Tension grips India-Pakistan border as cross-border firing, drone attacks, and missile strikes escalate, pushing nuclear-armed neighbors closer to conflict. Clashes along Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir intensify, with both sides reporting heavy casualties.

Pakistan’s military claims it downed 12 Indian drones targeting multiple locations, including Lahore, Attock, and Gujranwala. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reports 31 civilian deaths and 57 injuries from India’s missile strikes in Punjab and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, in a televised address, condemned India’s “cowardly aggression,” vowing to “avenge innocent martyrs.” He praised armed forces for robust defense, warning India of severe consequences.

India confirms 13 deaths, including a soldier, due to Pakistani shelling along LoC. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing an all-party meeting, claimed Operation Sindoor killed over 100 terrorists in Pakistan, targeting nine sites, including Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen camps. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar warned of a firm response to any Pakistani retaliation, emphasizing targeted military action without intent to escalate.

Kashmir, often called paradise on Earth, remains tense. Fierce fighting rages in Krishna, Ghati, Shahpur, Mankot, Lam, Manjakot, and Gambhir Brahmana sectors. Residents in Jammu-Kashmir live in fear as cross-border shelling continues. Shops stay shuttered, and security forces patrol streets. Authorities evacuated border villages, with some residents seeking shelter in bunkers.

India closed 21 airports in northern and northwestern regions until Saturday, citing attack risks. Pakistan intermittently shut airspace, canceling flights. Walton Airport in Lahore reported injuries from a drone strike. Both nations conducted civil defense drills, with India holding mock exercises across 244 districts to prepare for potential escalation.

Political Unity in India, Global Calls for Peace

India’s opposition parties rallied behind Modi government during Thursday’s all-party meeting, endorsing Operation Sindoor. Prime Minister Narendra Modi canceled a three-nation visit to focus on the crisis. US President Donald Trump urged dialogue, offering mediation to de-escalate tensions. UN Secretary-General António Guterres and leaders from Japan, Qatar, and UAE also called for restraint.

Roots of Conflict

Escalation follows April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, killing 26, mostly tourists. India blames Pakistan-backed groups, a claim Islamabad denies. Operation Sindoor, launched May 7, targeted alleged terrorist infrastructure, marking deepest Indian strikes into Pakistan since 1971 war. Pakistan’s retaliatory shelling and drone defenses have heightened fears of broader conflict.

Read more: India-Pakistan Missile Strikes Escalate Tensions: Global Leaders Urge Restraint

As both nations exchange fire and rhetoric, global community watches anxiously, urging diplomacy to avert catastrophic war between nuclear powers.