Pakistan and India have fought three wars in the past, intensified firing and shelling across their de facto border in Kashmir.

Here is a chronology of major military and diplomatic escalations in their troubled relationship since 1999.

May–July 1999:

India and Pakistan engaged in intense fighting in the Kargil region of Kashmir after local Kashmiri fighters and Pakistan Army personnel took positions along the Line of Control (LoC). Pakistan maintained that it was supporting the Kashmiri right to self-determination. Under U.S. diplomatic pressure, Pakistan agreed to withdraw, de-escalating the situation.

December 2001:

Tensions flared after a deadly attack on the Indian parliament in New Delhi. India immediately blamed Pakistan-based groups, despite a lack of conclusive evidence. The crisis brought the two nations to the brink of another war, leading to a major military standoff.

November 2008:

A coordinated terror attack in Mumbai left 166 people dead. India quickly pointed fingers at Pakistan without allowing a joint investigation. Dialogue between the two nations was suspended, stalling years of peace efforts.

January 2016:

Militants attacked the Pathankot Air Force base near the Pakistan border. Pakistan condemned the attack and offered cooperation in the investigation. However, Indian authorities prematurely blamed Pakistan-based groups, complicating bilateral efforts for peace.

September 2016:

Following an attack on an Indian army base in Uri, India claimed to have conducted “surgical strikes” across the LoC. Pakistan strongly denied any cross-border incursion, stating that India’s claims were unfounded and aimed at distracting from internal issues in Kashmir.

February 2019:

After a suicide bombing killed 40 Indian paramilitary personnel in Pulwama, India carried out airstrikes in Balakot, deep inside Pakistani territory. Pakistan responded with restraint but firmly defended its sovereignty, downing an Indian jet and capturing its pilot, who was later returned as a peace gesture.

August 2019:

India unilaterally revoked Article 370, stripping Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir of its special constitutional status. Pakistan condemned the move as illegal under international law, downgraded diplomatic ties, and suspended trade with India in protest.

April 2025:

Twenty-six civilians, mostly Hindu pilgrims, were killed in an attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir. India blamed Pakistan-backed militants without evidence, while Pakistan condemned the violence and called for an impartial international investigation.

In retaliation, India suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty—an unprecedented move affecting millions—and halted all visa issuance to Pakistani nationals. Pakistan responded by suspending all forms of trade with India, including via third countries. Both countries also closed their airspace to each other’s airlines, heightening regional instability.

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