Key Points
- India successfully intercepted Pakistan’s Fateh-II missile over Sirsa, Haryana, as tensions escalate following Operation Sindoor.
- In retaliation, India has targeted and damaged four Pakistani airbases.
- The conflict began after India’s Operation Sindoor destroyed nine terrorist hideouts in Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack.
- According to the 2025 SIPRI report, India ranks as the world’s second-largest arms importer (8.3% of global imports), behind Ukraine (8.8%).
- Despite a 9.3% decline in arms imports compared to 2015-2019, India continues major weapons acquisitions to counter threats from Pakistan and China.
- Pakistan ranks fifth globally in arms imports at 4.6%, with China as its primary supplier.
New Delhi: The military standoff between India and Pakistan has reached a critical point following India’s Operation Sindoor, with both nations exchanging significant strikes that have raised fears of a full-scale war. In the latest development, India’s air defense systems successfully intercepted and destroyed Pakistan’s Fateh-II ballistic missile over Sirsa, Haryana, preventing what could have been a devastating attack.
Pakistan’s Missile Attack and India’s Swift Response
Pakistan launched the Fateh-II missile as part of its continuing offensive against India, which began after India’s Operation Sindoor targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The Fateh-II is a hypersonic ballistic missile with a range of 400 kilometers, designed to strike high-value military targets with precision. Debris from the intercepted missile was recovered in agricultural fields in Sirsa, along with similar debris found in Barmer (Rajasthan) and Jalandhar (Punjab).
“Shortly after midnight, we saw from our terrace that something exploded above us. It formed a red-colored sphere,” reported a Sirsa resident. In Jalandhar, a migrant laborer was injured when missile debris landed in a residential area, causing damage to several houses.
In a decisive counteraction, India has targeted and severely damaged four Pakistani airbases: Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi, Rafiqui Air Base in Shorkot, Murid Air Base in Chakwal, and Rahimyar Khan Airbase. Additionally, Indian forces neutralized radar sites at Pasrur and Sialkot, following the previous disabling of Lahore’s air defense radar[6].
Operation Sindoor: The Catalyst for Current Tensions
The current conflict stems from India’s Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which claimed 26 civilian lives. The operation targeted nine terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, including headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba in Muridke (near Lahore) and Jaish-e-Muhammad in Bhawalpur.
Since the operation began, the death toll has surpassed 60 across both sides, with Pakistan confirming 13 fatalities on its side of the Line of Control. The conflict has now evolved into a concerning exchange of military strikes, with both nations using advanced missile systems while carefully avoiding direct border crossings.
India’s Military Preparedness: Second Largest Arms Importer
As tensions escalate, India’s military capabilities have come under renewed focus. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s (SIPRI) 2025 report, India ranks as the world’s second-largest arms importer, accounting for 8.3% of global arms imports between 2020 and 2024.
India’s position reflects its strategic response to perceived threats from both China and Pakistan. However, the report notes that India’s arms imports have actually decreased by 9.3% compared to the 2015-2019 period, indicating the country’s growing emphasis on domestic defense manufacturing through initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
Russia remains India’s largest arms supplier, accounting for 36% of India’s total imports, followed by France and Israel. This diversification strategy has been crucial as India reduces its historical dependence on Russian military hardware.
Global Arms Import Rankings
The SIPRI report reveals significant shifts in global arms procurement patterns, largely influenced by ongoing conflicts:
- Ukraine tops the list with 8.8% of global arms imports, receiving weapons from at least 35 countries following Russia’s 2022 invasion
- India follows at 8.3%
- Qatar and Saudi Arabia both at 6.8%
- Pakistan at 4.6%, with China as its primary supplier
The report highlights how European arms imports have surged by 155% between 2015-2019 and 2020-2024, primarily in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and uncertainty over US foreign policy.
Diplomatic Efforts Amid Military Escalation
Despite the intensifying conflict, diplomatic channels remain open. On Saturday, May 10, 2025, US President Donald Trump announced that India and Pakistan had agreed to a ceasefire following US-mediated negotiations. “After extensive negotiations facilitated by the United States, I am delighted to report that India and Pakistan have consented to a complete and immediate ceasefire,” Trump stated on his Truth Social platform.
However, the ceasefire appears to have been short-lived, with reports of violations emerging shortly after its implementation. The situation remains highly volatile, with military forces on both sides maintaining heightened alert status as international stakeholders continue pushing for de-escalation.
As the conflict enters its fourth day, the coming hours will be crucial in determining whether diplomatic efforts can prevail over the mounting military confrontation between these nuclear-armed neighbors.
