basit Zargar/ZUMA Press Wire)While similar events played out in 2019, Mr Hassan said there are fears that this incident will escalate further, as India’s military has grown in size since the last engagement.
He also said that he believes India’s actions are motivated by internal politics.
“India is right now ruled by a Hindu nationalist government, which has time and again used these kind of tactics to shore up support domestically for their political benefit,” he said.
“While India is facing a militant threat in Kashmir, their response against Pakistan was more than that.
“It was also for Prime Minister Modi’s party to keep up their support among Hindu nationalists.”
The Irish Government has warned travellers to exercise a high degree of caution when travelling to either India or Pakistan and advises against travel to Kashmir.
Main image: Indian paramilitary soldiers cordon off the area after an unknown aircraft crushed in Wuyan near Indian-administered Kashmir's main city of Srinagar. Image: © Faisal Bashir/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire) India. 8th May, 2025
