Amid rising fears of war between two nuclear-armed neighbors, Pakistan and India engaged in the most serious military confrontation in decades on Saturday, launching missile and drone strikes on each other’s strategic air bases. The conflict has already claimed more than 60 civilian lives and sparked international concern about the risk of a catastrophic escalation.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the nation on Saturday, declaring that Islamabad had delivered a “befitting response” to what he termed “Indian aggression,” adding, “Today, we have avenged the blood of innocent lives.”
The remarks followed intense overnight attacks. According to Pakistani military officials, three of their air bases were hit by Indian high-speed missile strikes. In retaliation, Pakistan launched coordinated counterstrikes targeting Indian military installations, including a strike near the Amritsar military cantonment.
The current crisis was triggered by a deadly attack last month in Indian-administered Kashmir, which left 26 tourists dead—most of them Hindu pilgrims from central India. India quickly blamed the attack on the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United Nations. Pakistan denied any involvement and called for an impartial international investigation.
In response, India carried out preemptive airstrikes across the Line of Control (LoC), the heavily militarized de facto border in Kashmir. Pakistan’s military, however, said the Indian air raids extended beyond LoC targets and struck deeper into Pakistani territory, including an air base in Rawalpindi—just six miles from the capital, Islamabad.
Saturday’s events marked a sharp escalation. Fighter jets clashed in the skies, missiles were launched, and drones swarmed across frontlines. A spokesman for the Indian Air Force, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, told reporters that multiple missile attacks were recorded overnight on Indian air bases, including one outside the city of Srinagar and another near Awantipora.
She said the damage was “limited,” though footage aired by Indian media showed smoke plumes and rescue operations near key military zones.
Pakistan’s military reported the downing of 77 Indian drones, claiming they were intercepted in its airspace. They also alleged that India mistakenly bombed its own territory in Punjab state—an accusation New Delhi denied and dismissed as disinformation.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani-administered side of Kashmir reported 11 civilian deaths from Indian shelling, prompting widespread evacuations in the border regions. “There are loud explosions all night,” said Karan Varma, a mason fleeing Jammu with hundreds of others. “There is no choice but to leave.”
The human cost is mounting. More than 60 civilians have been confirmed dead, and hundreds have been injured. Hospitals in border towns are overflowing. The Indian government dispatched special trains to evacuate civilians from Jammu and parts of Punjab, where local authorities have shut down schools and restricted movement.
Pakistani authorities have also closed schools near the border, while emergency shelters have been established in Poonch and Rawalakot. “We are bracing for further strikes,” said a local official in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Both nations have now sealed portions of their airspace. Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority announced a full closure until at least noon on Sunday, while India has grounded operations at 32 airports, rerouting international flights and causing widespread travel disruptions.
Among the most controversial developments was India’s reported strike on the Rawalpindi air base. Notably, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir had departed the base just hours before it was targeted.
The base is used to host foreign dignitaries and military delegations. Analysts say the timing and choice of target were likely meant to send a message.
“This is not just a military conflict now. It’s a calibrated attempt at psychological warfare and deterrence,” said Brig. (Retd.) Ashok Mehta, an Indian defense analyst.
In retaliation, Pakistan claimed to have struck Indian radar facilities and munitions depots. India has so far not confirmed the specific targets hit by Pakistan but has acknowledged “defensive engagements” across multiple zones.
As fighting intensified, global powers scrambled to contain the fallout. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made urgent phone calls to both governments, urging direct communication and warning of the grave risks of miscalculation.
Rubio also spoke with Pakistan’s powerful army chief—an extraordinary move underscoring the military’s outsized role in Pakistan’s policymaking. “Both sides must find ways to de-escalate,” said U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. “Nuclear powers must act with extreme caution.”
China, a close ally of Pakistan, called for “maximum restraint” from both sides, while the G7 nations issued a joint statement urging a ceasefire and diplomatic engagement.
The heart of the conflict remains Kashmir, a region claimed by both nations but administered separately. Since India revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in 2019 and imposed direct rule, tensions have simmered.
Critics say New Delhi’s policies have stoked local resentment, while militant groups—some with alleged support from across the border—have escalated operations. India has responded with sweeping crackdowns, arrests, and increased military deployment.
“This isn’t just about borders. It’s about identity, autonomy, and unresolved grievances stretching back to Partition,” said Dr. Rukhsana Ahmed, a political scientist at Lahore University.
Since independence from British rule in 1947, India and Pakistan have fought four wars—three of them over Kashmir. Each cycle of violence has hardened positions further.
The big question is whether this latest escalation will spiral into a wider war—or whether diplomacy can prevail.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Sharif said in his televised address that Islamabad “does not want war” but will “respond with full force if attacked.” His statement came after meeting with leaders of all major political parties, signaling rare national unity on the issue.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, meanwhile, has remained largely silent, leaving the military to make public statements. Analysts believe India may avoid further escalation to preserve its international image, especially ahead of upcoming G20-related meetings.
“The door is still open for de-escalation, but only just,” said Michael Kugelman, director of South Asia studies at the Wilson Center in Washington. “With so many moving pieces, a single misstep could set the region on fire.”
Across both nations, media coverage has inflamed nationalist sentiments. Indian television anchors have called for “total retaliation,” while Pakistani broadcasters aired patriotic songs and military anthems during breaking news segments.
Social media has only worsened the situation, with unverified videos, false casualty counts, and doctored images spreading rapidly.
“This is not just a kinetic war but an information war,” said digital security expert Nighat Dad. “And in such volatile times, misinformation can be deadly.”
Beyond the battlefield, the ripple effects are already being felt. Stock markets in both countries tumbled. Foreign investors are watching nervously, and humanitarian organizations are warning of a looming refugee crisis.
Fuel prices in northern India have spiked due to disrupted supply chains. In Pakistan, long queues formed at petrol stations in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa amid fears of wartime shortages.
“If this continues, the economic damage will be irreparable,” warned economist Sakib Sherani. “We’re already seeing panic buying and supply chain disruptions.”
Whether the current conflict can be brought under control remains uncertain. Past cycles of violence between India and Pakistan have followed a grimly predictable pattern: a triggering event, limited skirmishes, international mediation, and eventual pullback. But with the region more volatile than ever, and both governments facing internal political pressures, the risk of prolonged conflict looms large.
