Kathrine Frich
With both nations possessing nuclear arsenals, the situation remains dangerously volatile.
With both nations possessing nuclear arsenals, the situation remains dangerously volatile.
Late Tuesday night UK time, India launched missiles into Pakistani-controlled areas in a retaliatory response to last month’s militant attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir.
India accuses Pakistan of harbouring those responsible, a claim Islamabad strongly denies.
Missile Strikes Hit Civilian Areas in Pakistan
At least three locations in Pakistan were hit, including a mosque in Bahawalpur where a child was killed and two others were injured.
Strikes also targeted infrastructure in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and the eastern province of Punjab.
Pakistan Vows Retaliation as Tensions Soar
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the Indian attacks “cowardly” and pledged a “robust response.”
In a strongly worded statement, he said the strikes constituted an “act of war” and convened the country’s National Security Committee to address the crisis.
India Defends Its Actions
India’s Defence Ministry insisted its strikes were aimed solely at terrorist planning sites.
It emphasised that no Pakistani military installations were hit and that India had shown “considerable restraint” in its response.
Pakistan Claims to Have Shot Down Indian Jets
According to Pakistan’s state television, two Indian jets were brought down by its air force. However, no independent confirmation has been provided.
A military spokesperson added that the missiles originated from within India, with no Indian aircraft breaching Pakistani airspace.
Explosions Shake Kashmir’s Muzaffarabad as Panic Spreads
Residents of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir, reported loud explosions and widespread panic.
Emergency blackouts were enacted following the missile strikes, with some civilians reported injured.
The Conflict’s Historical Flashpoint: Kashmir
Kashmir remains a deeply disputed region, having been at the centre of multiple wars and ongoing skirmishes between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Both India and Pakistan claim it in full, but each governs part of the region.
Chilling WW3 Rhetoric Raises Global Alarm
A Pakistani government minister recently warned that the conflict could spiral into World War Three, a statement that has set alarm bells ringing among global powers.
With both nations possessing nuclear arsenals, the situation remains dangerously volatile.
UK-India Trade Deal Overshadowed by Rising Conflict
The escalation comes at a sensitive time for UK-India relations, with a free trade deal hanging in the balance.
Political analysts suggest the deal may be delayed or even derailed if tensions continue to escalate.
Accountability for Kashmir Attack
A post by India’s military on X (formerly Twitter) declared “Justice is served,” hinting at a sense of closure over the deadly resort attack.
Yet officials remain tight-lipped about further operational details or the potential for more strikes.
International Community Urged to Act
Diplomatic circles in London, Washington, and Brussels are calling for calm, with fears that further retaliation could trigger a broader conflict.
UN envoys are reportedly preparing statements urging both sides to de-escalate immediately.
Locals Caught in the Crossfire
Beyond the political and military rhetoric, it’s civilians who are paying the price.
The child killed in Bahawalpur and the panicked residents of Muzaffarabad highlight the devastating human cost of this standoff.