India says it has launched missile strikes on nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Residents in the targeted areas reported being jolted awake by massive explosions during the night.
Pakistan, in response, claims that six locations were attacked and that its forces shot down five Indian fighter jets. India has not yet confirmed the loss of any aircraft.
According to Indian army officials, at least 10 civilians were killed by Pakistani shelling on India’s side of the de facto border, known as the Line of Control.
Meanwhile, Pakistan says that Indian air strikes and gunfire killed 26 people and injured 46 others on its side of the border.
The deadly exchange comes amid heightened tensions following a recent militant attack on Indian tourists in the town of Pahalgam last month, which killed several people.
India blames Pakistan-based terrorist groups for orchestrating the attack. Officials claim to have obtained “clear evidence” linking the assailants to external support from across the border.
Pakistan, however, has denied any involvement in the Pahalgam incident and dismissed India’s claims as “baseless and inflammatory.”
As the conflict intensifies, both nations armed with nuclear weapons are being urged to de-escalate by the international community.
BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen warned that “both sides know what the stakes are,” and stressed that a major diplomatic effort is urgently needed to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.
Kashmir, a disputed territory claimed in full by both India and Pakistan, has long been a flashpoint between the two countries.
The region has experienced a decades-long insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives, fueling repeated military confrontations.
With the situation deteriorating rapidly, world leaders are calling for restraint, dialogue, and an immediate ceasefire to avoid a broader conflict.
