JAMMU/SRINAGAR, India, May 9 (Reuters) - Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated significantly as Pakistan's armed forces launched a series of drone attacks and other munitions along India's entire western border on Thursday night and early Friday morning. The Indian army reported these developments amid rising conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, which have a long history of military confrontations.
The recent hostilities were ignited after India targeted multiple locations in Pakistan on Wednesday, claiming these were terrorist camps involved in a deadly attack in Kashmir last month. India accused Islamabad of orchestrating this attack, leading to a swift military response. Pakistan, however, has strongly denied these accusations, describing them as unfounded and politically motivated.
Since the initial strikes, both countries have engaged in a dangerous exchange of cross-border firing and shelling, with each side reporting incursions into their airspace by drones and missiles. The ongoing violence has resulted in nearly four dozen casualties, raising concerns over the deepening crisis.
The Indian army has reported multiple ceasefire violations (CFVs) by Pakistani troops along the de-facto border in the Kashmir region. This area, which is claimed in full by both countries, has long been a flashpoint for military tensions. In response to the drone attacks, the Indian army stated that these were effectively repulsed and that any future ceasefire violations would be met with a robust military response.
While there has been no immediate reaction from Pakistan regarding these developments, the government in Islamabad previously denied allegations of launching attacks on Indian cities including Pathankot, Srinagar, and Jaisalmer.
In a separate incident, a major infiltration attempt was thwarted in the Samba region of Kashmir on Thursday night, as reported by India's Border Security Force. Heavy artillery shelling continued in the Uri area on Friday, leading to significant damage to civilian homes, with reports indicating that several houses caught fire. Tragically, one woman was killed and another injured due to the overnight shelling.
In the border city of Amritsar, home to the revered Golden Temple, sirens blared for over two hours on Friday, prompting local residents to stay indoors for their safety. Students at nearby institutions described the explosions as unusually loud, with one university student noting that windows were shaking, creating a frightening atmosphere.
Global powers, including the United States and China, have urged both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and de-escalate the rising tensions. U.S. Vice President JD Vance reiterated the importance of calming the situation in an interview, expressing that while the U.S. cannot control these nations, there is a strong desire for rapid de-escalation.
The relationship between predominantly Hindu India and Islamic Pakistan has been characterized by longstanding hostility since their separation following British colonial rule in 1947. The region of Kashmir, which has a Muslim majority, has been central to the animosity, with the two nations having fought two out of their three wars over this contested area.
This recent flare-up in violence underscores the fragile state of peace between India and Pakistan, raising alarms for the future stability of the region and the safety of its civilians.
