PAKISTAN/INDIA: Who won the War?

How the May 2025 Fight Went Down

 How the Trouble Started

    Things got tense after an attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, where 26 civilians died.

• India quickly blamed Pakistan, but Pakistan said it was not involved.

India then took several strong actions against Pakistan:

• They kicked out Pakistani diplomats and called their own home.
• They stopped giving visas.
• They closed the borders.
• They even pulled out of an old water sharing treaty (Indus Waters Treaty).

Pakistan responded to India's actions:

• They again said they weren't involved and asked for an international check (India said no).
• They put limits on trade with India.
• They closed their air space to Indian planes.
• They stopped following the old Shimla Agreement peace deal.

From April 24 to May 5, 2025, there were also reports of small fights with guns along the border area (Line of Control).

India's Attack: "Operation Sindoor"

    The fighting got serious on the night of May 6th and 7th, 2025, when India launched missile strikes they called "Operation Sindoor."

·         India Claimed: They hit militant camps in 9 places in Pakistan-controlled areas, using advanced weapons like Rafale jets and different missiles. They said they were careful, didn't plan to increase the fighting, and did not hit any Pakistani army places.

·      Pakistan Said: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the strikes a "cowardly attack" on regular people. Pakistan said India hit civilian areas, including mosques, and 31 Pakistanis were killed. Pakistan was very angry and promised to hit back, calling India's action an "act of war."

Pakistan Hits Back: "Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos"

    Pakistan launched its own big attack on May 10, 2025, named "Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos" (which means like a strong wall).

    According to Pakistan's army spokesperson, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry:

• It was a fast, strong attack using all parts of Pakistan's military.
• They hit targets carefully and quickly.
• They used military technology but were careful not to use too much force.
• They hit specific targets on purpose to avoid hurting regular people.
• They only hit Indian military places and groups that were involved in attacking Pakistan.

Pakistan listed many places they claim they hit:

• Claimed Targets (26 Indian Military Sites):
• Lots of major Indian air force bases were badly damaged (like Suratgarh, Adampur, Bhuj, Srinagar, Jammu, Ambala, Udampur, Pathankot, and many others listed).
• BrahMos missile sites that Pakistan claims fired into Pakistan were destroyed.
• Important Indian army command centers (like Brigade HQs at KG Top and Nowshera) were hit.
• Army supply and support spots (like a depot in Uri and a radar in Poonch) were hit.

Pakistan also claimed they launched a strong cyber-attack that temporarily messed up important Indian military computer networks.

Stopping the Fighting

    According to Pakistan's army, Pakistan "never asked for a ceasefire" (to stop fighting).

• The fighting stopped on May 10, 2025, but only after Pakistan felt it had finished its response and punishment.
• Pakistan says the ceasefire happened because other countries asked for it and stepped in to help solve things peacefully. International news confirmed the USA played a role in helping reach the agreement, with President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio announcing it.

What Pakistan Says About India's Losses

    Pakistani officials claim India's military suffered significant losses:

• Pakistan's Claims of Planes Shot Down:
• Five Indian fighter jets right after "Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos":
• Three Rafale jets (made in France)
• One MiG-29 jet (made in Russia)
• One Su-30MKI jet (made in Russia)
• Dozens of Indian drones.

    Some international news and officials partly agreed with reports of India's losses:

• Reuters: US officials said Pakistan's J-10 jets (made in China) shot down at least two Indian planes, and one was believed to be a Rafale.
• CNN: A French intelligence official confirmed Pakistan shot down one Rafale jet, saying it was the first time that type of jet was lost in a fight.
• The Washington Post: Reported at least two Indian jets seemed to have crashed during Pakistan's attacks.
• Agence France Presse (AFP): Quoted an Indian security source saying three Indian fighter jets crashed in India, but the reason wasn't known.
• Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also said the Chinese-built J-10C jets shot down the Indian planes.

In Simple Terms

    According to Pakistan's official report, the May 2025 conflict started with India's attack after the Pahalgam incident. Pakistan responded strongly with "Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos," claiming to hit many Indian military targets and shoot down several Indian jets. Pakistan states they didn't ask for the fighting to stop, but it ended after they finished their response, with other countries helping to arrange the ceasefire. Pakistan sees this as successfully defending itself and showing its military strength.

