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Business Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Times
Pakistan warns it won't de-escalate as conflict with India spirals
[ISLAMABAD] Pakistan has warned it will 'not de-escalate' a spiralling conflict with India, and blamed New Delhi for bringing the two nuclear-armed neighbours closer to a full-blown war, with the death toll from days of violence crossing 50. The South Asian countries have exchanged fire since India launched air strikes on Pakistani territory on Wednesday, saying they were targeting 'terrorists' after a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir last month. On Friday, the third day of tit-for-tat exchanges, the Indian army said it had 'repulsed' waves of Pakistani attacks using drones and other munitions overnight, and gave a 'befitting reply'. Pakistan's military spokesman denied that Islamabad was carrying out such attacks, and vowed revenge for the initial Indian strikes. 'We will not de-escalate -- with the damages they did on our side, they should take a hit,' said Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry. 'So far, we have been protecting ourselves but they will get an answer in our own timing.' BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up The clashes are the worst between the two countries - which have fought three full-scale wars since gaining independence from the British in 1947 - for decades. Civilians have come under fire on both sides, with Islamabad and New Delhi accusing each other of carrying out unprovoked artillery shelling, and missile and drone strikes. 'Our life is worth nothing. At any time entire families could be wiped out,' said Naseer Ahmed Khan, 50, whose village lies near the Line of Control (LoC) that divides the disputed Kashmir region between Pakistan and India. 'Our children are not able to sleep and we cannot have a meal in peace.' 'Reckless conduct' Most of the more than 50 deaths were in Pakistan during Wednesday's air strikes by India, and included children. On Friday, Pakistani security and government officials said five civilians - including a two-year-old girl - were killed by Indian shelling overnight in areas along the heavily militarised LoC. On the other side, a police official said one woman was killed and two men wounded by heavy shelling. Pakistani military sources said that its forces had shot down 77 Indian drones in the last two days, with debris of many incursions seen by AFP in cities across the country. An Indian army spokeswoman on Friday spoke of '300 to 400' Pakistani drones being fired, but it was impossible to verify that claim independently. Pakistan has accused India of fabricating the drone strikes, and early Saturday its military claimed Delhi's forces had bombed their own territory in Amritsar, without providing evidence. Pakistan's foreign ministry alleged New Delhi's 'reckless conduct has brought the two nuclear-armed states closer to a major conflict'. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met top security officials on Friday, including his national security advisor, defence minister and the chiefs of the armed forces, his office said. The two countries have fought several wars over Muslim-majority Kashmir, which both claim in full but administer separately. Disruptions Armed groups have stepped up operations in Kashmir since 2019, when Modi's Hindu nationalist government revoked its limited autonomy and took the state under direct rule by New Delhi. Pakistan has rejected claims by India that it was behind last month's attack in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir, when gunmen killed 26 people, mainly male Hindu tourists. India blamed the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba - a UN-designated terrorist organisation - for the attack. The conflict has caused major disruptions to international aviation, with airlines having to cancel flights or use longer routes that do not overfly the India-Pakistan frontier. India has closed 24 airports, with local media reporting the suspension would remain in place until next week. The mega Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament was on Friday suspended for a week, while Pakistan suspended its own T20 franchise competition indefinitely, barely a day after relocating it to the United Arab Emirates over the violence. Mediation offers World powers have called for both sides to exercise 'restraint', with several offering to mediate the dispute. On Friday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir in Islamabad, according to a statement. That meeting came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met his Indian counterpart in Delhi on Thursday, days after visiting Pakistan. The International Crisis Group, however, said 'foreign powers appear to have been somewhat indifferent' to the prospect of war, despite warnings of possible escalation. On Friday, Pakistan's military spokesman warned India that further drone or other strikes could lead to 'unpredictable' results. 'They should know that the escalation ladder is always unpredictable,' he said. AFP
France 24
09-05-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Pakistan warns won't de-escalate as conflict with India spirals
