NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India struck multiple locations in Pakistan this week after a deadly April 22 attack targeting Hindu tourists in Indian Kashmir that New Delhi blames on its Muslim neighbour.
Pakistan, which denies any link to the Kashmir violence, said on Thursday it shot down 25 drones from India overnight. India said it “neutralised” Pakistani attempts to strike military targets with drones and missiles.
Here is a look at the current situation as conflict spreads between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
WHERE DID INDIA’S FIRST STRIKES HIT?
India says it hit nine “terrorist camps” in Pakistan on Wednesday that were used as indoctrination centres, training areas and launch-pads for attacks. Some of them, it says, were linked to the perpetrators of last month’s assault.
Pakistan said the Indian attacks hit six locations in its territory, none of them militant camps.
HOW HAS PAKISTAN REACTED?
Pakistan says it shot down five Indian aircraft during those first strikes. The Indian embassy in Beijing said reports of fighter jets being shot down were “misinformation”.
Pakistan vowed to retaliate at a “time, place and manner of its choosing”. The military said on Thursday India will continue to “pay dearly for this naked aggression”.
India says any military attack against it will be met with a “firm response”.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT SITUATION?
Cross-border firing and shelling increased after India’s first strikes, then tapered off. Pakistan says India is sending drones into its airspace, 25 of which were shot down overnight, including some over its largest cities of Karachi and Lahore.
India said it had targeted some air defence systems in Pakistan, and that it had “neutralised” attempts by Pakistan to “engage” military targets in its north and west.
WHAT HAVE OTHER COUNTRIES SAID?
Global leaders have called for restraint. U.S. President Donald Trump said he hoped the countries would “work it out” and that he “will be there” if he can help.
The United Nations called for “maximum military restraint”, saying the world could not afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT CASUALTIES?
Pakistan says 31 of its civilians were killed in the Indian strikes and the cross-border violence that followed. India says 16 civilians have died on its side of the border.
Both countries have organised blackout drills in border areas, and panic-buying has been reported in parts of India’s northern border state of Punjab.
People living along the de-facto border in India’s Jammu and Kashmir have also been asked to move to safer places.
(Compiled by Sakshi Dayal)
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