At least 38 people were killed Wednesday as India and Pakistan exchanged heavy artillery fire and airstrikes in their most severe military confrontation in two decades, marking a dangerous escalation between the nuclear-armed rivals.
Key Developments
- Casualties Mount: Pakistan reported 26 civilian deaths from Indian strikes, including four children, while India confirmed 12 fatalities from Pakistani shelling in Kashmir’s Poonch sector.
- Military Claims: India said it destroyed nine “terrorist camps” in retaliation for an April 22 attack on tourists in Pahalgam (blamed on Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba). Pakistan claimed to have downed five Indian jets.
- Human Toll: Survivors described “shelling raining down” as hospitals overflowed with shrapnel wounds. Thousands fled border areas, with mosques and homes damaged in Muzaffarabad.
Diplomatic Fallout
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif called India’s actions “heinous aggression,” while New Delhi insisted its strikes were “measured.” Global powers, including the UN and U.S., urged de-escalation, with Iran attempting mediation. Airlines rerouted flights amid regional tensions.
Historical Context
The violence surpasses 2019 clashes following a Kashmir suicide bombing. The neighbors have fought three major wars since 1947 over the disputed territory, where rebel groups have waged an insurgency since 1989.
