Escalation feared as India, Pakistan continue drone war, clashes
In the escalating conflict between Pakistan and India, troops from both countries have once again engaged in overnight fights.
The surging escalation triggered global concerns that the time might be running out to prevent a full-blown conflict between nuclear-armed rivals.
India's army accused Pakistan of launching "multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire western border" during the night.
The drone attacks were reportedly repelled, the army announced on the platform X and the Indian army also retaliated, it said. It accused Pakistan of multiple ceasefire violations. Islamabad initially did not comment on the allegations.
At least one woman was killed and four other civilians were injured from artillery fire in the Indian-administered part of the Himalayan region of Kashmir, the newspaper The Indian Express reported, citing government officials. This brings the number of civilian deaths in India to 17 since Wednesday, according to India.
Pakistan claims it shot down 50 drones
The Pakistani military said forces shot down nearly 50 more Israel-manufactured HAROP drones launched by India overnight and Friday morning on the third day of clashes between South Asian neighbours.
This brought the total number of fallen Indian drone in Pakistan to 77 since Wednesday night, Information Minister Atta Tarar said.
At least six more Pakistani civilians died and more than two dozen were injured as Indian troops fired artillery on villages across Kashmir border, local disaster management agency said.
The clashes started when India launched a series of air and surface missile strikes inside Pakistan on Tuesday night, killing at least 33 people, the military said.
New Delhi said strikes targeted hideouts of Islamist jihadist groups allegedly behind last month's deadly terrorist attack in Indian part of Kashmir that had killed 26 tourists in Kashmir.
India blames Pakistan for backing several Islamist militants groups behind deadly attacks in Kashmir - an allegation Islamabad denies.
Pakistan said those killed in the strikes were civilians including children as young as three and women.
Mediation efforts underway
Several world capitals continued their efforts to prevent further escalation following the worst clashes between Indian and Pakistan since their Himalayan conflict in 1999.
The deputy prime minister of Saudi Arabia, one of Pakistan's closest allies, arrived in Islamabad on Friday after vising New Delhi for US-backed efforts to seek de-escalation.
Adel al-Jubeir was set to meet Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Ishaq Dar, deputy prime minister, to share Indian proposals for easing tensions.
Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy called his Indian and Pakistani counterparts to urge both the countries to show restraints.
Islamabad vowed to retaliate to Indian missile strikes at the time of its liking, stoking fears of a spiralling escalation. The war cabinet on Wednesday authorized the military to retaliate against Indian strikes, as the rising escalation could lead to a full-blown conflict and even a long-term war.
Parts of airspaces and several dozen airports remained closed in both countries, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.
Conflict affecting cricket - beloved by both sides
High-valued leagues of cricket, a popular sport in South Asia, were suspended in both India and Pakistan as international players refused to play under the cloud of war.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since their independence in 1947 over the control of Kashmir, parts of which are controlled by both countries, though the two nations each claim in is theirs.
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