Tension between nuclear powers: India reports heavy attacks by Pakistan in Kashmir

Since a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir in April that left 26 people dead, tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated significantly. New Delhi accuses Islamabad of involvement in the attack. Pakistan denies this. Now the military conflict is escalating.

According to India, Pakistan has attacked several military installations in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir with missiles and drones. A military station near the border in the Indian state of Punjab was also targeted in the airstrikes, the Integrated Defence Staff, which is responsible for coordination among the Indian Army's armed forces, said on X. The threat was "neutralized," it said. There were no casualties.

Pakistan denies any involvement in the airstrikes reported by India. "The Pakistani government categorically rejects the baseless and irresponsible allegations spread by the Indian media accusing Pakistan of carrying out attacks on Pathankot, Jaisalmer, and Srinagar," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Pakistani Information Minister Ataullah Tarar also said that Pakistan has not yet attacked any targets in Indian Kashmir or across the international border.

According to Indian media reports, loud explosions in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir late in the evening (local time) had caused panic among the population. Air raid warnings were issued. The newspaper "India Today" reported that a drone had struck the airport in the city of Jammu, which houses an air force facility. Red flashes and projectiles were visible in the night sky above the city. India had activated its air defenses.

Several parts of Jammu and the surrounding towns of Akhnoor, Samba, and Kathua came under fire, the Indian side said: "Our army installations are being attacked in five districts of the Jammu region."

"Suspected bombing, grenade firing, or rocket attacks," wrote former Union Territory police chief Shesh Paul Vaid on X. "We hear loud explosions, it feels like bombs are exploding everywhere," said senior member of the ruling BJP party, Varinder Jeet Singh. There is also a "complete power outage."

Reignited Kashmir conflict

The Indian government had previously announced that it had attacked air defense systems in several locations in Pakistan overnight into Thursday. Pakistan, for its part, stated that it had shot down 25 Indian drones since that night.

The explosions occurred against the backdrop of the renewed Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan, which is escalating into the worst confrontation between the two nuclear-armed powers in more than two decades.

At least 47 people have been killed in mutual shelling since Wednesday. The renewed conflict was triggered by an attack on Indian tourists in which 26 people were shot dead in the Indian part of Kashmir on April 22. India accuses Pakistan of supporting the attack, but the Pakistani government denies the allegations.