The South Asian countries have exchanged fire since India launched air strikes on Pakistani territory on Wednesday, saying they were targeting "terrorists" after a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir last month. On Friday, the third day of tit-for-tat exchanges, the Indian army said it had "repulsed" waves of Pakistani attacks using drones and other munitions overnight, and gave a "befitting reply". Pakistan's military spokesman denied that Islamabad was carrying out such attacks, and vowed revenge for the initial Indian strikes. "We will not de-escalate -- with the damages they did on our side, they should take a hit," said Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry. "So far, we have been protecting ourselves but they will get an answer in our own timing." The clashes are the worst between the two countries -- which have fought three full-scale wars since gaining independence from the British in 1947 -- for decades. Civilians have come under fire on both sides, with Islamabad and New Delhi accusing each other of carrying out unprovoked artillery shelling, and missile and drone strikes. "Our life is worth nothing. At any time entire families could be wiped out," said Naseer Ahmed Khan, 50, whose village lies near the Line of Control (LoC) that divides the disputed Kashmir region between Pakistan and India. "Our children are not able to sleep and we cannot have a meal in peace." 'Reckless conduct' Most of the more than 50 deaths were in Pakistan during Wednesday's air strikes by India, and included children. On Friday, Pakistani security and government officials said five civilians -- including a two-year-old girl -- were killed by Indian shelling overnight in areas along the heavily militarised LoC. On the other side, a police official said one woman was killed and two men wounded by heavy shelling. Pakistani military sources said that its forces had shot down 77 Indian drones in the last two days, with debris of many incursions seen by AFP in cities across the country. An Indian army spokeswoman on Friday spoke of "300 to 400" Pakistani drones being fired, but it was impossible to verify that claim independently. Pakistan has accused India of fabricating the drone strikes, and early Saturday its military claimed Delhi's forces had bombed their own territory in Amritsar, without providing evidence. Pakistan's foreign ministry alleged New Delhi's "reckless conduct has brought the two nuclear-armed states closer to a major conflict". Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met top security officials on Friday, including his national security advisor, defence minister and the chiefs of the armed forces, his office said. The two countries have fought several wars over Muslim-majority Kashmir, which both claim in full but administer separately. Disruptions Armed groups have stepped up operations in Kashmir since 2019, when Modi's Hindu nationalist government revoked its limited autonomy and took the state under direct rule by New Delhi. Pakistan has rejected claims by India that it was behind last month's attack in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir, when gunmen killed 26 people, mainly male Hindu tourists. India blamed the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba -- a UN-designated terrorist organisation -- for the attack. The conflict has caused major disruptions to international aviation, with airlines having to cancel flights or use longer routes that do not overfly the India-Pakistan frontier. India has closed 24 airports, with local media reporting the suspension would remain in place until next week. The mega Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament was on Friday suspended for a week, while Pakistan suspended its own T20 franchise competition indefinitely, barely a day after relocating it to the United Arab Emirates over the violence. Mediation offers World powers have called for both sides to exercise "restraint", with several offering to mediate the dispute. On Friday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir in Islamabad, according to a statement. That meeting came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met his Indian counterpart in Delhi on Thursday, days after visiting Pakistan. On Friday, Pakistan's military spokesman warned India that further drone or other strikes could lead to "unpredictable" results. "They should know that the escalation ladder is always unpredictable," he said. © 2025 AFP
Int'l Business Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Pakistan Warns Won't De-escalate As Conflict With India Spirals
Pakistan has warned it will "not de-escalate" a spiralling conflict with India, and blamed New Delhi for bringing the two nuclear-armed neighbours closer to a full-blown war, with the death toll from days of violence crossing 50. The South Asian countries have exchanged fire since India launched air strikes on Pakistani territory on Wednesday, saying they were targeting "terrorists" after a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir last month. On Friday, the third day of tit-for-tat exchanges, the Indian army said it had "repulsed" waves of Pakistani attacks using drones and other munitions overnight, and gave a "befitting reply". Pakistan's military spokesman denied that Islamabad was carrying out such attacks, and vowed revenge for the initial Indian strikes. "We will not de-escalate -- with the damages they did on our side, they should take a hit," said Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry. "So far, we have been protecting ourselves but they will get an answer in our own timing." The clashes are the worst between the two countries -- which have fought three full-scale wars since gaining independence from the British in 1947 -- for decades. Civilians have come under fire on both sides, with Islamabad and New Delhi accusing each other of carrying out unprovoked artillery shelling, and missile and drone strikes. "Our life is worth nothing. At any time entire families could be wiped out," said Naseer Ahmed Khan, 50, whose village lies near the Line of Control (LoC) that divides the disputed Kashmir region between Pakistan and India. "Our children are not able to sleep and we cannot have a meal in peace." Most of the more than 50 deaths were in Pakistan