Recent episode of Pak-India conflict from 6^th to 10^th May 2025 was evidently first military conflict in South Asia where various new dynamics of modern warfare were witnessed. From Multidomain escalation to drone warfare to cyber-attacks to EW spectrum control to achieving complex kill chains; this conflict highlighted how much warfare has evolved at tactical level with strategic repercussions on both sides.

Pakistan Air Force’s performance on the night of 6-7^th May 2025, when India launched unprovoked aerial strikes on Pakistani civilians, has become the single most discussed success around the world

Pakistan Air Force’s performance on the night of 6-7^th May 2025, when India launched unprovoked aerial strikes on Pakistani civilians, has become the single most discussed success around the world as it successfully excelled in all above-mentioned newly emerged tactical spheres of modern warfare.

India initiated the conflict with full advantage of the element of surprise in its favor using stand-off weapons like SCLAP-EG and HIMMER Air Launched Cruise Missiles (ALCMs). The attack was further complemented by Brahmos ALCMs. This was a display of non-contact warfare which hitherto was not witnessed by South Asian skies.

While remaining well within its own airspace, PAF was able to shoot down 6 IAF fighters and drones within the span of 59 minutes

What followed in retaliatory counter air operation by PAF was also something not known to this region so far. While remaining well within its own airspace, PAF was able to shoot down 6 IAF fighters and drones within the span of 59 minutes. PAF scored kills as far as 190 kilometer using complex kill chain where multiple platforms performed isolated functions of tracking, firing missile and guidance till kill. Known as ABC tactics, this approach is complex than AB strategy many modern air forces uses where two different platforms take part in a kill chain.

Most part of Pakistan’s success in this air combat was due to its superior control in Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities and EW Spectrum domination

According to PAF, there were more than 100 high-tech aircraft involved from both sides but PAF despite having less aircraft against IAF (i.e. 42 vs. 72) dominated in this historic high-tempo air combat. Most part of Pakistan’s success in this air combat was due to its superior control in Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities and EW Spectrum domination. More importantly, Indian Air Force (IAF) didn’t negate or challenge Pakistan’s claim of shooting down its multiple aircrafts.

After Pakistan’s response in counter-air operation, India launched massive drone warfare against Pakistan by launching dozens of drones of various categories as part of its Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) campaign to neutralize Pakistan’s Integrated Air Defense Systems (IADS) so that it can launch a massive aerial strike to overcome the humiliation of previous night. Pakistani forces foiled Indian plan by not falling into the trap and neutralized Indian drone swarms attack with the help of newly inducted soft-kill systems and radar guided AAA guns. Indian drone attacks comprised on both local and foreign systems like Israeli Harop, Polish Warmate, and many homegrown systems.

Pakistan neutralized close to 100 Indian drones

Pakistan’s soft kill anti-drone systems disabled communication and data-linking capabilities of Indian drones sending them completely off-target. As per Rule of Engagements (ROEs), hard kills were performed only once these kamikaze drones got too close to any military or civilian target on ground. By the end of conflict, Pakistan neutralized close to 100 Indian drones. In retaliation, Pakistan also used loitering munition, UAVs and Kamikaze drones in large numbers. Many of these were intercepted but they succeeded in triggering Indian ADS response revealing their locations on ground.

Once Pakistan denied Indian Drone Swarm attack any success in neutralizing own Air Defense System (ADS) nodes, India initiated missile warfare and launched multiple air and ground launched cruise missiles on a number of Pakistani air bases on the night of 9^th May. This triggered Pakistan’s anticipated retaliation that was promised by DG ISPR multiple times till then. Along with hitting Pakistani air bases with missiles, India launched a massive propaganda campaign as part of its information operations which later on caused more humiliation to India as almost all the claims made on the night of 9^th May proved to be lies the next morning. The scale of information operations in this conflict was unprecedented in the context of Indo-Pak military conflict history.

