Tensions between India and Pakistan have sharply escalated, with both countries claiming responsibility for a series of military actions across their borders.
India issued a statement Thursday claiming it targeted air defense radars and systems at “a number of locations” in Pakistan, including a successful strike on an air defense system in Lahore.
However, the statement did not provide further details on how the systems were targeted. In response, Pakistan’s army reported shooting down 25 Indian drones since Wednesday night, with some strikes occurring in major cities like Rawalpindi, Lahore, and near Karachi. The Pakistani army’s spokesperson described the situation as a “second blatant military act of aggression” by India.
India, meanwhile, confirmed it had neutralized attempts by Pakistan to strike “military targets” in northern and western India using drones and missiles during the night of Wednesday into Thursday. India’s Foreign Minister, S. Jaishankar, emphasized that India did not seek to escalate tensions but warned that any military attack would be met with a “very, very firm response.”
“We are responding to a particularly barbaric terrorist attack,” Jaishankar said, referring to the attack on Indian tourists in Pahalgam last month, which India has blamed on Pakistan-based militants—a claim Pakistan denies.
Meanwhile, in a press briefing in Islamabad, Pakistan’s army confirmed the interception of Indian drones but stated that the strikes had resulted in civilian casualties. Authorities also announced the temporary closure of major airports in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Sialkot, although the reasons for the closures were not immediately confirmed.
The United States and the United Nations have both urged restraint, calling on India and Pakistan to avoid further escalation. With both nations now in a heightened state of alert, the international community is closely monitoring the situation, fearful that any further provocation could lead to a larger conflict with dire regional consequences.
The situation remains volatile as both sides prepare for the next move, with global implications depending on how each country chooses to proceed.
