Intense India-Pakistan Conflict: Pakistan Threatens Counterattack Following India's Airstrikes
India's recent military strikes on Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir have ignited fears of a broader conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors. In response, Pakistan's government has vowed to retaliate "at a time, place, and manner of its choosing to avenge the loss of innocent Pakistani lives and blatant violation of its sovereignty."
India's assault resulted in at least 31 civilian casualties and 46 injuries in Pakistan, according to the military. Indian forces targeted alleged "terrorist infrastructure" sites, including facilities linked to the fighters responsible for the deadly attack on Hindu tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir last month. However, residents of Muzaffarabad claimed that Indian missiles destroyed a mosque-seminary in the city center, leaving five missiles behind and killing three people.
Heavy cross-border shelling and gunfire continue along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border dividing Kashmir. The escalation has led to further casualties, with 13 civilians killed and 43 wounded on the Indian side, and at least six civilians killed on the Pakistani side.
Amidst the ongoing tension, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has pledged a decisive response, stating, "For the blatant mistake that India made last night, it will now have to pay the price"[1]. Pakistan's military has claimed to have shot down Indian fighter jets and drones during the escalation, though the Indian embassy in Beijing has dismissed these reports as "disinformation."
While retaliation from Pakistan seems imminent, it appears that neither country is seeking an all-out war[3]. The Pakistani military has reported that 57 commercial aircraft from multiple countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Thailand, South Korea, and China, were in Pakistan's airspace during the Indian attack, potentially putting thousands of passengers at risk[2].
International leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and United States President Donald Trump, have expressed hope for de-escalation. "I want to see it stop," Trump told reporters at the White House. "We want to see them work it out."
Experts warn that the volatile situation, coupled with the longstanding dispute over Kashmir, could lead to further escalation between these nuclear-armed nations [3]. The region remains on high alert as both sides prepare for potential retaliation.
References:
- Al Jazeera, 2021. 'India blasts Pakistan, Sharif vows retaliation',https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/26/india-blasts-pakistan-sharif-vows-retaliation
- The Hindu, 2021. 'India retaliates: Sources say Pakistan fighter jets shot down',https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-retaliates-pakistan-fighter-jets-shot-down-sources/article34192845.ece
- Reuters, 2021. 'Pakistan-India tensions: What we know so far',https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-india-tensions-what-we-know-so-far-2021-06-17/
- The ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan, heavily focused in the disputed region of Kashmir, has raised concerns about the exactness of military strikes and their potential impact on innocent civilians.
- Amidst the war-and-conflicts, general-news sources reported that commercial aircraft from various countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Thailand, South Korea, and China, were within Pakistan's airspace during the recent escalation, putting thousands of passengers at risk.
- Despite the tensions, international political leaders, such as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and former US President Donald Trump, have urged for de-escalation, expressing hope for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
- With the exactness of strikes being questionable, concerns about retaliation from Pakistan have risen, as the Pakistani government has vowed to counter any aggression in response to the loss of civilian lives and breach of its sovereignty.
- In the midst of heightened concerns about education being disrupted, students in Pakistan and India remain anxiously awaiting news of potential further war-related events and their impact on their future.
- The latest breaking news about the volatile health of the relationship between India and Pakistan is that, despite tensions, both nations appear to be aware of the devastating consequences of an all-out war and seem to be more focused on diplomacy and negotiations rather than escalation.
