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Main Points
- Explosions in Jammu triggered by Pakistani drones, according to Indian sources.
- India’s cross-border actions are described as a deliberate counter to the fatal incident on April 22.
- Amid power outages and defensive measures, the US, Russia, and China are advocating for peace and caution as tensions rise.
US Vice President JD Vance remarked on Thursday that India and Pakistan must reduce hostilities following a second round of confrontations between the nuclear-armed countries, also stating that any conflict between them is “not our concern”.
Explosions erupted in Jammu city, close to the Indian-administered region of Kashmir, on Thursday night, which the government attributed to a Pakistani drone and missile assault on military facilities around the Kashmir area.
The Indian Defence Ministry reported that areas within and nearby Jammu and Kashmir were targeted, clarifying that “threats were quickly addressed” and that “no lives or material damage were reported.”
Although Pakistan has not officially responded regarding the Jammu strikes, its Defence Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, earlier cautioned that further responses were “highly likely” after what Pakistan characterized as Indian misinformation and hostility.
Indian media also broadcast images of lights and flashes over Jaisalmer city in Rajasthan, adjacent to the southern Pakistani province of Sindh.
In a statement, Islamabad denied attacking Pathankot in India’s Punjab state, Srinagar in the Kashmir Valley and Jaisalmer and said the accusations were “entirely unfounded, politically motivated, and part of a reckless propaganda campaign aimed at maligning Pakistan”.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry emphasized that they would counter any further provocations “with strong commitment and determination to protect Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
‘Operation Sindoor’
On Wednesday, Indian forces struck and Pakistan-administered Kashmir as part of “Operation Sindoor”.
India maintains its actions were a “measured” and “non-escalatory” response to on Hindu tourists in Pahalgam, which it claims was backed by Pakistani-based militants. Pakistan has denied involvement in the Pahalgam attack.
Indian ambassador to the United States Vinay Kwatra told CNN the strikes were intended to deliver a “certain finality” while avoiding broader military escalation.
Pakistan alleged that Indian attacks targeted civilian locales rather than militant positions and claimed to have downed five Indian aircraft, including Rafale jets made in France, and 29 drones in response, while also reporting 40 to 50 Indian troop fatalities at the Line of Control.
These figures remain unverified. India has rejected previous Pakistani claims as “misinformation” and has not publicly confirmed aircraft losses or casualties.
As night fell, blackouts were reported in parts of Indian Punjab, Kashmir and Rajasthan, adding to residents’ anxiety.
Police in Pathankot and army sources confirmed active air defences were engaged in intercepting further Pakistani drones and missiles.
A senior US official said American intelligence assessed at least one Indian fighter jet was downed by Pakistan during the exchange.
‘None of our business’
Officials from the US, Russia and China have all urged restraint following the latest round of violence.
In a Fox News interview on Thursday, Vance said: “We want this thing to de-escalate as quickly as possible. We can’t control these countries, though.”
“What we can do is try to encourage these folks to de-escalate a little bit, but we’re not going to get involved in the middle of war that’s fundamentally none of our business and has nothing to do with America’s ability to control it,” he added.
“Our hope and our expectation is that this is not going to spiral into a broader regional war or, God forbid, a nuclear conflict,” Vance said.
India is an important partner for Washington, which aims to counter China’s rising influence, while Pakistan remains a US ally despite its diminished importance after Washington’s withdrawal from neighbouring Afghanistan in 2021.
Washington has held regular talks with both in recent days, including on Thursday when secretary of state Marco Rubio held calls with Pakistan’s prime minister and India’s foreign minister while urging them to de-escalate and have direct dialogue.
US President Donald Trump called rising tensions a shame. On Wednesday, he said he hoped the two countries will stop now after going “tit-for-tat.” The State Department urged both countries to work towards what Washington terms as a “responsible solution.”
The relationship between India and Pakistan has been fraught with tension since they gained independence from colonial Britain in 1947. The countries have fought three wars, two of them over Kashmir, and clashed many times.
The neighbours, which both claim Kashmir in full and rule over parts of it, separately acquired nuclear weapons in the 1990s.
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