India and Pakistan – Two Nuclear Powers – Decide to Risk It All

South Asia is on edge as a new wave of military escalation between India and Pakistan has resulted in dozens of civilian casualties and mounting international concern over the risk of a broader conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. India launched a series of missile strikes on Pakistani territory as part of Operation Sindoor, targeting what its Ministry of Defense described as terrorist camps linked to a deadly bombing in the Indian town of Pahalgam. According to Indian officials, the April 22 attack killed 26 tourists, including one Nepali citizen. India claims its strikes were "precise,” "restrained,” and aimed solely at "known terrorist camps,” without targeting any Pakistani civilian, economic, or military infrastructure. However, Pakistani authorities tell a different story.