Tensions escalated between India and Pakistan on Thursday, leading to airport closures and heightened security measures in key border cities. This response came after warnings indicated it might be retaliatory following a military strike reported the previous day.
In a late-night address on Wednesday, Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif declared his intent to seek revenge for what he described as the blood of martyrs after India conducted missile bombings on Pakistan early that morning.
India’s attack, which struck nine locations—including four in Pakistan’s Punjab—marked the most significant military operation against Pakistan in decades.
As a result, both countries remained on high alert come Thursday morning. Authorities in Pakistan suspended all flights from Karachi, Lahore, and Siarkot airports until the afternoon. Similarly, over 20 regional airports in northern India were also shut down and expected to remain so until Saturday.
In Sindh province, bordering India, the State Health Department issued an emergency declaration for all hospitals and medical facilities, cancelling leave for healthcare staff. Meanwhile, in Amritsar, only 20 miles from the border, residents experienced a security drill and a brief blackout on Wednesday night, reflecting heightened awareness in the area. The border regions of Rajasthan and Punjab also saw increased security, with police leave revoked and border guards instructed to remain vigilant.
Sharif condemned the Indian strikes as an “act of war,” and both military leaders and government officials vowed a response. Yet, by Thursday morning, specifics about what that reaction would entail remained unclear.
Some officials suggested that Pakistan’s claims of shooting down five Indian aircraft during the conflict were part of their retaliation, while others indicated that a more substantial response had yet to be announced.
General Asim Munier, Pakistan’s army chief, is under considerable pressure to demonstrate military strength towards India, especially in light of previous allegations against Pakistan related to a deadly incident in Kashmir that was said to have resulted in 26 casualties.
Indian ministers insisted that Wednesday’s military action targeted “terrorist infrastructure,” claiming it included camps linked to groups responsible for major attacks in the past two decades. They maintained that their actions were careful and proportionate, asserting that they had not engaged military bases or assets and aimed to avoid escalation.
Conversely, Pakistan attacked the notion of terrorism in the region, contending that the strikes mainly affected civilian areas.
On the contested Kashmir border, shelling continued for a second night, resulting in the reported death of an Indian soldier and several civilian casualties. The international community called for de-escalation, with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araguchi arriving in New Delhi for discussions with Indian officials after having offered mediation during his recent visit to Pakistan.
