Fireworks over Kashmir - India's accusations, Pakistan's denials
Fresh Aggression Claimed by India's Government - Pakistan Disputes the Accusations - Hostile Actions in India - Pakistan Adamantly Negates Involvement
Tensions between India and Pakistan have been heating up. Late last night, India reported that its neighbor launched airstrikes on regions in Indian-controlled Kashmir and the border state of Punjab. Pakistan flat-out denied these claims, which haven't been verified as of yet.
According to the Indian Ministry of Defense, last Thursday evening (local time), Pakistani drones and rockets targeted Indian-controlled Kashmir and a military installation near the Punjab border. These threats were said to have been neutralized, resulting in no casualties.
Pakistan reacted by categorically rejecting these allegations propagated by the Indian media. Pakistan's Information Minister Ataullah Tarar stated that Pakistan didn't attack any targets in the Indian part of Kashmir or beyond the international border. Both India and Pakistan administer sections of Kashmir and claim sovereignty over the entire region.
Kashmir turmoil stirs up India-Pakistan relations
The latest confrontation between the two nuclear powers reportedly started following a terrorist attack on April 22 in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. In this attack, 26 people, mainly Indian tourists, lost their lives. New Delhi accuses Islamabad of involvement, which Pakistan denies and calls for a thorough investigation. Since then, clashes and tensions have been on the rise. On Tuesday night, India retaliated with attacks on several Pakistani targets.
The Indian media reported that Thursday evening's loud explosions sent panicked waves through the population in Jammu and Kashmir. Air raid sirens were activated. India’s India Today newspaper reported that a drone had struck the airport in the city of Jammu, home to an air force facility. India hastily activated its air defense systems.
Former police chief of the Union Territory, Shesh Paul Vaid, wrote on platform X about suspected bombardment, grenade fire, or rocket strikes. The border area of the territory reported a total power outage according to NDTV channel. The Indian air defense allegedly intercepted at least eight enemy rockets.
India targets Pakistan's air defense system
The night before, India apparently attacked several Pakistani air defense systems. One of the systems in the populous city of Lahore was reportedly eliminated. The military stated it was acting in response to Pakistan trying to hit military targets in northern and western India, including 15 cities, using drones and rockets. These attempts were allegedly repelled. Pakistan claimed to have shot down 25 Indian drones since the previous night.
There's growing international concern about the intensifying crisis in the Indian subcontinent. Germany and the other 26 EU member states urged Pakistan and India to immediately de-escalate.
Pakistani military statements claim that more than 30 people were killed and 57 injured due to Indian attacks. Furthermore, one person was killed and five injured, including four soldiers, due to falling debris from the shooting down of Indian drones the previous night.
The Indian government reported that 16 civilians, including five children, died from Pakistani artillery fire at the border. According to army statements, one soldier was also killed.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been working as a mediator in New Delhi after a visit to Pakistan. He met with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, as reported by Iranian state media. The visit had been scheduled for some time, Araghchi said upon arrival, so economic issues were also discussed. Both countries signed three memorandums of understanding, according to the state news agency IRNA. "Our region needs peace," he added, noting that Iran also wants to mediate.
The roots of this renewed conflict can be traced back to the colonial era. In 1947, Britain granted independence to the Indian subcontinent and partitioned it. The violent partition continues to underlie bitter rivalry between the two nations. Since gaining independence, both countries have waged three wars against each other, two of which were over Kashmir.
*Hint: This article has been updated multiple times.
- India
- Pakistan
- Explosion
- Jammu
- Conflict
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The 2025 Pahalgam attack in the Baisaran Valley of Jammu and Kashmir on April 23, 2025, led to the death of 27 people, including 25 Hindu tourists, a Christian tourist, and a local Muslim. The Resistance Front (TRF) claimed responsibility for the attack[1]. Following this, armed skirmishes took place along the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan starting April 24, 2025, increasing apprehensions of a larger conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors[1].
However, a significant development occurred on May 10, 2025, when both India and Pakistan agreed to a full ceasefire starting from 17:00 IST (16:30 PKT). This ceasefire came after US-mediated talks and was confirmed by India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Pakistan's Ishaq Dar[1]. This truce involved the cooperation of 36 countries to broker the deal[1].
- The community policy should address the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Kashmir.
- In light of the recent employment of drones in war-and-conflicts between India and Pakistan, the employment policy must consider the potential use of such technology in future disputes.
- NDTV reported an evening power outage in the border area of Jammu following suspected bombardment, grenade fire, or rocket strikes, highlighting theGeneral Newsof this evolving situation.
- Despite the baseless accusations and denials from both sides, the international community, particularly Germany and the EU, has issued calls for de-escalation in the Kashmir turmoil to prevent a potential war-and-conflicts between India and Pakistan.
