Recent blasts have echoed across Indian Kashmir and the Sikh holy city of Amritsar in neighboring Punjab. The Indian military has reported shooting down drones amidst some of the most intense fighting with Pakistan seen in nearly three decades.
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The explosions in Amritsar—marking the first such incidents in this escalating conflict—are raising concerns about a broader escalation that has caught the attention of world powers.
In Jammu, the winter capital of the region, officials and a Reuters journalist observed projectiles lighting up the night sky, as the city experienced a sudden blackout during the second night of hostilities.
“Drones have been sighted… they are being engaged,” stated an Indian military official, who preferred to remain anonymous, underlining the severity of the situation.
Pakistan has yet to comment on these developments, having previously dismissed Indian claims that it had conducted attacks in the same region last night.
The situation has intensified, with Pakistan accusing India of bringing the two nuclear-armed neighbors “closer to a major conflict.” As the death toll surpasses 50 from three days of missile, artillery, and drone attacks, both sides are clearly on edge.
This surge in violence follows a tragic attack on tourists in the Indian-administered part of Kashmir last month, which resulted in 26 deaths. India has accused Islamabad of supporting this attack, an allegation that Pakistan vehemently denies.
The Indian military conducted air strikes on Wednesday, targeting what it termed “terrorist camps” in Pakistan, reportedly killing over 20 civilians. “We will not de-escalate; given the damages they caused on our side, they should take a hit,” asserted Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, a spokesman for Pakistan’s military, emphasizing the seriousness of the matter. “We have been protecting ourselves, but they will receive a response in our own timing.”
In the latest round of hostilities, the Indian army has claimed to have “repulsed” multiple waves of attacks by Pakistani forces, describing their response as a “befitting reply.” This is shaping up to be one of the most significant confrontations between the two nations in decades, as they have a long history of conflict over Muslim-majority Kashmir.
Shafqat Ali Khan, a spokesman for Pakistan’s foreign ministry, expressed grave concerns, stating, “India’s reckless conduct has brought the two nuclear-armed states closer to a major conflict.” Tragically, many of the over 50 fatalities reported were in Pakistan and included innocent children.
According to Pakistani officials, five civilians—among them a two-year-old girl—were killed by Indian shelling overnight along the heavily militarized Line of Control (LoC), while on the Indian side, a police officer confirmed that one woman had died and two men were wounded as a result of heavy shelling.
Pakistani military sources revealed that they had downed 77 Indian drones over the last two days, with debris from many incursions reported across the country. In return, India has claimed that 300-400 drones attempted to infiltrate its airspace and accused Pakistani forces of targeting three military stations the previous day.
On Wednesday, Pakistan claimed to have shot down five Indian jets, though New Delhi has not addressed this assertion. A military source indicated that three jets had crashed over Indian territory, adding to the complexity of the situation as each side continues to trade claims that are difficult to verify.
Since 2019, militant activities have surged in Muslim-majority Kashmir, particularly following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s revocation of the region’s limited autonomy, allowing direct rule from New Delhi. Pakistan vehemently disputes New Delhi’s accusations regarding its involvement in the fatal Pahalgam attack on tourists last month, which India attributed to the Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba—a designation recognized by the United Nations.
As the conflict unfolds, schools have been closed on both sides of the India-Pakistan border in Kashmir and Punjab, impacting millions of children. Furthermore, India has temporarily shut down 24 airports; however, media reports indicate that civilian flight operations may resume as early as tomorrow morning.
The escalating conflict has caused significant disruptions to international aviation, leading airlines to cancel flights or reroute to avoid the volatile region. In an unusual turn of events, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been suspended for a week following the abandonment of a match in Dharamsala, located less than 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Jammu. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Super League has moved its games to the United Arab Emirates after an Indian drone strike targeted the Rawalpindi stadium.
In the words of a diplomatic observer, “What’s at stake is not just regional stability, but the safety of millions caught in the crossfire.”
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring
