Tensions between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan have sharply escalated following Pakistan’s claim that it shot down 25 Indian drones targeting military installations, a day after the deadliest violence between the two nations in two decades. The clashes have resulted in at least 45 fatalities on both sides, including civilians and children.
The Pakistani military said the drones were intercepted late Wednesday night, with one managing to hit a military target near Lahore, injuring four troops. Another drone incident in Sindh claimed a civilian life and left another injured. Blasts were reported across Lahore, and airports in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad were temporarily shut down as a security precaution.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed swift retaliation, declaring, “We will avenge each drop of the blood of these martyrs.” The conflict erupted after India launched missile strikes across the border on Wednesday, reportedly targeting nine “terrorist camps” in response to an April 22 attack on Hindu tourists in Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which killed 26. India blames the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba for the assault — a claim Pakistan has denied, calling for an independent investigation.
Pakistan reported that 31 of its civilians were killed in the Indian strikes, while India claimed 13 civilian deaths and one soldier lost due to Pakistani fire. Pakistan also asserted that it downed five Indian fighter jets, a claim yet to be confirmed by New Delhi. A senior Indian official acknowledged that three jets crashed, but did not elaborate.
Civilians on both sides have been severely impacted, with homes destroyed in Muzaffarabad and lives lost in India’s Poonch region due to cross-border shelling.
International leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, have urged restraint. Meanwhile, Iran has stepped in as a potential mediator, with diplomatic meetings ongoing in both capitals.
Analysts suggest the current flare-up may follow historical patterns intense but short-lived exchanges that taper off after limited military objectives are met. However, with both nations on high alert, the risk of further escalation remains significant.
