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India-Pakistan Tensions Escalate as Both Nations Trade Strikes and Accusations
Tensions between India and Pakistan have intensified after New Delhi accused Islamabad of launching drone and missile attacks on three Indian military installations. According to the Indian Army, the targets included bases in Jammu, Udhampur (in Jammu and Kashmir), and Pathankot (Punjab). The attacks reportedly triggered explosions and led to widespread blackouts in the Jammu region Thursday evening.
Pakistan, however, has strongly denied any involvement. In an interview with the BBC, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated, “We deny it. We have not mounted anything so far… We will not strike and then deny.”
Earlier the same day, India claimed to have struck and neutralized Pakistani air defence systems in retaliation for what it called Islamabad’s attempted strikes the night before. Pakistan condemned India’s actions, calling them an “act of aggression” following Indian missile attacks on Wednesday that hit targets in both Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
International leaders and the United Nations have urged both countries to de-escalate, warning that the situation represents the most serious military standoff between the nuclear-armed rivals in over two decades.
India stated that its airstrikes targeted nine terror-related sites as part of Operation Sindoor, a direct response to the April 22 militant attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 civilians—mostly Indian tourists. On May 7, India officially accused Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based militant group, of orchestrating the massacre. Indian police have alleged that two attackers were Pakistani nationals, though Islamabad denies any involvement.
Meanwhile, both nations reported additional military activity on Thursday. Pakistan’s military spokesperson said Indian drones targeted multiple locations including Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi, killing one civilian and injuring four soldiers. The US Consulate in Lahore advised staff to shelter in place.
India claims its drone strikes neutralized Pakistani air defence installations, a claim Pakistan disputes. India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri insisted, “Our intention is not to escalate, but we are forced to respond to continued provocations.”
Casualty figures continue to rise. Pakistan reports 31 killed and 57 injured due to Indian airstrikes and cross-border firing. India says 16 of its citizens, including women and children, have been killed by Pakistani shelling in Kashmir.
Adding to the volatile atmosphere, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed retaliation for India’s recent strikes and claimed Pakistan’s forces had downed five Indian jets—an assertion that India has yet to address.
Blasts continued to be reported across Akhnoor, Samba, and Kathua in the Jammu region, underscoring the escalating military exchange and deepening regional crisis.
