NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD — At least 38 people have been killed as India and Pakistan exchanged deadly fire along their disputed frontier on Wednesday, in what is being described as the most serious escalation between the nuclear-armed rivals in over two decades.
The violence followed Indian precision strikes on alleged terror camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, launched at 1:05 AM in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam massacre that killed 26 Indian tourists. The Indian military claims it destroyed nine terrorist camps as part of “Operation Sindoor,” calling the strikes “measured, focused, and non-escalatory.”
Islamabad confirmed 26 civilian deaths from the strikes and border shelling, while New Delhi reported 12 fatalities from retaliatory Pakistani artillery fire.
As tensions flared, Pakistan declared a state of emergency in Punjab province, closed all schools, and canceled leave for medical personnel. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif accused Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using the strikes to boost his domestic standing. He warned that Pakistan “won’t take long to settle the score.”
Pakistan’s military claimed five Indian jets had been shot down, while Indian security sources said three fighter jets had crashed on Indian soil. Pakistan also accused India of targeting a hydropower plant in Kashmir, calling it an “act of war” and warning of severe consequences if water flow is disrupted.
Rescue operations are underway in affected areas. In Muridke, near Lahore, AFP journalists reported at least one mosque damaged by Indian strikes, with the 70-year-old caretaker killed and over 600 people attending his funeral. Residents described a night of terror, with families now displaced and seeking shelter.
In Indian-administered Kashmir’s Poonch district, local officials reported at least 12 deaths and 29 injuries. Civilians near the Line of Control have been evacuated to bunkers, and India has closed 18 airports in high-risk zones, affecting over 450 flights.
Global Concern and Calls for Calm
World leaders and international organizations have called for de-escalation. The United Nations, United States, China, Britain, France, Russia, Germany, and Turkey have all urged restraint, while Iran has begun diplomatic outreach with both nations in hopes of mediating.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, through spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, said: “The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan.”
US President Donald Trump also voiced concern, expressing hope that hostilities would end swiftly.
Background and Rising Tensions
The recent conflict was triggered by the deadly April 22 attack in Pahalgam, which India blamed on the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terrorist group. The assault killed 26 Hindu pilgrims and tourists, sparking national outrage in India and a wave of diplomatic hostilities.
Since April 24, the Indian and Pakistani militaries have reportedly exchanged nightly gunfire along the Line of Control. Pakistan has also conducted two missile tests in recent days.
Pakistan has denied involvement in the Pahalgam attack and demanded an independent investigation. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned India’s military action as a “heinous act of aggression” and vowed it “will not go unpunished.”
Analysts Warn of Escalation
Experts warn that the situation has already exceeded the scale of the 2019 Pulwama-Balakot crisis.
“Escalation between India and Pakistan has already reached a larger scale than during the last major crisis in 2019, with potentially dire consequences,” said Praveen Donthi, an analyst with the International Crisis Group.
The ongoing insurgency in Indian-administered Kashmir, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives since 1989, remains at the core of India-Pakistan tensions. India continues to accuse Pakistan of backing militant groups in the region, an allegation Islamabad denies.
