Cross-border violence intensifies as tensions flare over disputed Kashmir territory

India launches missile strikes on Pakistan following a deadly attack in Kashmir.

Smoke rises after an artillery shell hits the main town of Poonch district in India’s Jammu region, on May 7, 2025. Photo by Punit Paranjpe/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

India launched missile strikes on Pakistan early Wednesday, intensifying one of the most dangerous flashpoints in the region after blaming Islamabad for a deadly attack on the Indian-administered side of Kashmir. The strikes, which occurred just before sunrise in the border town of Poonch, set off a chain of retaliatory shelling and left dozens dead on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC), the heavily militarized de facto border that splits Kashmir between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

The Indian military's offensive targeted what it claimed were militant positions across the LoC, marking a significant escalation in hostilities. According to Pakistani authorities, at least 26 civilians were killed in the missile barrage. Meanwhile, local officials in Indian-controlled Kashmir confirmed that 12 people died in the town of Poonch, with dozens more injured.

A pre-dawn assault ignites panic in border town

The strike began just before dawn. In Poonch, red fireballs lit up the skyline as artillery shells slammed into residential areas. The thunderous explosion from the first missile was followed by a wave of blasts that shattered windows and shook buildings.

"At about 4:15 a.m., the entire town shook like an earthquake," said Azhar Majid, a senior government official in Poonch. “We had no warning. Just an eruption of sound and then smoke everywhere.”

Air raid sirens blared as Indian forces responded to Pakistani shelling with heavy artillery fire of their own. Residents described a scene of confusion and fear. “There was no power, no phone signals, and we were huddled in our basement hoping the next shell wouldn’t hit us,” said 35-year-old local shopkeeper Salman Dar.

AFP journalists on the ground reported that the sounds of shellfire echoed for hours. With flares lighting up the night sky and explosions drawing closer, some residents made a run for it, while others sheltered in whatever structures were still standing.

As daylight broke, the chaos showed no signs of easing. Streams of frightened civilians, some on foot and others crammed into vehicles, fled the town. Roads leading out of Poonch were choked with traffic as families attempted to reach safer locations deeper inside Indian territory.

Food vendors along the route did brisk business as evacuees stopped to buy supplies. "We don't know how long this will last or when we can return home," said one woman carrying a young child. “We just grabbed what we could and ran.”

Loudspeaker announcements from local mosques warned people to stay indoors, but for many, the fear of staying outweighed the risks of fleeing.

What led to the missile strikes?

Tensions had been simmering since a deadly incident two weeks ago in the Kashmir region, where Indian soldiers were killed in what New Delhi described as a Pakistan-backed militant ambush. Although Islamabad denied involvement, India vowed retaliation.

The government in New Delhi now says Wednesday’s missile strikes were a “measured military response” aimed at dismantling militant infrastructure it believes operates with Pakistani support. The Ministry of Defence released satellite images it claimed showed the destruction of at least three suspected camps.

“These were not strikes on civilian targets,” said a senior Indian official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We have targeted only known terrorist launch pads across the border.”

Pakistan, however, rejected India’s claims and accused its neighbor of launching an unprovoked assault on civilian areas. “This is a grave violation of international law and a direct attack on our sovereignty,” said Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry in a statement, adding that it would raise the issue at the United Nations.

The missile exchange between the two nuclear-armed countries has raised alarm bells globally. Both India and Pakistan have fought three wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947, two of which were over Kashmir. The region remains at the center of their ongoing hostilities.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement urging both sides to exercise maximum restraint and avoid any further escalation. “The situation in Kashmir is extremely volatile and poses serious risks to regional peace and security,” said Guterres.

The U.S. State Department also called for calm, noting that both India and Pakistan must avoid further military action and instead pursue diplomatic dialogue. “We are monitoring the situation closely and are in contact with both governments,” a spokesperson said.

Fallout and fears of broader conflict

In Poonch, the mood remains tense as military vehicles move through the streets and soldiers set up new checkpoints. Schools and businesses remain closed, and many residents say they fear a longer conflict could erupt.

“We are used to occasional shelling,” said teacher Imran Qureshi. “But this... this feels different. We fear the worst.”

The renewed violence comes amid a broader regional power shift, as India increases its defense spending and Pakistan navigates economic instability. Analysts warn that without immediate de-escalation, the Kashmir conflict could spiral into a larger and more deadly confrontation.

While both sides maintain that they do not seek war, the missile strikes mark one of the most serious escalations since the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, when Indian jets crossed into Pakistani airspace in retaliation for a suicide bombing in Pulwama that killed 40 Indian paramilitary personnel.

This time, the risk of further conflict is heightened by a lack of direct communication channels. Both sides have suspended key diplomatic efforts, and public sentiment in each country has grown increasingly nationalistic.

With residents displaced and tensions at a boiling point, the future of the Kashmir region remains uncertain. Local leaders are urging peace, but many in Poonch say they are bracing for more violence.

As international pressure mounts on both New Delhi and Islamabad, the world watches anxiously to see whether this crisis will lead to deeper hostilities or prompt a return to diplomatic engagement.

For now, the thundering sound of artillery continues to echo through the valleys of Kashmir, a grim reminder that peace in the region remains fragile and elusive.