Residents of Pakistan-administered Kashmir Forced to Flee Their Homes During Indian Attacks

Residents of Pakistan-administered Kashmir were forced to abandon their homes and seek shelter following intense missile strikes and shelling reportedly carried out by Indian forces. The sudden attacks sparked panic in various villages, with eyewitnesses describing explosions, flying debris, and the immediate need to flee for safety along with their livestock and basic belongings.

Raja Shahid Bashir, a resident of the town of Shawai, described the shocking moment when electricity went out and the area came under heavy fire. “All of a sudden, the electricity went out. I thought a transformer had burst, but later came to know that Indian troops started shelling and firing at us,” he said. “Shells landed close to our home and we came out and took our livestock and belongings and took shelter,” Bashir added.

Another resident, Shakeel Butt, shared that the shelling reached a residential area near a mosque, injuring two people and damaging nearby houses. “A shell landed at a house close to the mosque in which two people were injured. Shells also hit other houses in our area and we fled from our area to a safer place,” she said.

The Indian military claimed that the operation targeted nine locations identified as “terrorist camps” in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. However, Pakistani military officials reported that at least 26 civilians were killed in the strikes. In retaliation, Pakistan stated it had shot down five Indian Air Force jets and one drone, though these claims have not been confirmed by India.

In Muridke, located in Punjab province, residents described a drone strike that hit a local mosque, reducing it to rubble. Zeeshan Akram, a witness, reported, “They hit the mosque directly—destroyed its courtyard, the minister’s office in front of the mosque, and the roof. Everything was crushed. There was one person sitting on the roof, on duty, he was martyred.” Waqas Ahmed, another resident, said the community was overtaken by fear and many ran into open fields to escape.