Gunfire echoes across Kashmir’s Line of Control (LoC) for fifth consecutive night intensifying tensions between India and Pakistan.

Clashes in Kupwara, Baramulla, and Akhnoor sectors follow deadly militant attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 tourists on April 22. No casualties reported from recent skirmishes, but fear grips border communities as sounds of gunfire disrupt sleep.

Indian forces claim they respond to “unprovoked” small arms fire from Pakistani posts, while Pakistan remains silent on allegations. Indian media accuses Pakistan of violating ceasefire, escalating rhetoric.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif warns of imminent Indian military incursion stating country stands ready to counter aggression. In Reuters interview, Asif calls India’s suspension of Indus Waters Treaty an “act of war,” signaling heightened stakes.

Border residents, caught in crossfire, express growing anxiety. “Every night, gunfire wakes us,” says villager from Jammu’s R S Pura. “We clean bunkers, fearing worse.” Both nations, nuclear-armed, face mounting pressure.

Analysts warn full-scale conflict could devastate region, setting back progress by decades. “Next two-three days critical,” Asif notes, hinting at potential escalation or de-escalation.

Pakistan’s nuclear threat looms large, with Asif asserting use only if “existence threatened.” Military analysts fear skirmishes could spiral into broader conflict, potentially catastrophic. United Nations urges restraint calling for peaceful resolution.

Public sentiment in border areas reflects dread of humanitarian toll. “War means destruction,” says Kashmiri shopkeeper. “We want peace, not bloodshed.”

Tensions trace back to Pahalgam attack, deadliest in Kashmir since 2000. India blames Pakistan for “cross-border terrorism” while Islamabad demands neutral probe.

Diplomatic ties fray as both nations close Wagah-Attari border, suspend trade, and expel citizens. India’s crackdown in Kashmir, with 1,500 detained and militant homes demolished, fuels unrest.

Read more: Kashmir Terror Attack Escalates India-Pakistan Tensions: Border Clashes, London Protests

As world watches, nuclear-armed neighbors stand at crossroads. Will diplomacy prevail, or will Kashmir’s volatile border ignite wider conflict? Global leaders call for calm but resolution remains uncertain.