On Tuesday, India and Pakistan exchanged accusations regarding drone attacks, raising international concerns that are prompting calls for de-escalation between the two nations. Residents of Lahore, a key border city with India, reported sporadic explosions, while New Delhi claimed to have neutralized Pakistani air defense systems in the area. India stated that its actions were a response to a nighttime assault involving drones and missiles launched from Pakistan targeting military sites within its territory.
The Pakistani military reported that it had intercepted 25 drones that India had sent towards at least nine cities, several of which host military or intelligence facilities. A spokesperson for the Pakistani army indicated that one civilian was killed, and four soldiers sustained injuries near Lahore.
Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the military spokesperson, noted that Pakistan successfully shot down 25 Indian drones across various locations, including its two largest cities, Karachi and Lahore, adding that debris from the incidents had been collected.
He also mentioned that a drone was downed over Rawalpindi, the heavily fortified military headquarters of Pakistan. Meanwhile, Indian airlines suspended flights at more than 20 airports in the northern and western regions of the country, while Pakistan resumed domestic flights after previously halting services at four airports as reported by the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan.
Furthermore, the Indian Ministry of Defence announced that Indian armed forces targeted radar and air defense systems in several locations within Pakistan, asserting that it had neutralized these threats in Lahore. The Pakistani military condemned these actions as aggressive drone strikes carried out by India.
The statement from the Indian ministry highlighted that Pakistan attempted to engage several military targets in northern and western India, but these were intercepted by Indian air defense systems. The Indian forces retaliated by attacking radar and air defense sites in multiple locations within Pakistan, as stated in a press release, which emphasized that the Indian response was proportionate to that of Pakistan.
Additionally, it was reported that Pakistan intensified its gunfire across the Line of Control, resulting in 16 fatalities, including five children and three women, on the Indian side. Government sources indicated that Indian ministers informed a political party meeting in Delhi that airstrikes in Pakistan had resulted in the deaths of “over 100 militants,” with the number potentially rising.
Local media highlighted a surge in panic buying of essential goods in several cities of Punjab, India, which shares a border with Pakistan, as residents rushed to stock up on necessities out of fear of a retaliatory attack from Pakistan following the Indian airstrikes.
Diplomatically, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar assured Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, who was visiting India, that New Delhi does not intend to escalate tensions further, emphasizing that any act of aggression from Pakistan would meet with a strong response.
Dialogue Appeals
In this context, the European Union has urged both India and Pakistan to engage in dialogue, exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and refrain from additional attacks to protect civilian lives on both sides. The EU expressed in a statement that it is closely monitoring the escalating tensions in the region, along with the potential consequences, including loss of life.
In a statement issued by Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, it was emphasized that the EU will collaborate with all parties involved to alleviate the situation, reiterating the importance of both India and Pakistan honoring their obligations under international law and taking all possible measures to safeguard civilian lives.