On the morning of 10^th May, Pakistan launched air, ground and cyber domain attacks on selected targets. On ground, Pakistan’s robust retaliation, including strikes on 26 Indian military targets, shattered perceptions of its conventional inferiority and demonstrated its credible deterrence capabilities. At this point, both sides employ aggressive tactics in conventional domain. Pakistan’s response comprised on long range guided rocket artillery (Fateh-1 and Fateh 2) missiles, A2G missiles on Indian air defense units like S-400 radar systems at Adampur and Bhuj air bases, drone swarms targeting multiple ground targets while India pushed its air force in rare bases and relied on air and ground launched cruise missiles like Brahmos.

Both sides were able to cause damage on ground against each other and both sides suffered losses in terms of human life and equipment. Once again, both sides employed advanced EW systems. India deployed its Samyukta EW systems to jam Pakistani communications and radar, while Pakistan used Chinese-supplied GPS jammers including to disrupt Indian drones and missiles. PAF later on highlighted this in a presser how Indian missiles were made to go off-target once they crossed into Pakistani airspace with the help of these EW systems.

India’s No First Use (NFU) vs. Pakistan’s Minimum Credible Deterrence (MCD) thresholds were tested in the midst of conventional missiles and drone strikes

The crisis was also unique in the sense that it tested the contested nuclear doctrines from both sides. India’s No First Use (NFU) vs. Pakistan’s Minimum Credible Deterrence (MCD) thresholds were tested in the midst of conventional missile and drone strikes. India struck deep inside Pakistan taking advantage of lack of geographical depth of Pakistan while Pakistan retaliated with tactical precision targeting Indian ammunition dump and critical systems like S-400s raising fears of accidental escalation of conflict in potential nuclear brinksmanship. Pakistan’s response on 10^th May 2025 shattered myths about the country’s poor conventional fighting power which could force lowering the nuclear threshold very early in the conflict.

Indian government has already announced a whooping 40,000 crore INR to purchase various defensive and offensive systems under emergency provisions

Fortunately, despite reckless escalation by India the conflict has been subdued for now at least and millions of people from both sides avoided what could be a larger human tragedy. This short-lived conflict is going to leave lasting impact on how both sides will prepare for conventional deterrence in future. Indian government has already announced a whooping 40,000 crore INR to purchase various defensive and offensive systems under emergency provisions.

India has already signed $4 billion MQ-9B Predator High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UCAVs with the US while Pakistan is developing homegrown programs like Shehpar-II and Shehpar-III in the same categories

It is an interesting case study for geostrategy and security researchers to contemplate future evolution of all these new dynamics in this conflict. Things which are certain include both militaries fully embracing drone warfare including AI-driven target acquisition through drones. India has already signed $4 billion MQ-9B Predator High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UCAVs with the US while Pakistan is developing homegrown programs like Shehpar-II and Shehpar-III in the same categories.  Both countries will also strive for EW spectrum domination along with enhancing cyber warfare capabilities to undermine each other’s industrial control system and control the flow of information and narrative during the future conflict. Pakistan may increase funding for developing new non-conventional missile arsenal.

Indian Brahmos is non-nuclear since its inception and provided India ability to hit hardened targets inside Pakistan like air bases while Pakistan despite having Babur and Raad cruise missiles couldn’t deploy them as both have been classified as platforms for non-conventional strikes. Pakistan can’t match India in quantitative terms but it can prevail during a short-lived war using asymmetric tactics, qualitative training edge, and adopting multi-domain paradigm in its military doctrine which already exhibited during this conflict as well.

Technology integration into military strategy will play a key role in this redefinition of warfare in South Asia.

In short, this short conflict will usher visible changes in warfare in South Asia compared to all previous conflict. EW, Cyber, Space and Info-Ops would be contested places along with battlefield where rules of engagements have been redefined already. Both countries will try to hit each other while remaining in own land and air space. Technology integration into military strategy will play a key role in this redefinition of warfare in South Asia.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.