Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated dramatically, with both nations exchanging accusations of drone strikes, missile attacks, and cross-border shelling. Several Indian cities, including New Delhi, are on high alert as the situation intensifies.
The current escalation is said to have begun after India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting alleged terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack where 26 Indian tourists were killed. Pakistan then responded by firing missiles at military sites across northern and western India. All incoming missiles were reportedly intercepted.
India has accused Pakistan of launching between 300 and 400 drones across 36 locations, from Leh to Sir Creek, in a coordinated attempt to target Indian military installations. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh stated that the Indian armed forces shot down many of these drones using both kinetic and non-kinetic means. She added that an armed unmanned aerial vehicle was sent to strike the Bhatinda military station, but the attempt was foiled. In retaliation, India claims to have deployed armed drones against four Pakistani air defence sites, successfully destroying one radar system.
Pakistan has denied these claims, stating that India has launched attack drones into Pakistan, resulting in civilian casualties. Pakistan's military asserts that there will be "no de-escalation" until it has responded to India's strikes. According to reports, at least 48 people have been killed so far, with 32 of them in Pakistan, since India launched missiles on Wednesday, which it claimed targeted "terrorist camps". Pakistan retaliated with artillery strikes.
The escalating conflict has led to widespread fear and disruption. Panic buying, blackouts, and evacuations are being reported. Security has been tightened at airports and borders, and schools and universities are closed in some areas. Flights have been disrupted, and the Indian rupee has fallen. The IPL cricket series is also facing potential cancellation.
With both sides trading blame and denying the other's claims, the situation remains highly volatile. Experts suggest that military bases could be the next targets for both sides, and that the drone strikes on urban centers represent a dangerous escalation. Some analysts believe that India's strikes in Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province, have set a dangerous precedent. The United States has urged both sides to avoid further escalation, but one US Vice President stated that the war is 'none of our business'.
