Kashmiris experience night of terror as India-Pakistan fighting escalates
In the dead of night between Tuesday and Wednesday, people along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border dividing India and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, woke up to continuous loud explosions.
The explosions came around 1am local time, soon after India launched air strikes on several locations in Pakistan, in what it called a retaliatory action against "terrorists" to avenge the killing of 26 civilians in a deadly attack in Pahalgam, south of Kashmir.
Hafeez Wani, a resident of Karnah in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, about 100km from the LoC, told Middle East Eye that people in his neighbourhood woke up to the sound of artillery being fired.
'We were not able to step outside of our homes because of the intensity of firing from both sides. We could only hear loud bangs from inside,' Wani said.
Soon after India's air strikes in Pakistan, the Pakistani military responded with heavy artillery shelling along the LoC, targeting Indian military posts.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
According to Indian media reports at the time of publishing, as many as 15 people have been killed and more than 40 injured in the cross-border fighting.
The casualties have been mostly reported along the Poonch and Tangdhar sectors of the Indian-administered side of the border.
'There is a lot of damage in Karnah. A lot of houses are burned. In every village, at least two to three houses are burnt. Vehicles are also damaged. People are very scared,' Wani said, whose father was killed in a similar cross-border incident in 2003.
But Wani described the fresh escalation as 'very dangerous and extremely scary'.
'What we saw in the night, we have not seen something like that in our whole life. It was very dangerous. Whatever happened during the night was extremely scary,' he said.
Indian jets downed?
Pakistani military officials and several media reports say that Indian fighter jets were downed in Indian airspace. The New York Times reported that at least two jets had crashed, citing three officials, media reports and eyewitnesses.
One of the sites of the crashed planes was reportedly in Wuyan village in south Kashmir's Pulwama. The spot had been immediately cordoned off by Indian security forces, but visuals earlier showed wreckage of a plane that had crashed into a school building, with locals and firefighters dousing the fire.
A resident of Wuyan told MEE, requesting anonymity, that he was woken up by a loud bang.
'I came out and saw the wreckage of a plane burning. And for the next 30 minutes, I heard back-to-back blasts. After a while, firefighters came and we were asked to leave,' he said.
Reuters reported that three jets crashed inside Indian-administered Kashmir and that their pilots were in hospital, citing local government sources.
Pakistan contends that it shot down five jets.
India has rejected the claims, saying their military or machines did not suffer any damage during the operation.
On Wednesday, a French official told CNN that an Indian-operated French Rafale jet had been downed by the Pakistani air force.
India launches military strikes on Pakistan Read More »
There has been no confirmation on whether the planes took part in air strikes against Pakistan.
Another resident from the same village said he saw something burning near his house around 1am on Wednesday.
'I informed the police, and they asked me to call the firefighters. Later, the army also reached and asked us to leave the area where something was burning,' he added.
The tensions between India and Pakistan flared up after gunmen killed 26 civilians in a famous tourist spot in India-administered Kashmir's Pahalgam on 22 April.
India accused Pakistan of harbouring and aiding the attackers and vowed to avenge the killing of its civilians.
The relations between the two neighbours nosedived after India downgraded all diplomatic ties with Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty and deportation of Pakistani citizens from India. Pakistan retaliated by closing its airspace to India.
Relations continued to deteriorate amid calls for revenge by several TV news anchors, political parties, celebrities, and right-wing groups.
Indian forces then carried out what they called 'precision strikes' targeting nine locations in Pakistan that they claim were 'terrorist infrastructure'.
Official Pakistani sources reported that 26 civilians were killed and 46 injured in these attacks.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said they only targeted 'those who killed innocents' and maintained that only "terror camps" were hit without harming any civilians.
