Pakistan’s military reports that it has shot down more than two dozen drones launched by India overnight and into Thursday. According to Pakistan army spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif, 25 Israeli-made Harop drones were intercepted. However, one drone struck a military installation near Lahore, wounding four Pakistani soldiers. Another drone went down near Rawalpindi, close to the nation’s capital. Tragically, in Sindh province, falling debris from a downed drone killed one civilian and injured another.
Lt. Gen. Sharif said earlier today on state television that Pakistani forces are still actively neutralizing incoming threats.
In response, India has issued a statement confirming that Pakistan attempted to target military sites in Northern and Western India using both drones and missiles overnight. India says its Integrated Counter-UAS and Air Defense systems successfully neutralized these attacks and is now recovering debris from several locations.
Furthermore, Indian authorities claim that their armed forces targeted Pakistani air defense radars and systems this morning, specifically noting that an air defense system near Lahore was “neutralized.”
India also accused Pakistan of escalating unprovoked mortar and artillery fire across the Line of Control, particularly in areas of Jammu and Kashmir, including Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, and Rajouri. According to India’s government, these attacks have resulted in 16 civilian deaths, including three women and five children. India says it was forced to retaliate to halt Pakistani fire.
The situation has left the region on edge. Late Thursday, residents in Jammu reported loud explosions, sirens, and a complete blackout. Former Jammu and Kashmir police chief Shesh Paul Vaid told the Associated Press that the Jammu Airport may have been under attack, with dozens of blasts heard as Indian defense systems responded.
International leaders are watching this crisis closely. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, urging immediate de-escalation and expressing support for direct dialogue between the two nuclear-armed nations. Secretary Rubio also offered condolences for the civilian casualties and urged Pakistan to take concrete steps to end any support for terrorist groups.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump commented on Wednesday that he wants the conflict to “stop” and signaled that he is willing to help mediate if needed. U.S. Senator Tim Kaine also weighed in, calling for both Indian and Pakistani leaders to pursue diplomacy and ensure accountability for the recent April 22 terrorist attack in Kashmir.
With two nuclear-armed neighbors trading drone strikes and artillery fire, the world watches anxiously, hoping for cooler heads to prevail.
We will continue to monitor this developing story and bring you updates as they come in.
Reporting by Carl Montel.
