Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated sharply, with the Indian government accusing Pakistan of deliberately targeting places of worship within India. This accusation comes amidst a series of cross-border exchanges and heightened rhetoric between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
According to Indian officials, Pakistani forces have shelled and damaged several religious sites, including gurudwaras, temples, and convents, located along the border in Jammu and Kashmir. India's Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, strongly condemned these actions, stating that targeting places of worship represents "a new low, even for Pakistan". He further alleged that the shelling of these sites was carried out with a "particular design," suggesting a deliberate intent to target religious structures.
Adding to the severity of the accusations, Misri reported that Pakistani shelling on Wednesday resulted in the death of two students at the Christ School in Poonch, with their parents severely injured. The school, run by the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, was allegedly struck by a shell fired from Pakistan. These incidents have fueled outrage and condemnation in India, with officials describing the attacks as "extremely regrettable and condemnable".
India has also accused Pakistan of spreading disinformation regarding the attacks. According to Misri, Pakistan is claiming that India is staging attacks on its own cities, such as Poonch and Amritsar, in an attempt to deceive the world. Misri dismissed these claims as "deranged" and indicative of Pakistan's "duplicity". He specifically refuted Pakistan's assertion that India launched a drone attack on the Nankana Sahib gurdwara in Punjab province, a significant religious site for Sikhs.
In addition to the alleged targeting of places of worship, India has accused Pakistan of violating its airspace by sending 300 to 400 drones into Indian territory on the night of May 8-9. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi stated that these drones targeted 36 locations, including military installations, from Leh to Sir Creek. She added that preliminary investigations suggest the drones were Turkish Asisguard Songar models and that the Indian forces successfully neutralized them using both kinetic and non-kinetic methods. Furthermore, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was reportedly sent to target a military station in Bathinda, but this attempt was thwarted by Indian armed forces.
Pakistan has denied the claims made by India, stating that its actions have been solely defensive in response to Indian attacks. However, Misri dismissed these denials as "farcical," asserting that India has responded "proportionately" and "adequately" to Pakistan's provocations.
The current escalation follows a period of heightened tension between the two countries, sparked by a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, which India blamed on Pakistan. Pakistan has denied any involvement in the attack. With both sides trading accusations and engaging in cross-border strikes, the situation remains volatile, raising concerns about further escalation and the potential for a full-blown conflict.
