India-Pakistan tensions surge as both sides trade attack claims

Pakistan yesterday denied claims by India’s armed forces that “military stations” in Indian-administered Kashmir’s Jammu and Udhampur, and in Punjab state’s Pathankot, were targeted in drone and missile attacks, Al Jazeera said.

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No casualties were reported.

Pakistan’s Information Minister said his country has engaged only in a “defensive response so far” to India’s attacks on his country, as Pakistan's military said India launched attack drones into Pakistan on Thursday, killing at least two civilians.

“It is most unfortunate that India’s reckless conduct has brought the two nuclear-armed states closer to a major conflict,” Shafqat Ali Khan said in a press briefing in the capital, Islamabad.

“India’s jingoism and war hysteria should be a source of serious concern for the world.”

At least 48 people have been reported killed as of Friday — 32 of them in Pakistan — since India launched missiles on Wednesday that it said targeted “terrorist camps” in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Pakistan retaliated with a barrage of artillery strikes.

The clashes follow escalating tension between the two nuclear-armed countries since a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, which India blamed on Pakistan. Pakistan has denied any involvement.