On May 7, 2025, the world’s attention was fixed on Pakistan as global media from five continents chronicled the fallout of India’s Operation Sindoor, a series of missile strikes targeting nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Triggered by the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, the operation exposed Pakistan’s terror infrastructure, crashed its stock market, and left its society in fear.
The strikes, which killed at least 70 terrorists, including 10 family members and four aides of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar, reshaped global perceptions of Pakistan’s role in terrorism.
From Washington to Tokyo, Doha to Berlin, and São Paulo to Johannesburg, international media outlets in diverse languages reported the human toll, economic shock, and diplomatic ripples. United States President Donald Trump called the situation a “shame” and offered mediation, while Russia’s President Vladimir Putin expressed concern over escalation, urging restraint to prevent a broader conflict. Even as China, an all-weather friend of Pakistan, found India’s military operation “regrettable”, it stated that it opposes all forms of terrorism and urged both sides to “act in larger interest of peace and stability, remain calm, exercise restraint and refrain from taking actions that may further complicate the situation”.
In North America, The New York Times described the strikes as a “major escalation,” detailing their precision in hitting Jaish-e-Mohammed’s Bahawalpur stronghold and Lashkar-e-Taiba’s Muridke base, linked to the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The Washington Post called it a “calibrated show of force,” noting Muzaffarabad residents’ panic as a mosque collapsed. Cable News Network (CNN) reported India’s use of Rafale jets and Storm Shadow/Scalable Cruise Missile for Precision Low Observable missions, warning of a “tinderbox” situation but confirming no military targets were hit. Canada’s Globe and Mail captured Pakistan’s “palpable fear,” quoting a Lahore teacher: “We don’t know if more bombs will fall.” Mexico’s El Universal, in Spanish, framed the strikes as exposing Pakistan’s “terror sponsorship,” noting Maulana Masood Azhar’s personal losses, confirmed in his statement vowing revenge.
Europe’s media sounded alarms. The United Kingdom’s British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported strikes in Bahawalpur and Kotli, noting civilians gathering amid smoke. The Guardian cited Pakistan’s unverified claim of 31 civilian deaths, warning of diplomatic fallout. France’s Le Monde, in French, questioned if the strikes revived 1999’s Kargil War, quoting a Muzaffarabad father: “The sky burned, and we ran.” Germany’s Die Zeit, in German, urged North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) mediation, citing nuclear risks. Spain’s El País, in Spanish, noted a child’s death in Bahawalpur, per Pakistan’s military, criticising the terror camps’ civilian proximity. Italy’s Corriere della Sera, in Italian, called the strikes a “wake-up call” for Pakistan’s militancy. Sweden’s Dagens Nyheter, in Swedish, warned of regional instability, quoting a Karachi trader: “Our savings are gone overnight.”
In the Middle East, Al Jazeera, in Arabic, detailed Lashkar-e-Taiba’s Muridke destruction, quoting a Sialkot villager: “Our homes are rubble, caught in a war we didn’t start.” Qatar’s Al Arabiya reported Maulana Masood Azhar’s confirmation of 10 family members and four aides killed, his vow for retaliation signalling Jaish-e-Mohammed’s desperation. Iran’s Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), in Persian, cited Pakistan’s claim of 26 civilian deaths but questioned the terror camps’ role. Saudi Arabia’s Asharq Al-Awsat, in Arabic, highlighted Bahawalpur’s Pulwama attack links, framing Pakistan as a “terror hub.” Türkiye’s Anadolu Agency, in Turkish, quoted a Pakistan-occupied Kashmir resident: “We live in fear now.” Stranded travellers in Dubai told Al Jazeera of their limbo, grounded by airspace closures.
Asia’s media emphasised regional stakes. Japan’s Asahi Shimbun, in Japanese, reported Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi’s call for restraint. China’s Xinhua, in Mandarin, echoed Pakistan’s casualty claims but faced backlash for unverified reports; Global Times avoided endorsing Pakistan. Russia’s Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union, in Russian, described deserted Pakistan-occupied Kashmir villages, quoting a resident: “Fear rules us.” Indonesia’s Kompas, in Bahasa Indonesia, warned of economic fallout, noting the Karachi Stock Exchange 100 Index’s crash. South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo, in Korean, criticised Pakistan’s terror links. Malaysia’s Berita Harian, in Malay, noted 300 flight cancellations, quoting a stranded Pakistani: “My family waits, but I’m stuck.” Thailand’s Matichon, in Thai, called the strikes a “blow to Pakistan’s terror network,” citing Hizbul Mujahideen’s losses.
Latin America’s coverage focused on human costs. Brazil’s Folha de São Paulo, in Portuguese, praised the strikes’ precision but warned of economic contagion, noting Emirates and Qatar Airways’ cancellations. A Lahore student, quoted by Reuters, said: “We’re scared to leave home.” Argentina’s Clarín, in Spanish, reported 12 civilian deaths in Poonch from Pakistani shelling, including four children. Chile’s La Tercera, in Spanish, called Pakistan’s terror camps a “global threat.” Colombia’s El Tiempo, in Spanish, quoted a stranded expatriate in Doha: “I just want to go home.” Peru’s El Comercio, in Spanish, noted the strikes’ exposure of Pakistan’s militancy, citing over 90 terrorists killed.
