Cairo: Hani Kamal El-Din
A sharp escalation unfolded in South Asia as Indian and Pakistani armed forces exchanged fire across the Line of Control in the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir. According to Reuters, citing a statement from the Indian government, Indian forces launched strikes on nine targets located in areas of Kashmir under Pakistani control. Officials emphasized that the strikes were limited to military infrastructure.
In a swift response, Pakistani sources reported retaliatory missile attacks on Indian territory. Pakistan’s SAMAA TV, referencing unnamed military sources, claimed that at least three powerful explosions were heard near the town of Muridke. The precise nature and extent of damage remain unconfirmed, but the incident has raised alarm in both capitals.
This confrontation marks one of the most serious flare-ups in recent months between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, both of whom claim the entirety of the Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir. The current round of hostilities underscores the fragile nature of the ceasefire agreement and the ever-present risk of a wider conflict.
Earlier, India’s ANI news agency reported that Pakistan’s military stockpiles may be under pressure due to substantial ammunition transfers to Ukraine. According to that report, Pakistani forces may have enough artillery shells to sustain high-intensity operations for only four days, should a broader conflict erupt.
While diplomatic channels have yet to publicly address the recent escalation, international observers warn that sustained hostilities could spiral beyond control without immediate de-escalation efforts.