during Wednesday's air strikes by India, and included children. On Friday, Pakistani security and government officials said five civilians -- including a two-year-old girl -- were killed by Indian shelling overnight in areas along the heavily militarised LoC. On the other side, a police official said one woman was killed and two men wounded by heavy shelling. Pakistani military sources said that its forces had shot down 77 Indian drones in the last two days, with debris of many incursions seen by AFP in cities across the country. An Indian army spokeswoman on Friday spoke of "300 to 400" Pakistani drones being fired, but it was impossible to verify that claim independently. Pakistan has accused India of fabricating the drone strikes, and early Saturday its military claimed Delhi's forces had bombed their own territory in Amritsar, without providing evidence. Pakistan's foreign ministry alleged New Delhi's "reckless conduct has brought the two nuclear-armed states closer to a major conflict". Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met top security officials on Friday, including his national security advisor, defence minister and the chiefs of the armed forces, his office said. The two countries have fought several wars over Muslim-majority Kashmir, which both claim in full but administer separately. Armed groups have stepped up operations in Kashmir since 2019, when Modi's Hindu nationalist government revoked its limited autonomy and took the state under direct rule by New Delhi. Pakistan has rejected claims by India that it was behind last month's attack in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir, when gunmen killed 26 people, mainly male Hindu tourists. India blamed the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba -- a UN-designated terrorist organisation -- for the attack. The conflict has caused major disruptions to international aviation, with airlines having to cancel flights or use longer routes that do not overfly the India-Pakistan frontier. India has closed 24 airports, with local media reporting the suspension would remain in place until next week. The mega Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament was on Friday suspended for a week, while Pakistan suspended its own T20 franchise competition indefinitely, barely a day after relocating it to the United Arab Emirates over the violence. World powers have called for both sides to exercise "restraint", with several offering to mediate the dispute. On Friday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir in Islamabad, according to a statement. That meeting came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met his Indian counterpart in Delhi on Thursday, days after visiting Pakistan. On Friday, Pakistan's military spokesman warned India that further drone or other strikes could lead to "unpredictable" results. "They should know that the escalation ladder is always unpredictable," he said. The disputed territory of Kashmir has seen days of artillery firing by both sides since India launched air strikes on Pakistan on May 7, 2025 AFP Artillery shelling near the Line of Control that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan has forced thousands to seek shelter in bunkers AFP Updated map showing incidents of violence on May 7-8, 2025 in the disputed Kashmir region and in Pakistan and India, according to officials AFP
Arab News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Weary border residents in Indian-administered Kashmir struggle to survive
URI, India: Mohammad Naseem says his neighbors laughed when he borrowed money and built a concrete bunker under his home in a village near the disputed Kashmir border. But this week, when mortar bombs rained in Salamabad, 38 people — men, women, and children — huddled in it as about a dozen shells exploded outside in quick succession. One of them destroyed Naseem's home. 'Many of us would have died had we not moved into the bunker,' Naseem, a 34-year-old hotel chef, told AFP. 'We grabbed our children and rushed inside. It got so packed that after some time we felt suffocated, two of our children became unconscious,' he said. 'The children had to be hospitalized after daybreak when the shelling stopped.' Other villagers hid behind rocks and bushes on the mountain slopes. Some watched their homes being reduced to rubble. Deadly confrontations between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan erupted after New Delhi accused Islamabad of backing an April 22 attack on tourists on the Indian-administered side of the disputed territory, which killed 26 people. Pakistan denies the charge. 'We took our children out and went up the mountain slope holding them tightly as bombs exploded around us,' Naseer Ahmed Khan, 50, said outside his damaged house on Thursday. 'Our life is worth nothing. At any time, entire families could be wiped out,' Khan said. 'Our children are not able to sleep and we cannot have a meal in peace.' The exchange of heavy fire has destroyed or severely damaged dozens of homes in Uri, about 100 kilometers (66 miles) from the Kashmir capital Srinagar, forcing many to flee to safer areas in towns like Baramulla, about 50 kilometers away. Sajjad Shafi, a local lawmaker told AFP that about 10 percent of Uri's population — some 22,000 people — fled since the latest fighting began. On Friday, many more were fleeing in buses and trucks provided by the government or driving off in their own cars. 'How can we stay here?' Rubina Begum said outside her destroyed home. 'The government should lodge us somewhere safe.' Begum's daughter, Saima Talib, added: 'We have nothing left except the clothes we are wearing.' Displaced people are struggling to find food and work and many are now sheltering in government buildings in Uri. Mohammad Lateef Bhat, a road construction worker, said: 'I work as a laborer with army's border roads organization but their work also stopped.' 