Aircraft Type	Number Claimed (Pakistan)	International Media Corroboration
Rafale	3	CNN (French official - 1), Reuters (US official assessment - 1), Washington Post (identified wreckage - 1), National Interest (blog - implied)
MiG-29	1	None explicitly in provided snippets
Su-30MKI	1	None explicitly in provided snippets
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Drone)	Dozens	None explicitly in provided snippets
Other Fighter Jets	0	Reuters (US official - at least 2, one assessed as Rafale), Reuters (Indian source - 3 crashed), Washington Post (identified wreckage - 1 Mirage 2000), AFP (Indian source - 3 crashed)

Pakistan Secures Strategic Victory in May 2025 Conflict:' Operation Bunyan - um - Marsoos ' Success against India

    In early May 2025, a significant military confrontation unfolded between Pakistan and India. Following India's initial actions, which Pakistan termed "Operation Sindoor," Pakistan launched a swift and decisive response known as "Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos." This operation, according to Pakistani sources and corroborated in part by international reports, inflicted substantial damage on Indian military assets and infrastructure, leading to a ceasefire requested by India.   

Pakistan's Retaliatory Strikes: 'Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos'

    Pakistan's operation reportedly targeted numerous Indian military sites across the northern sector. The scale of the attacks was significant, with claims of hitting over 20 locations. Key targets reportedly included:   

• Destruction of a BrahMos missile storage facility in Beas.   
• Complete destruction of air defense systems and heavy damage to the Udhampur Air Base.  
• Precision missile attacks on the Pathankot military airfield and Jalandhar Airbase.   
• Strikes on multiple air bases and military installations in Gujarat.
• Targeting of the airbase in Srinagar, reportedly causing initial casualties.   
• A major weapons depot in Chandigarh was hit and neutralized.
• An S-400 air defense system at Adampur Air Base was reportedly destroyed.
• Airfields in Sirsa and Bathinda were also hit.   

Targets along the Line of Control (LoC) were also struck, including:

• Indian Army Brigade Headquarters and supply depot in Uri.   
• An Indian Artillery Position in Dehrangyari.
• A military intelligence training facility in Rajouri.
• The Halwara Air Force Station.

    Pakistan also claimed to have hit an Indian intel center in Indian-occupied Kashmir. These actions reportedly caused widespread disruption to Indian air defense operations and included claims of jamming a key Indian military satellite. Following the operation, reports emerged of power outages in Indian Punjab and internet blackouts in parts of Jammu and Kashmir.   

Impact on India and International Recognition

    The operation reportedly resulted in significant losses for the Indian military. While Pakistan did not claim capturing pilots, a Reuters report noted three Indian pilots were hospitalized after fighter jets crashed in India.   

Several international news outlets and defense analysts acknowledged setbacks for India:

• CNN analysis noted the downing of Rafale jets challenged India's air superiority narrative.   
• A French intelligence official confirmed a downed Rafale to CNN.   
• A US official told Reuters that Pakistan's J-10 aircraft downed at least two Indian jets, including a Rafale .   
• An opinion piece in Al Jazeera argued India's "Operation Sindoor" backfired, boosting Pakistan's standing and exposing India's limitations.   
• A blog affiliated with The National Interest called the aerial engagement an "unambiguous victory" for Pakistan, highlighting the performance of Chinese-made equipment.   

Ceasefire and Pakistan's Position of Strength

Pakistan's view, as expressed by the Director-General of ISPR, is that a ceasefire was requested by India, with mediation by international actors, including President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio. This request came after Pakistan had successfully met its immediate military objectives through "Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos." According to the ceasefire agreement, post-16:30 PKT / 17:00 IST on 10 May 2025, the operations ceased.

    This narrative positioned Pakistan as the party dictating the terms of de-escalation from a position of strength.

Why Pakistan Claims Victory:

1. Inflicted Significant Damage: "Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos" reportedly hit numerous key Indian military assets, severely impacting air power, air defense, and infrastructure.
2. Challenged Air Superiority: The claimed downing of advanced Indian jets like the Rafale, supported by international reports, challenged India's perceived dominance in the air.
3. Disrupted Capabilities: Extensive damage to bases and systems likely hindered India's ability to continue operations effectively.
4. India Reportedly Requested Ceasefire: Pakistan's assertion that India sought the truce indicates that India was compelled to stop due to the impact of the operation.
5. Leadership Statements: Statements from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry reinforced the narrative of a successful operation and objectives achieved.
6. International Acknowledgment: Some international media and analysts acknowledged India's significant setbacks and challenges to its military standing.

Conclusion

    May 2025 fight had what Pakistan calls a decisive strategic victory. Pakistan is claimed to have caused damage to the Indian military through the effective "Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos," in response to India's "Operation Sindoor," and "Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos," according to Pakistan. Instead, it speaks about having positioned itself as the stronger party in the engagement. Furthermore, Pakistan claims the ceasefire was sought by India after having been effectively countered by Pakistan. Proceeds to confirm the military capabilities of Pakistan along with the resolve to safeguard the integrity of the territory.