India, Pakistan trade blows, civilians bear brunt

Deadly escalation after Pahalgam attack raises specter of war as Islamabad vows no de-escalation without Indian accountability

NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD (MNTV) — Tensions continued between India and Pakistan following a series of cross-border strikes that have left dozens dead, sparked blackouts, and pushed the region to the brink of war.

Pakistan’s military declared on Friday that “there will be no de-escalation” until India is held accountable for what Islamabad calls “unprovoked aggression”.

Tensions have soared since Wednesday, when India launched missile strikes claiming to target so called “terrorist camps” inside Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

The Indian operation came in retaliation for the deadly April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which killed 26 civilians and was immediately blamed on Pakistan—a charge Islamabad strongly denies.

Since Wednesday, at least 49 people have been killed, including 32 in Pakistan.

The exchanges have seen India deploy attack drones into Pakistani territory, and Pakistan retaliate with artillery shelling.

Pakistan has accused India of launching hundreds of kamikaze drones toward major Pakistani cities, including Lahore and Karachi. In response, Pakistan claims to have shot down 77 drones, which it alleges were of Turkish origin.

Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, speaking alongside senior Air Force and Navy officials at a press conference in Islamabad, stated:
“So far we have been protecting ourselves, but India will get an answer in our own timing. Each drop of Pakistani blood will be avenged.”

He confirmed that 33 civilians had been killed and 62 injured in Pakistan as a result of Indian air strikes and drone attacks.

He further alleged that India’s actions were an attempt to deflect attention from its own internal crises. Chaudhry dismissed India’s claim of quick identification of the perpetrators in the Pahalgam attack, calling it “a habitual pattern of immediate blame without evidence.”

He reiterated Pakistan’s offer for a third-party neutral investigation, which he said remains unanswered by India.

Lt Gen Chaudhry also condemned Indian attacks on civilian sites, displaying footage of Indian-controlled Kashmiris questioning their own government’s narrative. He warned the international community that India’s use of terrorism and cross-border aggression threatens not just regional but global security.

Tense borders

In Indian cities close to the border, the atmosphere is equally tense.

Blackouts and sirens have become the new normal in Jammu, Amritsar and Ambala.

Residents reported seeing red flashes and explosions in the skies, with some describing loud artillery sounds echoing through the night. In Amritsar, just 30 kilometers from the Pakistan border, four blasts were heard Thursday night, with local journalists reporting heavy firing near a military cantonment.

Indian defense officials allege Pakistan has launched 300 to 400 drones since the escalation began, most of which were intercepted.

According to Indian analysis, the drones are Turkish-made Songar quadcopters capable of carrying grenades and machine guns, raising fears of increasing battlefield technology in the region.

On Friday, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri addressed the media in a high-stakes press conference, unveiling what he called the “evidence of Pakistan’s deliberate targeting of communal harmony.”

Misri accused Pakistan of striking gurdwaras, churches, and temples in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, in an effort to stoke sectarian tensions.

He dismissed Pakistan’s claim that India attacked its own cities as “absurd and deranged,” reiterating that India would never endanger its civilians for political gain.

Misri also said that India had responded with “measured force” to provocations from across the border and maintained that New Delhi’s strikes were strictly aimed at militant infrastructure.

The foreign secretary stated, “Pakistan has used nearly 400 drones in a span of 48 hours, many of them weaponized and aimed at civilian population centers. This is not defense—it is a declaration of war by other means.”

Meanwhile, calls for restraint are growing louder.

Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, urged both governments to prioritize dialogue.

 “Military action only addresses the symptoms, not the disease. The innocent—children, women, and the elderly—are caught in the crossfire,” she said.

Among those lost are two children in Indian-administered Kashmir and seven-year-old Irtiza Abbas on the Pakistani side, killed during recent shelling.

International reactions have started pouring in.

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Adel al-Jubeir, visited Islamabad and urged both nations to seek peace through diplomacy and offered support for mediation efforts.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during his meeting with the Saudi envoy, reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to defending its sovereignty under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.

He condemned India’s “unprovoked aggression” and welcomed Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic overtures.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson also blamed India for pushing the region “closer to a major conflict.” He warned that “India’s jingoism and war hysteria should alarm the entire world.”

India, meanwhile, has put several border cities including Ambala under high alert, with air strike sirens sounded and blackout orders issued from 8pm to 6am. Civilians have been urged to stay away from balconies and open areas.

Both governments claim to be acting defensively. Yet the facts on the ground point to escalating offensives, mounting casualties, and increasing risks. With drone warfare intensifying and civilians under fire, urgent diplomatic engagement is critical.

As both sides dig in, South Asia holds its breath—once again staring into the abyss of conflict. The international community must act quickly before the situation spirals beyond control.