Pakistan said Monday that its military shot down an Indian drone that allegedly violated its airspace along the Line of Control (LoC), as tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors intensified following a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Radio Pakistan reported that the drone, described as a quadcopter, attempted surveillance operations in the Manawar Sector of the Bhimber area. Pakistani security officials told the Associated Press that the unmanned craft flew hundreds of feet into Pakistani-controlled territory. There was no immediate comment from Indian officials.
The incident comes amid heightened hostilities triggered by the April 22 massacre in Pahalgam, where 26 people were killed. India has labeled the assault a "terror attack" and accused Pakistan of backing it, while Pakistan has denied any involvement. A previously unknown group calling itself the Kashmir Resistance claimed responsibility for the killings.
Cross-border gunfire has intensified along the LoC, with the Indian army accusing Pakistan of "unprovoked small arms firing" overnight between Monday and Tuesday. The exchanges occurred near Kupwara, Baramulla, and the Akhnoor sector. Indian troops "responded in a measured and effective manner to the provocation," according to a statement reported by the Indo-Asian News Service.
Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif warned that the country is on high alert and has "reinforced our forces." In an interview with Reuters, Asif said, "In that situation, some strategic decisions have to be taken, so those decisions have been taken." He added that Pakistan would consider using its nuclear arsenal only in response to "a direct threat to our existence."
Indian authorities have detained nearly 2,000 people across Kashmir, targeting former insurgents and civilians suspected of aiding militants. Indian soldiers have demolished the homes of at least nine alleged militants, a move that has sparked local and international criticism.
Omar Abdullah, chief minister of the region, urged caution, telling lawmakers, "We should not take any step that will alienate people." Ruhullah Mehdi, a lawmaker in India's Parliament, described the demolitions as "collective punishment."
The United Nations has called for "maximum restraint," and China urged both sides to avoid escalation. "Both India and Pakistan are important countries in South Asia. Their harmonious coexistence is crucial to the peace, stability and development of the region," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.
The United States has also emphasized caution, with a State Department spokesperson stating, "This is an evolving situation, and we are monitoring developments closely. We have been in touch with the governments of India and Pakistan at multiple levels. The United States encourages all parties to work together toward a responsible resolution."
Michael Kugelman, a South Asia analyst, described the Pahalgam attack to Newsweek as "a game-changer," adding, "It shatters the relative calm prevailing in Kashmir in recent years, and in so doing, it punctures the Indian narrative that normalcy-including stability-has been restored in a highly restive region."
He continued, "It's also the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which Indians regard as their 9/11. Given the scale and targeting of this attack, it's all but assured that India will respond with muscle."
