The 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, sparked by a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, lasted just four intense days and shattered several long-held myths about warfare between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Often dubbed a “four-day war,” it began on April 22, 2025, with the Pahalgam assault that killed 26 civilians, mostly Hindu tourists, and escalated into missile strikes, drone battles, and aerial dogfights. This article busts key myths, including exaggerated claims about downed fighter jets, and traces the rapid path from trigger to ceasefire.
The Pahalgam Attack: Catalyst for Conflict
On April 22, 2025, militants from The Resistance Front (TRF), a Pakistan-based group, stormed the scenic Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, targeting tourists with assault rifles. The attackers singled out non-Muslims by asking them to recite Islamic phrases, resulting in 26 deaths, including newlyweds and a local Muslim operator who tried to intervene. This was the deadliest civilian attack in India since the 2008 Mumbai assaults, shifting the focus from military targets to communal provocation.
Indian authorities quickly blamed Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for backing TRF, though Islamabad denied involvement and called the accusations baseless. The assault ignited a war frenzy in India, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowing retaliation, suspending the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, and downgrading diplomatic ties. Security forces launched a massive manhunt, eventually killing key suspects like Suleman Shah in July, linking the plot to LeT operatives.
The incident exposed vulnerabilities in Kashmir’s tourism-heavy regions and highlighted how targeted killings could rapidly escalate bilateral tensions. By April 24, cross-border shelling had begun, setting the stage for Operation Sindoor.
Operation Sindoor: India’s Response and Escalation
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 6, 2025, conducting precision strikes on nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, destroying infrastructure linked to the Pahalgam attack. The operation involved drones, missiles, and fighter jets, marking the first major drone warfare between the two nations. Pakistan responded with artillery fire along the Line of Control (LoC), killing 11 in Poonch and damaging civilian sites like an Islamic school.
The four-day escalation saw intense exchanges: Indian forces hit Pakistani airbases in Murid, Nur Khan, and Sargodha, while Pakistan targeted Indian positions. This back-and-forth shattered the myth that Pakistan would quickly resort to nuclear options in a conventional mismatch, as both sides restrained from full-scale invasion despite nuclear capabilities. Instead, the conflict stayed limited to border areas, influenced by U.S. diplomatic pressure.
Casualties mounted quickly, with reports of civilian deaths on both sides fueling domestic outrage. The rapid tempo underscored how modern tech like drones and beyond-visual-range missiles could intensify short bursts of fighting without prolonged ground wars.
Fighter Jets Downed: Debunking the Numbers Myth
A central myth from the 2025 war revolves around fighter jet losses, with both sides inflating claims to boost morale and narratives. Pakistan initially boasted of downing six Indian jets, including three French-made Rafales, using J-10C fighters armed with PL-15 missiles from PAF Base Minhas. India countered by saying its S-400 systems destroyed five Pakistani fighters and an Erieye AEW&C aircraft from 300 km away, calling Pakistani claims “absolutely incorrect.”
Post-conflict investigations, including a U.S. Congressional report, busted these exaggerations: India lost only three jets, not all Rafales, while Pakistan may have downed up to five if broader claims hold. The confusion arose from misinformation campaigns, with China amplifying Rafale “kills” to promote its J-35 jets, and social media spreading unverified footage. No evidence supported India’s later assertion of six Pakistani losses, prompting skepticism even within its ranks.
This aerial clash highlighted the role of electronic warfare and long-range missiles, but the actual toll was far lower than hyped, preventing a spiral into total air superiority battles. The myth of massive jet downings served propaganda more than reality, as both air forces preserved assets for deterrence.
Ceasefire in Four Days: De-escalation Dynamics
The conflict de-escalated swiftly, with a ceasefire agreed on May 10, 2025—exactly four days after Operation Sindoor began—effective from 5:00 pm IST. Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) met on May 12 to reinforce the truce, halting all land, air, and sea actions while discussing troop reductions along the LoC. U.S. mediation played a key role, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushing for talks on Kashmir and water issues, though India insisted on no third-party involvement beyond the ceasefire.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed optimism for resolving longstanding disputes, while accusing India of civilian targeting. Despite initial violations like Pakistani drones over Srinagar, the agreement held, extending to May 18 and averting broader war. This quick resolution busted the myth of inevitable prolonged conflict, showing how international pressure and mutual nuclear fears can force restraint.
The four-day timeline reflected calculated risks: India’s strikes achieved objectives without invasion, while Pakistan’s responses avoided escalation. Broader measures like trade suspensions remained, but the truce restored fragile calm.
Broader Myths Busted in the 2025 War
The India-Pakistan 2025 war debunked several enduring misconceptions. First, the idea that Pakistan lacks conventional strength dissolved as its air force effectively countered Indian incursions, using Chinese tech to challenge Rafales. Second, nuclear saber-rattling stayed rhetorical; no escalation occurred despite threats, thanks to backchannel diplomacy.
Digital disinformation amplified myths, with both sides competing via social media—Pakistan weaving victories into textbooks, India highlighting terror strikes. The conflict also exposed overreliance on unverified claims, as seen in jet downings, urging better fact-checking in future crises. Ultimately, the war reinforced that limited actions can address grievances without catastrophe, though Kashmir remains a flashpoint.
In hindsight, the Pahalgam tragedy to ceasefire arc showed resilience in crisis management, but unresolved issues like TRF threats persist. As both nations rebuild, busting these myths promotes clearer understanding over propaganda.
