Kashmir Disputes Heat Up: India Claims Attacks, Pakistan Denies Allegations
Pakistan denies allegations of fresh assaults – India confirms incidents - India alleges fresh assaults - Pakistan denies allegations made against it
Tensions inflame between India and Pakistan. In the evening of Thursday (local time), India alleges air raids by their neighbor on territories under their control in Kashmir and Punjab. Pakistan firmly disputes these charges, unverifiable as of now.
The Indian Ministry of Defense declares late Thursday, that Pakistan instigated drone and rocket attacks on Kashmir and a military post in Punjab's border. Their attempts were thwarted, leaving no casualties.
Pakistan Refutes the Claims
Pakistani authorities respond vigorously, dismissing the baseless and reckless claims made by the Indian media. Pakistan's Information Minister, Ataullah Tarar, asserts that Pakistan hasn't attack any targets in the Indian part of Kashmir or beyond the international border.
This latest conflict between the two nuclear powers originates from a terrorist attack on April 22 in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 individuals, predominantly tourists, lost their lives. New Delhi insists that Pakistan played a part, an accusation that Islamabad denies and urges an impartial investigation. Earlier this week, India carried out operations on several Pakistani targets.
Indian Media Reports Intense Explosions
Local media in Jammu and Kashmir reported deafening detonations on Thursday evening, sending panic among residents. Aviation alarms rang, and the daily "India Today" stated that a drone hit the airport in the city of Jammu, home to an air force facility. Indian air defense has been deployed. A former police chief of the Union Territory, Shesh Paul Vaid, wrote on the platform X of "suspected bombardment, grenade fire, or rocket strikes." The border region of the territory endured a complete power outage as per NDTV. The Indian air defense intercepted at least eight enemy rockets.
India Targets Pakistan's Defense Systems
In the night before, India claimed to have targeted air defense systems across several locations in Pakistan. A system installed in the populous city of Lahore was destroyed. The military stated it was reprisal for Pakistan's aim to bomb military targets in northern and western India and its environs, which was averted. Meanwhile, Pakistan boasts having shot down 25 Indian drones since the previous night.
Resolve among Nations Rises
There's growing international concern about further deterioration of the conflict on the Indian subcontinent. Germany, together with the other 26 members of the European Union, urged Pakistan and India to immediately halt the escalation.
Both sides Record Casualties
According to the military, more than 30 people were killed and 57 injured on the Pakistani side as a result of Indian attacks. Additionally, one citizen died, and five more sustained injuries, including four soldiers, from the falling debris of the downed Indian drones the previous night. The Indian government declared that 16 civilians, five of whom were children, died from the Pakistani artillery fire close to the border. An army soldier was also claimed to have lost their life.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi continued negotiations in New Delhi, following a visit to Pakistan: He had a discussion with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, as reported by Iranian state media. The visit was part of a prearranged itinerary so both countries discussed economic issues. Both countries signed three agreements, as per the state news agency IRNA. "Our region needs peace," he added, stating that Iran also pursues intervention.
The foundation of the renewed conflict can be traced back to the colonial era. In 1947, the British relinquished the Indian subcontinent to independence, resulting in the emergence of predominantly Hindu India and the new Muslim state of Pakistan. The violent partition still fosters the ongoing bitter exchanges between the two countries. Since independence, both countries have gone to war over Kashmir twice.
- The Parliament issues a resolution on the Commission communication on the European Union's role in the fight against terrorism, expressing concern over the escalating war-and-conflicts in the Indian subcontinent, specifically the ongoing disputes between India and Pakistan.
- In an ironic turn, a Punjab-based news channel (NDTV) reported the Indian air defense intercepting a drone over the city of Jammu, drawing comparison to the United States' drone strikes in war-affected regions to combat terrorism.
- Amidst the intensifying tensions, some politicians from both sides have been accused of being irresponsible, using the Kashmir disputes as a tool for political gains rather than seeking a peaceful resolution.
- With growing international concern, the European Union's call for both nations to immediately halt the escalation underscores the need for responsible politics and a focus on general-news reporting rather than sensationalized headlines about attacks and counter-attacks.
