Pakistan has vowed retaliation following Indian air strikes near the disputed Kashmir border, sparking fears of a wider conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors. At least 43 people have died in recent clashes, with Islamabad reporting 31 civilian fatalities and India confirming 12 casualties due to Pakistani shelling. 💔
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pledged to “avenge each drop of blood” during a national address, while Pakistan’s military claims five Indian jets were downed across the Line of Control. India, however, stated three of its jets crashed domestically. ✈️🔥
Heavy artillery fire continues along the Kashmir divide, with both sides accusing each other of escalation. India called its strikes “focused and non-escalatory,” but Pakistan’s defense minister accused Indian PM Narendra Modi of using military action to “shore up” his popularity. 💬🗣️
The crisis follows an April 22 attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, which India blamed on Pakistan-based groups. With global powers urging restraint, the world watches closely as tensions reach their highest point in decades. 🌍🔍
