Indian and Pakistani military forces engaged in severe gunfire and artillery exchanges overnight along the contentious Kashmir border, resulting in the deaths of at least five civilians. This surge in hostilities follows last month’s deadly assault on Indian tourists, which has exacerbated already strained relations.
In the region administered by Pakistan, local police official Adeel Ahmad reported that heavy artillery fire from the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC) led to the deaths of four civilians and left 12 others injured. Residents noted that the bombardment persisted into the early hours of Friday.
“We’re used to hearing the exchange of fire between Pakistan and India at the Line of Control, but last night was different,” said Mohammad Shakil, a resident of Chakothi, a village near the frontier.
On the Indian side, military officials stated that Pakistani forces targeted their positions using artillery, mortars, and automatic weapons at various locations. In response, Indian troops retaliated, resulting in fierce confrontations that lasted until dawn. Tragically, one woman was killed and two civilians sustained injuries in the Uri sector, bringing the total civilian fatalities in India since Wednesday to 17.
Escalating tensions following recent attacks
The tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbors has sharply escalated since April 22, when an attack on a popular site in Indian-administered Kashmir left 26 civilians—predominantly Hindu Indian tourists—dead. India has accused Pakistan of harboring the attackers, a claim that Islamabad has categorically denied.
In a provocative move, India conducted airstrikes on Wednesday against what it termed militant positions within Pakistani territory. Pakistani officials reported that these strikes resulted in the deaths of 31 civilians and claimed their forces successfully shot down five Indian fighter jets.
On Thursday, both nations exchanged accusations regarding drone attacks, although these assertions could not be independently verified.
Domestic unrest and international reactions
Amid rising tensions, significant domestic disruption has unfolded across northern and western India. A cricket match in Dharamsala was abruptly stopped on Thursday evening, leading to the evacuation of over 10,000 spectators due to concerns over potential unrest, as reported by an Associated Press photographer.
Several Indian states, including Punjab, Rajasthan, and the region of Kashmir, have reacted by closing schools and universities for at least two days. Additionally, India’s Civil Aviation Ministry confirmed the temporary suspension of operations at 24 airports across the country due to security fears.
As global leaders call for restraint, U.S. Vice President JD Vance has indicated a non-interventionist stance, arguing that a potential conflict between India and Pakistan would be “none of our business.” Speaking to Fox News, Vance remarked: “What we can do is try to encourage these folks to de-escalate a little bit, but we’re not going to get involved in the middle of a war that’s fundamentally none of our business and has nothing to do with America’s ability to control it.”