New Delhi, May 7, 2025: The Indian government on Wednesday claimed that at least 15 civilians were killed and 43 others injured in heavy cross-border shelling by Pakistani forces in the Poonch and Tangdhar districts of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. The shelling reportedly occurred in the aftermath of India’s airstrikes under “Operation Sindoor”, which targeted what it described as militant infrastructure in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir on May 6.
Indian officials allege that Pakistani forces targeted civilian zones, causing extensive damage to homes, shops, and vehicles. Women and children were reported among the casualties. Local authorities have launched rescue operations, with several of the injured said to be in critical condition.
The cross-border exchange marks a sharp escalation in hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. In response to India’s airstrikes, Pakistan has condemned the operation as an act of war and claimed to have shot down five Indian fighter jets, including Rafale aircraft—a claim New Delhi has so far not officially confirmed.
Artillery exchanges and ceasefire violations have intensified along the Line of Control (LoC) in recent days, prompting growing fears of a broader conflict. Both nations have traded accusations over the recent violence, with each side alleging breaches of the 2021 ceasefire agreement.
The latest flare-up comes amid lingering tensions following the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, where 26 Indian tourists were killed. India has blamed Pakistan-based elements for orchestrating the assault, a charge Islamabad has firmly denied, calling instead for an independent international investigation and offering full cooperation.
As a precaution, both countries have taken measures to partially close their airspace and scale down diplomatic exchanges, signaling a continued deterioration in bilateral ties.
The United Nations and major global powers have issued urgent calls for restraint, urging both sides to avoid further escalation and prioritize diplomacy over confrontation.
