New details have surfaced regarding the intense military confrontation between India and Pakistan in May 2025.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar disclosed to Parliament in July 2025 that American Vice President JD Vance alerted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 9 about a fast-approaching, large-scale strike by Pakistan.
Prime Minister Modi also shared that Vice President Vance had attempted to reach him several times while he was in a meeting with army officials before they finally connected.
During their phone conversation, Vice President Vance informed the Indian leader that a major Pakistani offensive would occur within hours. In response, Prime Minister Modi firmly stated that any such aggression would be met with a powerful and fitting counterattack. When the Pakistani strike eventually materialised, Indian armed forces successfully neutralised the threat.
This disclosure sheds new light on the events of the night of May 9–10. It clearly shows that the United States government had prior knowledge of Pakistan's military plans and quickly shared this critical intelligence with the Indian leadership.
The warning from the US arrived shortly after India initiated Operation Sindoor on May 7. India's operation targeted terror networks within Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, acting as a direct response to the tragic Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. In retaliation, Pakistan intensified the conflict by launching drones and missiles at Indian military bases.
Minister Jaishankar noted that India's actions went well beyond simply defending its airspace. After thwarting the initial incoming strikes, Indian forces conducted retaliatory operations against important Pakistani military targets, severely damaging air bases and air-defence installations. Open-source reports indicated that India heavily struck key locations, including the Nur Khan logistics hub in Rawalpindi, as well as the Murid and Rafiqui air bases.
This timeline is crucial for understanding Pakistan's Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos, which commenced on May 10. While initial reports highlighted Pakistani attacks on Indian armed forces installations across Jammu, Kashmir, and Punjab, it became clear that India's robust air-defence network successfully intercepted the threats before launching its own counter-strikes deep into Pakistani territory.
Knowing about the advanced warning from Washington helps explain India's rapid operational readiness. Having received notice before Pakistan launched its offensive, Indian military commanders gained valuable time to activate their air-defence assets, secure vulnerable equipment, and prepare their counter-attack strategies.
However, it would be inaccurate to assume that the American alert was the sole reason India could strike. India had already launched Operation Sindoor two days prior to the phone call. Instead, the warning served as a vital strategic heads-up just before Pakistan's major offensive on May 9–10, allowing India to fine-tune its defensive and offensive response.
It is important to remember that this entire exchange was part of a broader sequence of rapidly escalating events. The series of strikes and counter-strikes over those few days created a massive military and diplomatic crisis between the two neighbouring countries.
India's success in stopping the Pakistani assault was particularly notable because Pakistan utilised a mix of advanced weaponry, including drones, loitering munitions, and surface-to-surface missiles. Indian air-defence systems, such as the S-400 and Akash batteries, proved essential in safeguarding military bases from the incoming barrage.
Following the successful interceptions, India's retaliatory strikes crippled Pakistani radar systems and air-defence networks. Minister Jaishankar described the impact of the Indian response as "devastating," citing satellite imagery that confirmed extensive damage to Pakistani airfields.
This entire event underlines the critical value of intelligence sharing between New Delhi and Washington. The direct communication from the US Vice President to the Indian Prime Minister highlights how seriously the United States viewed the potential for war between two nuclear-armed nations.
Ultimately, the alert on May 9 was a single, albeit important, factor in India's broader intelligence and military strategy, rather than the only reason for the failure of Pakistan's offensive.
The official narrative from the Indian government makes one thing perfectly clear: India was warned about the impending Pakistani attack, thoroughly prepared for it, defeated the assault, and then executed a massive military retaliation against Pakistan's military infrastructure.