Africa’s media added perspective. South Africa’s Mail & Guardian reported that Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered Pakistan solidarity. Nigeria’s Punch detailed the Karachi Stock Exchange 100 Index’s crash and debunked Pakistan’s claim of downing Indian jets. A Muzaffarabad volunteer, quoted by Punch, said: “My hands shook, recovering bodies from the mosque.” Kenya’s The Standard highlighted Lashkar-e-Taiba’s Markaz Taiba destruction. Egypt’s Al-Ahram, in Arabic, criticised Pakistan’s militancy, quoting a Cairo analyst: “Pakistan must dismantle these camps.” Ethiopia’s Addis Standard warned of nuclear risks. Morocco’s Hespress, in Arabic, noted global concern, quoting a Rabat scholar: “Pakistan’s terror links endanger us all.”
In Australia, The Sydney Morning Herald noted Singapore’s travel advisory, quoting a Sialkot mother: “I just want my son to live.” The Australian highlighted Pakistan’s isolation, with no Muslim nation, including Saudi Arabia, offering full support. New Zealand’s Stuff warned of nuclear risks, quoting a Karachi resident: “We’re trapped in a nightmare.” Papua New Guinea’s Post-Courier reported the strikes’ exposure of terror networks. Fiji’s The Fiji Times, in English, noted the Karachi Stock Exchange 100 Index’s plunge, quoting a Lahore vendor: “My shop is shut, my life ruined.”
Pakistan’s economic misery deepened with the Karachi Stock Exchange 100 Index crashing 6,272 points, a 4.62% drop to 107,296, wiping out billions in market value. Posts on the social media platform X reported a 5-5.5% plunge, reflecting investor panic. Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways suspended flights to Lahore and Islamabad, stranding thousands. Airports in northern Pakistan closed, and United Airlines cancelled its Delhi route due to airspace restrictions. In Karachi, a small trader told Reuters: “My life’s savings vanished in hours.” In Lahore, markets stood deserted, with shopkeepers like Faisal, quoted by the British Broadcasting Corporation, saying: “No customers, no income, just fear.” The Wall Street Journal noted Pakistan’s fragile economy buckling, with analysts warning of long-term investor flight.
The common Pakistani bears the crisis’s weight. In Muzaffarabad, families mourn amid mosque rubble, per The Guardian. A Tangdhar widow, quoted by Reuters, wept for her husband, killed in shelling: “Will peace ever come?” Islamabad’s schools remain closed, with students like 16-year-old Ayesha, per the British Broadcasting Corporation, fearing for their future. In Sialkot, a mother clutched her injured son, telling Le Monde: “I pray he survives this nightmare.” In Karachi, a street vendor, quoted by Al Jazeera, said: “No one buys, no one moves, we’re all waiting for the next blow.” Social media platform X posts captured despair, one user writing: “Pakistan bleeds, our markets collapse, our people hide.” In Bahawalpur, a father told El País: “My children haven’t eaten properly since the strikes.”
Pakistani media turned fiercely critical. The Express Tribune wrote on May 7: “The army’s failure to protect our sovereignty is a national disgrace. We’ve been humiliated, and the generals must answer.” Dawn’s column stated: “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s hollow vows of retaliation fool no one. The state’s complicity with terror groups has brought this upon us.” Geo News aired a panellist saying: “The army’s credibility is in tatters. They let India strike at will.” The News International wrote: “His bravado couldn’t stop India’s missiles. Where’s the defence we were promised?” ARY News featured a commentator: “Our leaders have failed us. The army couldn’t protect our skies, and the government couldn’t protect our dignity.” Social media platform X users like @nayika_nayika quoted media: “You’ve been humiliated enough, now crawl back to your hole!” Al Jazeera noted this backlash, reflecting public distrust.
On May 5, 2025, Pakistan convened a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting, chaired by Greece, alleging India’s “false flag” in Pahalgam and seeking a probe. Reuters reported Pakistan’s failure to provide evidence, with France acknowledging India’s terrorism concerns. The United Nations Security Council urged restraint, but no statement emerged, underscoring Pakistan’s isolation, per The Guardian. Former United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, on the social media platform X, stated: “No nation should have to accept terrorist attacks being launched against it from land controlled by another country. India is justified in striking terrorist infrastructure. There can be no impunity for terrorists.”
Terror groups were decimated. Jaish-e-Mohammed’s Maulana Masood Azhar, per Al Arabiya, confirmed 10 family members and four aides killed, vowing revenge but exposing weakness. Lashkar-e-Taiba’s Muridke headquarters and Hizbul Mujahideen’s Sialkot and Kotli camps were destroyed. Over 90 terrorists died, per the Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union, with no statements from Lashkar-e-Taiba or Hizbul Mujahideen leaders. Global media, from Die Zeit to Kompas, highlighted Pakistan’s “terror factory,” with Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder noting the camps’ military proximity. Pakistan’s military, claiming civilian losses, struggles to counter this narrative.
Global leaders urged de-escalation. United States President Donald Trump, per Cable News Network, offered mediation. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, per the Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union, pushed for restraint. China’s Xinhua condemned terrorism but offered mediation, not Pakistan’s support. Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, the United Nations’ Antonio Guterres, and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu backed dialogue or India’s self-defence. The United Arab Emirates’ Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Qatar’s Sheikh Mohammed, per Al Arabiya, called for peace. Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan supported Pakistan, but no major Muslim nation followed.
The human toll persists. In Poonch, India, Pakistani shelling killed 12 civilians, per Clarín. In Muzaffarabad, volunteers clear debris, per The Guardian. The Karachi Stock Exchange 100 Index’s crash and flight cancellations have left Pakistan on edge. The name Sindoor, symbolising Hindu widows’ vermilion mark, evokes Pahalgam’s loss and Pakistan’s pain. As global media amplify Pakistan’s terror networks, fractured economy, and internal criticism, the world hopes for dialogue, but Pakistan’s future remains shadowed.
– global bihari bureau
