A wave of explosions and the wail of air raid sirens filled the skies over Jammu, a city in the Indian-administered region of Kashmir, as a fresh round of military hostilities broke out between India and Pakistan. Witnesses reported loud blasts and flashes of light overhead, suggesting interceptive strikes or aerial engagements.
The escalation comes amid mutual accusations between the two nations, each claiming the other launched drones across the heavily militarized Line of Control (LoC). India asserted that it had carried out strikes against Pakistani air defense infrastructure, while Pakistan claimed to have shot down multiple Indian drones.
New Delhi described its actions as a defensive response to a terror attack last month in Kashmir, where 26 people—mostly Hindu pilgrims—were killed by armed militants. Officials maintain that Pakistan-backed groups were responsible, prompting a series of retaliatory strikes.
Islamabad, however, responded by launching artillery fire along the LoC, reportedly targeting Indian military outposts. Indian authorities confirmed the death of one soldier and at least 16 civilians in the Poonch district due to intense shelling.
With both countries escalating their military and cyber responses, global observers fear a deeper crisis may be imminent between the nuclear-armed rivals.
