Tensions between India and Pakistan reached a boiling point overnight, as military forces exchanged heavy fire along the volatile Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, following what officials describe as the deadliest escalation between the nuclear-armed rivals in over 20 years.
The fierce exchange of gunfire and artillery came just hours after India launched what it called “focused, measured, and non-escalatory” missile strikes against alleged terrorist camps in Pakistan.
The strikes were carried out in response to a recent massacre of tourists in the Indian-administered region of Kashmir—an attack New Delhi blames on the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terrorist organization. Islamabad has categorically denied the allegations.
At least 45 people have been confirmed dead in the latest violence, including civilians and soldiers from both sides. Pakistan reported 31 civilian deaths, while India cited the loss of 13 civilians and one soldier. Both nations have accused each other of provoking the clashes.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a televised address to the nation, vowed a forceful response to the Indian airstrikes. “We will avenge every drop of our martyrs’ blood,” Sharif declared. Pakistan’s military claimed to have downed five Indian fighter jets—a claim Indian authorities have yet to officially address, though local sources confirmed that three jets had crashed within Indian territory.
One of the most devastating incidents reportedly occurred near the Pakistani city of Bahawalpur, where Indian missiles struck an Islamic seminary, leaving 13 dead, according to Islamabad. Meanwhile, on the Indian side, the border district of Poonch witnessed the deaths of two children after a shell struck their neighborhood.
“They were running back inside after a warning when the shrapnel hit,” said Madasar Choudhary, recounting his sister’s trauma after witnessing the tragedy.
In Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, residents like Muhammad Riaz say they have been rendered homeless. “We’ve lost everything. There’s no shelter, no help—just chaos,” Riaz said.
The Pakistani military announced that it has been given the green light to retaliate “at a time, place, and manner of its choosing.” India’s army, meanwhile, confirmed engaging in “proportionate” retaliatory fire across multiple locations overnight, though details remain limited.
Kashmir, a long-disputed Himalayan region claimed by both India and Pakistan, has been a frequent flashpoint since the 1947 partition. The two nations have fought multiple wars over the territory, and with both sides now armed with nuclear weapons, fears of a wider conflict have intensified.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh defended the missile strikes, calling them a “legitimate response” to the killing of 26 Hindu pilgrims in Pahalgam last month. He warned that India remains vigilant against further Pakistani provocations.
The heightened conflict has triggered international concern. “I want to see them stop,” U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday, joining calls from global leaders urging restraint. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who arrived in New Delhi following a visit to Islamabad, has offered to mediate, stressing the need for de-escalation.
Security experts say a limited retaliatory strike by Pakistan is likely, primarily to manage domestic expectations and uphold military credibility. “India has achieved its tactical goals. Now, Pakistan needs to respond to maintain face without triggering a full-blown war,” said Dr. Happymon Jacob, director of the Council for Strategic and Defence Research in New Delhi.
Analysts widely expect a continued exchange of artillery and possibly missile fire over the coming days, though many remain hopeful that diplomacy will ultimately prevent the crisis from spiraling further out of control.
