Pakistan called an emergency meeting on Saturday of the group that manages its nuclear weapons after launching a military operation against India early that morning. The attack targeted multiple Indian bases, including a missile storage site in northern India. The Indian army responded, accusing Pakistan of escalating tensions with drone strikes and other weapons along India’s western border, stating that they would prevent any further aggression. In the attack, five civilians were killed in Jammu, a region of Indian Kashmir.
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The fighting between the two nuclear-armed countries has increased to the highest level in three decades. The U.S. has called for both sides to calm the situation. Before its offensive, Pakistan claimed that India had launched missiles at three air bases, including one near Islamabad, but most of the missiles were intercepted by Pakistani air defences.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister called a meeting of the National Command Authority, a group of civilian and military officials responsible for managing the country’s nuclear weapons. This meeting was seen as a sign of the growing danger of conflict between the two countries, with some fearing it could lead to nuclear war.
Pakistan’s Planning Minister, Ahsan Iqbal, warned that the international community needs to step in to prevent crossing the nuclear threshold. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to Pakistan’s Army Chief and urged both sides to de-escalate, offering American help to mediate peace talks.
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The tensions began on Wednesday when India attacked what it called “terrorist infrastructure” inside Pakistan. Pakistan vowed revenge. On Friday, both sides exchanged fire, with drones and missiles being launched into each other’s territory. In India’s Punjab state, drones were spotted over the city of Amritsar but were destroyed by Indian forces.
Pakistan claimed it was only targeting military sites, not civilians. The Pakistani military said it launched an operation named “Operation Bunyanun Marsoos,” which means a firm, united structure. The attack included missile strikes on an airfield in India’s Punjab state and an air force station in Indian Kashmir.
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In the ongoing conflict, explosions were heard in both India’s Srinagar and Jammu, as well as in Pakistani cities like Lahore and Peshawar. India reported shooting down Pakistani drones. Since the fighting started, at least 48 people have died, though these numbers have not been confirmed. The Group of Seven (G7) countries urged both nations to remain calm and start direct talks to avoid further violence.