On Wednesday, Pakistan termed the Indian air strikes 'an act of war' and vowed to retaliate.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
3 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
'Dangerous place': Trump pulls US personnel out of Middle East citing security risks
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said US personnel were being moved out of the Middle East because "it could be a dangerous place," adding that the United States would not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. Reuters reported earlier on Wednesday that the US is preparing a partial evacuation of its Iraqi embassy and will allow military dependents to leave locations around the Middle East due to heightened security risks in the region, according to U.S. and Iraqi sources. The four US and two Iraqi sources did not say what security risks had prompted the decision and reports of the potential evacuation pushed up oil prices by more than 4%. A US official said the State Department had authorized voluntary departures from Bahrain and Kuwait. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. The decision by the US to evacuate some personnel comes at a volatile moment in the region. Trump's efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Iran appear to be deadlocked and US intelligence indicates that Israel has been making preparations for a strike against Iran's nuclear facilities. "They are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place, and we'll see what happens," Trump told reporters. "We've given notice to move out." Asked whether anything can be done to lower the temperature in the region, Trump said, "They can't have a nuclear weapon. Very simple, they can't have a nuclear weapon." Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike Iran if stuttering talks over its nuclear programme fail and in an interview released earlier on Wednesday said he was growing less confident that Tehran would agree to stop enriching uranium, a key American demand. Iranian Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh also said on Wednesday that if Iran was subjected to strikes it would retaliate by hitting U.S. bases in the region. The U.S. embassy in Kuwait said in a statement on Wednesday that it "has not changed its staffing posture and remains fully operational." Military presence The United States has a military presence across the major oil-producing region, with bases in Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized the voluntary departure of military dependents from locations across the Middle East, a U.S. official said. Another U.S. official said that was mostly relevant to family members located in Bahrain -- where the bulk of them are based. "The State Department is set to have an ordered departure for (the) U.S. embassy in Baghdad. The intent is to do it through commercial means, but the U.S. military is standing by if help is requested," a third U.S. official said. Iraq's state news agency cited a government source as saying Baghdad had not recorded any security indication that called for an evacuation. Another U.S. official said that there was no change in operations at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East and that no evacuation order had been issued for employees or families linked to the U.S. embassy in Qatar, which was operating as usual. Tensions Oil futures climbed $3 on reports of the Baghdad evacuation with Brent crude futures at $69.18 a barrel. Earlier on Wednesday Britain's maritime agency warned that increased tensions in the Middle East may lead to an escalation in military activity that could impact shipping in critical waterways. It advised vessels to use caution while travelling through the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Straits of Hormuz, which all border Iran. Britain's Foreign Office said it was monitoring the situation and will keep its embassy in Iraq under constant review following the U.S. moves. Iraq, a rare regional partner of both the United States and its arch regional foe Iran, hosts 2,500 U.S. troops although Tehran-backed armed factions are linked to its security forces. Tensions inside Iraq have heightened since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, with Iran-aligned armed groups in the country repeatedly attacking U.S. troops, though attacks have subsided since last year. Israel and Iran also twice exchanged fire last year - the first ever such direct attacks between the region's most entrenched enemies - with missiles and war drones hurtling across Iraqi airspace. Top US regional ally Israel has also struck Iran-linked targets across the region, including Iraqi armed groups operating both inside Iraq and in neighbouring Syria. In recent months the United States had deployed more military assets in the Middle East -- including B-2 bombers, which have since been replaced, and extending the deployment of a second aircraft carrier, which has since departed. The next round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States is due in the coming days with Iran expected to hand over a counter proposal after rejecting an offer by Washington. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that a military threat has always been part of the United States' negotiation tactics with Iran. 'Any military action against Iran, whether by the U.S. or Israel, will have serious consequences,' the official warned. Iran's U.N. mission on Wednesday posted on X: "Threats of 'overwhelming force' won't change facts: Iran is not seeking a nuclear weapon and U.S. militarism only fuels instability." The statement appeared to be a response to an earlier comment by U.S. Army General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, the head of U.S. Central Command, that he had provided the president with "a wide range of options" to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. Kurilla postponed testimony he was due to deliver before U.S. lawmakers on Thursday because of tensions in the Middle East, two other U.S. officials said.
Zawya
4 hours ago
- Zawya
US to pull some personnel from the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran
WASHINGTON/BAGHDAD: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday U.S. personnel were being moved out of the Middle East because "it could be a dangerous place," adding that the United States would not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. Reuters reported earlier on Wednesday that the U.S. is preparing a partial evacuation of its Iraqi embassy and will allow military dependents to leave locations around the Middle East due to heightened security risks in the region, according to U.S. and Iraqi sources. The four U.S. and two Iraqi sources did not say what security risks had prompted the decision and reports of the potential evacuation pushed up oil prices by more than 4%. A U.S. official said the State Department had authorized voluntary departures from Bahrain and Kuwait. The State Department updated its worldwide travel advisory on Wednesday evening to reflect the latest U.S. posture. 'On June 11, the Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel due to heightened regional tensions,' the advisory said. The decision by the U.S. to evacuate some personnel comes at a volatile moment in the region. Trump's efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Iran appear to be deadlocked and U.S. intelligence indicates that Israel has been making preparations for a strike against Iran's nuclear facilities. "They are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place, and we'll see what happens," Trump told reporters. "We've given notice to move out." Asked whether anything can be done to lower the temperature in the region, Trump said: "They can't have a nuclear weapon. Very simple, they can't have a nuclear weapon." Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike Iran if stuttering talks over its nuclear programme fail and in an interview released earlier on Wednesday said he was growing less confident that Tehran would agree to stop enriching uranium, a key American demand. Iranian Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh also said on Wednesday that if Iran was subjected to strikes it would retaliate by hitting U.S. bases in the region. The U.S. embassy in Kuwait said in a statement on Wednesday that it had "not changed its staffing posture and remains fully operational." MILITARY PRESENCE The United States has a military presence across the major oil-producing region, with bases in Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized the voluntary departure of military dependents from locations across the Middle East, a U.S. official said. Another U.S. official said that was mostly relevant to family members located in Bahrain - where the bulk of them are based. "The State Department is set to have an ordered departure for (the) U.S. embassy in Baghdad. The intent is to do it through commercial means, but the U.S. military is standing by if help is requested," a third U.S. official said. Iraq's state news agency cited a government source as saying Baghdad had not recorded any security indication that called for an evacuation. Another U.S. official said that there was no change in operations at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East and that no evacuation order had been issued for employees or families linked to the U.S. embassy in Qatar, which was operating as usual. TENSIONS Oil futures climbed $3 on reports of the Baghdad evacuation with Brent crude futures at $69.18 a barrel. Earlier on Wednesday Britain's maritime agency warned that increased tensions in the Middle East may lead to an escalation in military activity that could impact shipping in critical waterways. It advised vessels to use caution while travelling through the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Straits of Hormuz, which all border Iran. Britain's Foreign Office said it was monitoring the situation and would keep its embassy in Iraq under constant review following the U.S. moves. Iraq, a rare regional partner of both the United States and its arch regional foe Iran, hosts 2,500 U.S. troops although Tehran-backed armed factions are linked to its security forces. Tensions inside Iraq have heightened since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, with Iran-aligned armed groups in the country repeatedly attacking U.S. troops, though attacks have subsided since last year. Israel and Iran also twice exchanged fire last year - the first ever such direct attacks between the region's most entrenched enemies - with missiles and war drones hurtling across Iraqi airspace. Top U.S. regional ally Israel has also struck Iran-linked targets across the region, including Iraqi armed groups operating both inside Iraq and in neighbouring Syria. In recent months the United States has deployed more military assets in the Middle East, including B-2 bombers, which have since been replaced, and extending the deployment of a second aircraft carrier, which has since departed. The next round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States is due in the coming days with Iran expected to hand over a counter proposal after rejecting an offer by Washington. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that a military threat had always been part of the United States' negotiation tactics with Iran. 'Any military action against Iran, whether by the U.S. or Israel, will have serious consequences,' the official warned. Iran's U.N. mission on Wednesday posted on X: "Threats of 'overwhelming force' won't change facts: Iran is not seeking a nuclear weapon and U.S. militarism only fuels instability." The statement appeared to be a response to an earlier comment by U.S. Army General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, the head of U.S. Central Command, that he had provided the president with "a wide range of options" to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. Kurilla postponed testimony he was due to deliver before U.S. lawmakers on Thursday because of tensions in the Middle East, two other U.S. officials said. (Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis, Idrees Ali, Humeyra Pamuk and Steve Holland and Jeff Mason in Washington, Michelle Nichols in New York, Ahmed Rasheed and Timour Azhari in Baghdad and Parisa Hafezi in Dubai; Additional reporting by Sam Tabahriti in London; Writing by Jaidaa Taha, Yomna Ehab and Angus McDowall; Editing by Deepa Babington and Stephen Coates)
The National
4 hours ago
- The National
Israel's disconnect with allies and partners has rarely been clearer
Tuesday's decision by the UK to impose sanctions on two ultra-nationalist Israeli ministers means Britain has joined Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Norway in taking the extraordinary step of introducing travel bans and financial restrictions on members of an ostensibly friendly government to these countries. Perhaps even more extraordinary was the response from one of the ministers concerned. A statement issued by the office of Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich the same day confirmed that Israel cancelled a waiver that allowed the country's banks to work with Palestinian ones. Instead of retaliating against the UK directly, Mr Smotrich instead authorised a move that threatens to paralyse Palestinian financial institutions. Such intransigence – and its deeply embedded position within the current Israeli government – explains why more and more of the country's allies and trade partners are losing patience and taking action. Tuesday's sanctions are the latest example of Israel's increasing isolation and the substantial diplomatic and political cost it is paying for its war of collective punishment in Gaza and continuing military occupation of Palestinian land. The fact that Mr Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir are determined opponents of a just political settlement of the conflict also highlights the disconnect between Israel's current leadership and most of the international community. Next week, hundreds of diplomats will gather in New York for a UN summit on the two-state solution, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France. Israel's leadership has already said it will not attend; that is its choice, but it is a poor one. Determinedly opposing the majority of international opinion – that is in favour of an equitable settlement – puts the onus on Israel to provide a realistic alternative that does not involve further displacement or other illegal policies. If it cannot, then it will be clear that Israel, which is currently led by a divided and precarious coalition with an uncertain future, is on a collision course with the international community, one that may even try the patience of a much more capricious and transactional White House. The coming UN summit must be bold and ambitious, holding fast to the overall framework of a solution that most of the international community supports: an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the return of the remaining Israeli hostages, the release of Palestinian detainees as well as a process that leads to Palestinian freedom coupled with security guarantees for Israel. Sanctions on individual Israeli ministers are a statement that the country needs to think hard about where it is headed It is a source of frustration that the case for this position has to be made time and again. Arab nations have already said they are ready to play their part, as was made clear in the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. Last September, while speaking on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said 57 Muslim and Arab countries were 'willing to guarantee the security of Israel in the context of Israel ending the occupation' and allowing for the emergence of a Palestinian state. However, what the world is witnessing right now on the streets of the West Bank and in the rubble of Gaza is what the absence of a peace process looks like. More partners of Israel are making it clear that this situation is simply unsustainable. Sanctions on individual Israeli ministers are a statement that the country needs to think hard about where it is headed.
