India-Pakistan Tensions Escalate as Both Sides Exchange Attack Claims

Tensions between India and Pakistan have intensified sharply following a new round of cross-border strikes and conflicting accusations, raising fears of further escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. India claims that military facilities in Jammu, Udhampur, and Pathankot were targeted in recent drone and missile attacks. However, Pakistan has denied carrying out any such strikes. According to Indian officials, no casualties were reported from these alleged attacks. Pakistan, in turn, accuses India of launching armed drones into its territory on Thursday, reportedly killing at least two civilians. Pakistan’s Information Minister said the country had so far only engaged in “defensive response” measures following India’s missile strikes on Wednesday, which targeted locations India described as “terrorist camps” within Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. In total, at least 48 people have died in the latest wave of hostilities—32 of them in Pakistan. Pakistan responded to India’s missile strikes with a series of artillery attacks, further intensifying the conflict. The renewed clashes follow weeks of rising tensions after a deadly April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which India blamed on Pakistan. Pakistan has firmly denied any involvement in that incident. As diplomatic channels remain quiet and military operations continue on both sides, international observers are warning of the potential for the conflict to spiral further out of control unless both countries take immediate steps toward de-escalation.