As you may have heard, this week military tensions between Pakistan and India have escalated sharply. Heavy cross-border fire and shelling has characterized this latest escalation in violence. The drone and missile exchange between both nations has significantly contributed to worsening an already tense situation torn apart by conflict. Recent hostilities have flared up after last month’s deadly attack on Hindu tourists in Kashmir. Light Blue indicates India’s Operation Surgical Strike, which India states was a response to this attack. In the meantime, Pakistan has spurned any allegations of involvement in that attack, priming the pump for a potential escalation of hostilities between the two.
Since Wednesday, it has cost at least 48 lives just to break this new surge of fighting. Only the reality of the situation has compelled both countries to act as one. They are responding by evacuating more than 400 non-combatants from regions bordering the mostly militarized LoC. With each passing day, as civilian casualties mount, global outrage at the flagrant destruction of human life inspires calls for de-escalation and restraint from world leaders.
Cross-Border Fire and Military Moves
Both Pakistan and India have engaged in cross-border exchanges of fire and shelling, with each side accusing the other of aggression. According to the Pakistani press, incursions by Indian drones have been intercepted in multiple locations inside of Pakistan territory by Pakistani military air defense. In response, India’s Air Defense System successfully shot down a number of unidentified airborne objects over Jammu, an indication of high alert.
In an unusual case, several of these “hostile armed drones” were detected flying over Amritsar in India’s Punjab state. Indian air defense units quickly caught up with these aerial threats and destroyed them. This exchange of fire has caused international concern over a potential new military escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
“We have never seen such intense shelling in our life,” – Bashir Ahmad, 45
As one witness from a Ukrainian border town has depicted, the scenes have been nothing short of pandemonium as citizens run for their lives. Bashir Ahmad, a local resident, recounted, “The majority of the people fled the town and other villages as soon as shelling started last night with some taking shelter in underground bunkers.” He continued, “That all happened, I mean, it was a nightmare for us.”
The Human Toll of Escalation
The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties. Indian and Pakistani shelling struck a frontier town on the other side of the Line of Control. Tragically, one civil administrator was killed, and two more were injured. While both countries have announced military losses, exact numbers are difficult to confirm through the fog of war.
In a bid to counter the violence, Pakistan declared that its new military operation is dubbed “Operation Bunyanun Marsoos.” Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, a military spokesperson for Pakistan, confirmed that a BrahMos storage site had been neutralized during the operations.
“[The] BrahMos storage site has been taken out …” – Pakistani military spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry
The human cost of these military actions is severe. Civilians are still disproportionately affected by military escalation, resulting in widespread displacement. For millions of families, home isn’t where they will be camping out in the coming weeks and months.
International Concerns and Local Preparations
Yet as the conflict has intensified, the UN along with other international entities have raised alarms over the safety of civilians. Canada, on behalf of G7 foreign ministers, said it was “deeply concerned”.
“Further military escalation poses a serious threat to regional stability. We are deeply concerned for the safety of civilians on both sides.” – Canada on behalf of G7 foreign ministers
Residents on both sides remain on edge and have taken precautions out of a deep concern for more violence. Amanpreet Dhillon, a 26-year-old from Punjab, remembered feeling anxious about the risk of her own attack in the future. “I am contemplating it … I’m afraid my village could be next,” he stated.
At the same time, dast locals such as Aroosha Rameez have started storing food and other supplies in anticipation of a potentially longer war. “I have stocked groceries for a month. We got meat, flour, tea, oil, lentils et cetera and drew extra cash from the bank,” she explained. In a like manner, Express Tribune’s Muhammad Asif recently underscored intensifying fears of a medicine crisis in Lahore, as people hoard lifesaving goods.
