Tensions are soaring between India and Pakistan tonight, after a dramatic escalation in cross-border attacks. Pakistan has launched air strikes against India, saying it is retaliating after India targeted three Pakistani air bases overnight with missile strikes.
Explosions have been reported across multiple cities, including Srinagar and Jammu on the Indian side, while Indian forces claim to have shot down multiple armed drones over Amritsar.
Meanwhile, tragedy has struck civilians near the disputed Line of Control in Kashmir. Pakistan’s Information Minister for Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Mazhar Saeed Shah, says that overnight shelling from India killed 11 civilians, including a child and four women, and injured over 50 others. These figures, however, have not been independently verified.
As the violence escalates, the international community is urging calm. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spoken separately with both countries’ top diplomats, urging direct communication between India and Pakistan to avoid miscalculation.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told Geo News that “war is not our priority” and that the ball is in India’s court to de-escalate. Dar added that both sides have exchanged messages, and he remains hopeful that talks can begin.
On the Indian side, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh stated that India is committed to non-escalation — if Pakistan reciprocates. Singh emphasized that Indian strikes so far have been precision attacks on military targets in response to Pakistani actions, and that Indian forces remain on high operational alert.
The Indian military also accused Pakistan of targeting health facilities and schools, a charge Pakistan denies.
The United States is calling for urgent steps to re-establish communication channels between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Secretary Rubio emphasized that both sides must identify ways to reduce tensions and avoid further conflict.
Tonight, the region — and the world — is watching closely as the situation along the India-Pakistan border remains dangerously unstable. We will continue to track this developing story and bring you the latest updates as they come in.
Reporting by Carl Montel.