'This morning I came to the market looking for work but there is nothing,' Bhat said. Some vegetable sellers briefly set up shop before closing. Mohammad Bashir was also despondent. 'I came to the market to find some work so I can buy some food for my family (of eight) but there is nothing,' Bashir, 60, said. The death toll from India and Pakistan's biggest clashes in decades passed 50 on Friday with each accusing the other of staging drone attacks in waves. Farooq Ahmed Khan, 35, a bus driver from Sultandhaki village near the border, said 'this fighting has made our life miserable.' Nagni, a rare mixed settlement of Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs, sits on mountain slopes near the Indian army's border headquarters in Uri. Villagers say 35 of the 50 families there have fled. Badal, a 22-year-old student who only gave his first name, was cleaning up after his sister's wedding at his freshly painted home. He showed a crater caused by a mortar bomb that landed a few meters away on the night of the wedding. 'Luckily there was no loss of life but a lot of damage. What we need.. is bunkers, but there are none.' 'This village has always been a target of Pakistani attacks in the past because the (Indian) army headquarters are nearby,' said Sahil Kumar, another Nagni resident. Locals say they are fed up. 'I say there should be a war just to decide where Kashmir goes,' said Farooq Ahmed Khan, the bus driver. 'I will also go to fight in that war so that this trouble ends for good,' Khan said.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Weary border residents in Indian Kashmir struggle to survive
Mohammad Naseem says his neighbours laughed when he borrowed money and built a concrete bunker under his home in a village near the disputed Kashmir border. But this week when mortar bombs rained in Salamabad, 38 people -- men, women, and children -- huddled in it as about a dozen shells exploded outside in quick succession. One of them destroyed Naseem's home. "Many of us would have died had we not moved into the bunker," Naseem, a 34-year-old hotel chef, told AFP. "We grabbed our children and rushed inside. It got so packed that after some time we felt suffocated, two of our children became unconscious," he said. "The children had to be hospitalised after daybreak when the shelling stopped." Other villagers hid behind rocks and bushes on the mountain slopes. Some watched their homes being reduced to rubble. Deadly confrontations between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan erupted after New Delhi accused Islamabad of backing an April 22 attack on tourists on the Indian-run side of the disputed territory, which killed 26 people. Pakistan denies the charge. - 'Our life is worth nothing' - "We took our children out and went up the mountain slope holding them tightly as bombs exploded around us," Naseer Ahmed Khan, 50, said outside his damaged house on Thursday. "Our life is worth nothing. At any time entire families could be wiped out," Khan said. "Our children are not able to sleep and we cannot have a meal in peace." The exchange of heavy fire has destroyed or severely damaged dozens of homes in Uri, about 100 kilometres (66 miles) from the Kashmir capital Srinagar, forcing many to flee to safer areas in towns like Baramulla, about 50 kilometres away. Sajjad Shafi, a local lawmaker told AFP that about 10 percent of Uri's population -- some 22,000 people -- fled since the latest fighting began. On Friday, many more were fleeing in buses and trucks provided by the government or driving off in their own cars. "How can we stay here?" Rubina Begum said outside her destroyed home. "The government should lodge us somewhere safe". Begum's daughter, Saima Talib, added: "We have nothing left except the clothes we are wearing". Displaced people are struggling to find food and work and many are now sheltering in government buildings in Uri. - 'Return empty' - Mohammad Lateef Bhat, a road construction worker, said: "I work as a labourer with army's border roads organisation but their work also stopped." "This morning I came to the market looking for work but there is nothing," Bhat said. Some vegetable sellers briefly set up shop before closing. Mohammad Bashir was also despondent. "I came to the market to find some work so I can buy some food for my family (of eight) but there is nothing," Bashir, 60, said. The death toll from India and Pakistan's biggest clashes in decades passed 50 on Friday with each accusing the other of staging drone attacks in waves. Farooq Ahmed Khan, 35, a bus driver from Sultandhaki village near the border, said "this fighting has made our life miserable." Nagni, a rare mixed settlement of Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs, sits on mountain slopes near the Indian army's border headquarters in Uri. Villagers say 35 of the 50 families there have fled. Badal, a 22-year-old student who only gave his first name, was cleaning up after his sister's wedding at his freshly painted home. - 'There should be war' - He showed a crater caused by a mortar bomb that landed a few metres away on the night of the wedding. "Luckily there was no loss of life but a lot of damage. What we need.. is bunkers, but there are none". "This village has always been a target of Pakistani attacks in the past because the (Indian) army headquarters are nearby," said Sahil Kumar, another Nagni resident. Locals say they are fed up. "I say there should be a war just to decide where Kashmir goes," said Farooq Ahmed Khan, the bus driver. "I will also go to fight in that war so that this trouble ends for good," Khan said. pzb/ach/hmn
