Deadly Clashes Escalate Between India and Pakistan/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ India and Pakistan exchanged drone strikes and accusations after Indian missiles killed 31 civilians in Pakistan. Islamabad claims to have downed 25 drones and vows to respond, while India accuses Pakistan of attempting cross-border attacks. Rising tensions have triggered evacuations and flight disruptions across the region.
India-Pakistan Escalation Quick Looks
- Drone Strikes: India launched Harop drones into Pakistan, wounding four soldiers.
- Pakistan’s Response: Officials claim 25 drones shot down; one civilian killed by debris.
- Civilian Toll: 31 Pakistanis killed by Indian missiles; 16 Indians reported dead in retaliatory shelling.
- Cross-Border Fire: Both sides report intense exchanges along the Line of Control.
- Public Pressure: Leaders on both sides face demands for retaliation.
- Flight Disruptions: Major airports shut in both India and Pakistan.
- Evacuations: Thousands flee border villages on both sides of Kashmir.
- Kashmir Flashpoint: Latest flare-up follows deadly Kashmir attack on Hindu tourists.
- Military Targets: India confirms it targeted Pakistan’s air defense infrastructure.
- Awaited Retaliation: Pakistan says response will come at a “time of its choosing.”
Deep Look: India and Pakistan Trade Drones, Shells, and Accusations as Border Crisis Deepens
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated sharply on Thursday as both nations launched attacks and traded accusations following a deadly missile strike by India that killed 31 civilians in Pakistan a day earlier. In response, India launched several Harop drones, which Pakistan says targeted military installations and wounded at least four soldiers.
Pakistan’s military claims it intercepted and downed 25 drones, with debris killing a civilian in Sindh province and damaging several areas near Lahore and Rawalpindi. One drone reportedly struck close to Walton Airport, a sensitive site surrounded by residential zones.
India Confirms Offensive Targeting
India’s Defense Ministry confirmed that its armed forces struck Pakistani air defense systems, specifically targeting radar installations. It cited the action as retaliation for what it described as ongoing threats and attempted strikes by Pakistan, including drone and missile incursions across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir.
India accused Pakistan of attempting to “engage multiple military targets” along the volatile border. A statement said debris from those attempts was being recovered from various locations within Indian territory.
Pakistan Threatens Retaliation Amid Domestic Pressure
Speaking before Parliament, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar acknowledged that Pakistan had yet to formally retaliate for India’s missile strike but warned that a response would come “at the appropriate time.”
“We are not blind to the loss of life,” Tarar said, referring to the 31 civilians killed. “Our forces are prepared, and our response will be deliberate.”
Tarar also denied Indian claims that Pakistan launched missiles toward Amritsar, saying instead that an Indian drone had crashed in the city. These conflicting accounts have yet to be independently verified.
Kashmir Once Again at the Center of Conflict
The recent escalation stems from an attack last month in Indian-administered Kashmir, in which gunmen killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists. India blames Pakistan-based militants for the massacre—an accusation Islamabad strongly denies.
India says its missile strikes were aimed at terrorist infrastructure linked to the attack. Pakistan has condemned the strikes as violations of its sovereignty and a threat to regional stability.
Heavy Shelling and Claimed Casualties
Both militaries have engaged in intense shelling along the LoC. Pakistan’s government claims to have killed 40 to 50 Indian soldiers, a figure India has not confirmed. Indian officials acknowledge the death of one soldier and say 16 civilians were killed in retaliatory fire.
Pakistan says six of its citizens have been killed by Indian shelling in the past 24 hours.
Civilians Flee and Flights Halted
Fear of further escalation has driven mass evacuations. Indian authorities moved thousands of residents from villages along the border, with shelters reportedly housing tens of thousands overnight. Pakistan has seen similar movements, with 2,000 residents displaced from its side of Kashmir.
“I am helplessly leaving my home for the safety of my children,” said Mohammad Iftikhar, who evacuated under heavy rain with his family.
Meanwhile, flights have been suspended at more than two dozen airports across northern and western India, including key hubs. Pakistan closed airports in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, and Sialkot, further complicating civilian mobility.
Harop Drones Signal New Era of Conflict
The use of Harop drones, made by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), marks a tactical shift. These loitering munitions act as both drones and precision missiles. According to IAI, they are capable of long-range autonomous operations, making them a versatile and deadly weapon in asymmetric warfare.
India’s increasing reliance on drone warfare suggests a willingness to conduct low-risk, high-impact precision strikes—a strategy that may provoke more robust retaliation from Pakistan.
Global Concerns Mount as Conflict Looms
The border flare-up is the most dangerous escalation between the two nuclear-armed rivals since their 2019 standoff, which also involved airstrikes and cross-border casualties.
Both countries have fought three wars, two of which were over Kashmir, a region each controls in part but claims in full. With nationalist sentiments inflamed and military posturing intensifying, observers warn the crisis could quickly spiral into a broader military conflict if cooler heads do not prevail.
International mediators including Qatar, the U.S., and China have called for restraint, but neither government has signaled a willingness to de-escalate.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.