India and Pakistan Exchange Accusations of Airstrikes Amid Rising Tensions

Jammu, India – India has accused Pakistan of attacking three of its military bases using drones and missiles, claims that Pakistan has firmly denied. The Indian Army reported that it thwarted these attempts in Jammu and Udhampur, located in Indian-administered Kashmir, and Pathankot in Punjab on Thursday evening.

In Jammu city, explosions were reported as the region faced a blackout. Khawaja Asif, Pakistan’s defense minister, denied the allegations in an interview with the BBC. “We deny it, we have not mounted anything so far. We will not strike and then deny,” he stated.

Earlier that day, India announced that it had targeted Pakistan’s air defenses, claiming to have neutralized Islamabad’s efforts to attack military targets in India the night before. This retaliation followed missile strikes conducted by India on Wednesday, which Pakistan labeled as yet another ‘act of aggression.’

The ongoing skirmishes have raised alarms about the potential for a broader conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors. International calls for de-escalation have echoed from the UN and world leaders amid concerns of a serious confrontation, described as the worst between the two countries in over two decades.

India reported targeting nine “terrorist infrastructure” sites in retaliation for an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir last month, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, predominantly Indian tourists. In response, Pakistan has denied supporting the militants, asserting it had no involvement in the attack.

Kashmir has been a contentious region since 1947, with both countries claiming its territory and having fought two wars over it. Following the recent violence, both nations have traded accusations of further military action. Pakistan’s military spokesperson stated that Indian drones had attacked multiple locations in Pakistan, resulting in one civilian death and several injured troops.

While Pakistan claims to have suffered casualties due to Indian airstrikes, India’s Army also reported fatalities from Pakistani fire in the contested Kashmir region, highlighting a rapidly escalating situation.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan promised to avenge the casualties caused by Indian attacks, maintaining that five Indian fighter jets were brought down, a claim that India has not confirmed.

As the region grapples with continued tension, reports indicate that explosions were also noted in several towns across the Jammu region such as Akhnoor, Samba, and Kathua on the same day.