Indian forces reported that Pakistani troops launched “multiple attacks” using drones and other munitions along the entire western border of India late Thursday and into Friday. This escalation in tensions comes in the wake of retaliatory strikes by India on what it described as “terrorist camps” in Pakistan, following a deadly assault on Hindu tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir last month.
Despite Pakistan’s denial of involvement, both nations have engaged in reciprocal artillery fire and drone incursions into each other’s airspace.
The current violence is noted to be the deadliest since the limited conflict in Kashmir’s Kargil region in 1999, with India targeting areas within mainland Pakistan, not just Kashmir.
According to the Indian Army, Pakistani forces have committed “numerous ceasefire violations” near the de facto border in Kashmir. The Army stated that they effectively thwarted a drone attack and responded to the violations with force, declaring all hostile actions would be met with serious retaliation.
In response, Pakistani Information Minister Ataura Thalal dismissed the Indian Army’s claims as “basically unfounded and misleading,” insisting that Pakistan has not conducted “aggressive actions” towards Indian territory.
Earlier, Islamabad had refuted accusations of launching attacks on cities such as Patankot in Punjab, Srinagar in Kashmir Valley, and Jaisalma in Rajasthan.
Amritsar’s Siren
Indian border guards reported that a “major penetration bid” was thwarted in Kashmir’s Samba region late Thursday, followed by substantial artillery exchanges in the URI area on Friday. In these confrontations, homes in the URI sector were damaged, resulting in the death of one woman and injuries to three others due to overnight artillery fire.
In Amritsar, sirens blared for over two hours, urging people to stay indoors, creating alarm within the community, particularly around the site of the revered golden temple. Tourist occupancy plummeted as visitors evacuated the city, with the local airport closed.
A British tourist, who chose to remain unnamed, shared their decision to leave, saying, “We really wanted to stay, but the loud noises, sirens, and blackouts are giving us sleepless nights. Our family is worried about us, so we book a taxi and leave.”
Other border regions also took precautionary measures. In Gujarat, tourist buses were put on standby for potential evacuations, while schools in Rajasthan’s Bikanah region closed and residents near the Pakistan border were encouraged to find safer accommodations.
Ansab, a student at Sher e Kashmir Agricultural Science and Technology University in Jammu, described hearing a “violent and big” explosion around 4 a.m. Thursday, noting that the noise was intense enough to shake windows and create a mix of smoke and mist in the air.
Global authorities, including figures from the US and China, have urged both nations to de-escalate. US Vice President JD Vance emphasized aiming for a speedy resolution, while acknowledging the limits of influence over these countries.
Since their separation from British colonial rule in 1947, Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan have been embroiled in tensions, particularly over the contested Kashmir region, which has been the flashpoint for two of the three wars fought between the two nations.
