New Delhi/Islamabad — Tensions between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan escalated dramatically today as both nations traded accusations of cross-border drone and missile attacks. India announced it had intercepted a barrage of Pakistani loitering munitions and missiles overnight, retaliating with strikes targeting Pakistan’s air defense systems—marking the first direct confirmation of attacks on military installations in this flare-up
Pakistan’s Drone Claims and India’s Counterstrikes
Pakistan’s military spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated that 25 Indian-made Harop drones—Israeli-designed “kamikaze” loitering munitions—were shot down across Pakistan, including near Lahore and Karachi. Debris from the drones reportedly struck a military site near Lahore, injuring four soldiers, and killed one civilian in Sindh province
India swiftly denied the claims, asserting its air defenses had “neutralized” Pakistani missile and drone attacks on military targets in northern and western India. In response, Indian forces targeted Pakistani air defense radars and installations, escalating the conflict into a new phase of tit-for-tat strikes.
Casualties Mount on Both Sides
Pakistan: At least 31 civilians were killed in Wednesday’s Indian strikes, dubbed Operation Sindoor, which New Delhi claims targeted militant camps linked to the April 22 tourist massacre in Kashmir. Islamabad insists the attacks hit civilians and mosques, including a seminary in Muzaffarabad where three died 48.
India: Cross-border shelling by Pakistan has killed 16 civilians, including children, in Indian-administered Kashmir since Wednesday. Over 50,000 residents have fled border areas, with chaotic evacuations reported in Uri and Poonch 57.
Military Posturing and Denials
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned retaliation is “increasingly certain,” vowing to target only military assets 10.
India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar emphasized “zero tolerance for terrorism” but insisted strikes were “measured” to avoid civilian harm 28.
Conflicting claims persist over downed jets: Pakistan alleges five Indian fighter planes, including French Rafales, were destroyed using Chinese J-10C aircraft. India has not confirmed losses, though French intelligence acknowledged one Rafale was shot down 45.
Global Alarm and Diplomatic Maneuvers
The UN, US, China, and Russia urged de-escalation, with UN teams inspecting strike sites in Pakistani Kashmir. US President Donald Trump offered mediation, while Turkey’s Erdogan pledged support to Pakistan 58. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s economy teetered as its stock index plunged 6.3%, and India’s rupee hit a six-week low 10.
Behind the Escalation: A Cycle of Retribution
The conflict stems from the April 22 massacre of 26 tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, which India blamed on Pakistan-based groups Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. Analysts argue India’s strikes, while symbolically named Operation Sindoor (vermilion, referencing widowed Kashmiri women), lack long-term deterrence. “This is domestic theatre,” said security expert Ajai Sahni, noting both sides’ claims of victory mask a dangerous spiral 11.
Human Toll and Regional Fallout
Kashmiris Caught in Crossfire: Families in border villages described fleeing under shelling, with video showing overcrowded safe houses and hospitals overwhelmed by casualties 710.
Airspace Chaos: Over 50 commercial flights were diverted during Wednesday’s strikes, including Middle Eastern and East Asian carriers. Srinagar’s airport remains closed 48.
What Next?
With neither side backing down, the risk of a full-scale war looms. Pakistan’s history of proxy warfare and India’s hardened stance under PM Narendra Modi suggest a protracted stalemate. As Malala Yousafzai pleaded for dialogue, experts warned the absence of “calibrated limits” could trigger unintended escalation 211.
— With inputs from Al Jazeera, CNN, Reuters, and The Independent.
