Escalation of Tensions Between India and Pakistan: Over 30 Killed in Recent Shelling
The Kashmir region is experiencing a renewed high level of tension following Pakistan’s reports of significant human losses resulting from Indian strikes. According to the latest media reports, the number of casualties has risen to at least 31 people, with more than 50 others wounded. Information citing military officials and defense sources has been shared by foreign media outlets, including CNN and sources from India’s defense ministry. According to official statements from Pakistan, recent aerial and missile strikes on key military targets within Indian territory resulted in 31 deaths, including civilians, and another 57 people were injured, some in frontline areas. Meanwhile, India reported that the attacks primarily affected the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir, where local sources reported 12 civilians killed and 57 wounded. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif emphasized in a statement to the media that their country follows a strict policy of using military force only against military targets and does not aim directly at civilians. In his statement, he stressed: “We will never attack civilians. In accordance with international law, we conduct our actions exclusively in the military domain. Our main goal is to limit the conflict by military means and prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.” He further added: “We reserve the right to respond solely by military methods and seek to resolve the situation diplomatically.” The background of the tension dates back to the previous night when Pakistan reported the loss of eight of its citizens as a result of new Indian strikes targeting its territory. In response, Pakistan claimed to have shot down five Indian aircraft and drones, asserting its capacity to counter any aggression. Meanwhile, Indian authorities stated that their strikes targeted nine sites under what they call “Operation Sindoor,” which, according to them, aimed to neutralize enemy military targets. Official reports confirm that several targets were destroyed during these actions, and Indian military officials assured that their operations were not directed against civilians. Nevertheless, the tension remains high, and the escalation of the conflict has gained broader international resonance. Countries and international organizations are calling for restraint and a swift return to diplomatic dialogue. Ukraine, in an official statement, urged India and Pakistan to find ways to peacefully resolve the dispute, avoiding further escalation that threatens regional stability. The Kashmir conflict continues to remind the world of the ongoing high levels of tension, which for years have persisted, and this recent escalation jeopardizes not only regional security but also the potential for the situation to escalate into an even more dangerous phase. Global observers and diplomatic missions are calling for an immediate ceasefire and a return to negotiations to prevent a large-scale humanitarian crisis and to address disagreements within the framework of international standards and diplomacy.