Pakistan Attacks India Along Western Border, India Responds Swiftly
Tensions escalated sharply overnight as Pakistan’s armed forces launched multiple attacks using drones and artillery along India’s western border, according to the Indian army. The latest surge in the India-Pakistan conflict comes just days after India targeted locations inside Pakistan that it described as “terrorist camps.” This series of events marks a dangerous rise in hostility between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Rising Hostilities in the India-Pakistan Conflict
Indian officials reported that drone attacks and artillery shelling began late Thursday night and continued into the early hours of Friday. “The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and a befitting reply was given to the ceasefire violations,” the Indian army said, emphasising that any “nefarious designs” would be met with “force.”
Pakistan, however, strongly denied these claims. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar insisted that the Indian army’s statement was “baseless and misleading.” Islamabad has rejected reports that it attacked Indian cities such as Pathankot, Srinagar, and Jaisalmer, calling them “unfounded” and “politically motivated.”
Drones, Sirens and Fear Along the Western Border
On the ground, the situation in several Indian border regions turned tense. The Border Security Force reported foiling a “major infiltration bid” in the Samba area of Kashmir on Thursday night. Heavy artillery pounded the Uri sector on Friday, with local officials confirming that shelling set several houses on fire. The overnight artillery exchange killed one woman and injured three others.
The city of Amritsar, which is home to the revered Golden Temple, experienced more than two hours of non-stop sirens on Friday. Authorities ordered residents to stay indoors. Hotels saw a sharp drop in occupancy as tourists began to flee. A British visitor, who chose to remain anonymous, described the situation as “sleepless nights” caused by “loud sounds, sirens, and blackouts.” Tourists rushed to leave the city as the airport closed its doors.
India-Pakistan Conflict Forces Precautionary Measures
Other regions near the border also took emergency steps. Bhuj in Gujarat kept tourist buses ready for possible evacuation, while Rajasthan’s Bikaner region closed schools and coaching centres. Residents close to the Pakistan border were advised to move further away or take up temporary accommodation provided by the government.
Ansab, a university student in Jammu, described being shaken awake by powerful blasts early Friday morning. “For two to three minutes it became very loud, windows started shaking as if they will break,” she said. Afterwards, the air was noticeably smoggy from a mix of smoke and fog.
Global Response and Historical Tensions
The severity of the India-Pakistan conflict has drawn attention from global powers. The United States, China, and others have called for restraint. US Vice President JD Vance stated, “We want this thing to de-escalate as quickly as possible. We can’t control these countries, though,” in a televised interview.
The relationship between India and Pakistan has been fraught with conflict since the two countries gained independence from Britain in 1947. Their ongoing struggle over the region of Kashmir, a mainly Muslim territory, has led to three wars and regular outbreaks of violence. The current flare-up was triggered after suspected militants attacked Hindu tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir last month; India retaliated with airstrikes inside Pakistan, followed by these latest cross-border attacks.
Source
Reuters – Pakistan launched multiple attacks along India’s western border, India says
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