Intense artillery exchanges occurred between Indian and Pakistani military forces throughout the night.
Fiery Faceoff:
Border skirmishes between India and Pakistan heat up in Kashmir, resulting in civilian casualties and escalating military tensions.
In a chilling night of exchange, artillery shells and gunfire erupted across the contended border, leaving five innocent civilians dead and 12 others wounded, according to local police official Adeel Ahmad. Tensions between the nuclear-armored rivals have soared following a devastating attack on tourists in the India-governed part of Kashmir, resulting in the death of 26 civilians, primarily Hindu Indian travelers, on April 22. India blames Pakistan for backing the attack, an accusation Pakistan vehemently denies.
The night of April 22 is remembered as a a drastically different and daring display of artillery exchanges in the areas near the Line of Control (LoC) that separates Kashmir. Mohammad Shakil, a resident near the border in Chakothi sector, summed up the unusual intensity: "We're accustomed to hearing firefights between Pakistan and India along the LoC, but last night was something else."
On the Indian side, military officials claim Pakistani troops intensified attacks with artillery, mortars, and gunfire at multiple locations, prompting retaliation from Indian soldiers. In India's Uri sector, a civilian woman was killed, joining the grim death toll that now reaches 17 since the escalation began on Wednesday.
The rivals have been trading strikes and accusations, with each denouncing the other's actions. The situation took a digital turn on Wednesday when India ordered social media platform X to block users in the country from accessing more than 8,000 accounts, including several international news organizations and high-profile users. The move was viewed as censorship that obstructs the fundamental right of free speech. The social platform, however, didn't release the list of accounts it's restricting in India.
Panic spread during a cricket match in Dharamsala city, leading to the evacuation of over 10,000 people and the cancellation of the game. Meanwhile, schools and other educational institutions were shut down in several northern and western Indian states for two days. Airlines suspended flight operations from nearly two dozen airports across northern and western regions, and stock markets plunged in early trade.
As tensions continue to mount and world leaders plead for de-escalation, U.S. Vice President JD Vance stated that a potential war between India and Pakistan is simply "none of our business." With tensions high and both countries seemingly entrenched in their positions, the outcome remains uncertain.
Saaliq and Roy reported from New Delhi and Ahmed reported from Islamabad. Associated Press writers Ishfaq Ahmed and Roshan Mughal contributed to this report from Muzaffarabad, Pakistan.
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- Despite the escalating war-and-conflicts between India and Pakistan in Kashmir, the U.S. Vice President JD Vance has stated that a potential war is "none of our business."
- In the midst of the border skirmishes, schools and other educational institutions were shut down in several northern and western Indian states for two days.
- The death toll from the escalating military tensions in Kashmir has reached 17, with five innocent civilians killed and 12 others wounded in a recent night of exchange.
- The situation in Kashmir has taken a digital turn, with India ordering social media platform X to block users in the country from accessing more than 8,000 accounts, including several international news organizations and high-profile users.
- The latest developments in Kashmir require a benchmark of political leadership to ensure de-escalation and avoid further civilian casualties.
- Amidst the intense artillery exchanges in the areas near the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, a civilian woman was killed in India's Uri sector.
- In the general-news, the panic during a cricket match in Dharamsala city led to the evacuation of over 10,000 people and the cancellation of the game, while airlines suspended flight operations from nearly two dozen airports across northern and western regions.
