Pakistan’s air defense system shot down an Indian drone near a naval air base in Lahore early Thursday, as tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors soared following deadly cross-border attacks and airstrikes.
The incident occurred near Waltan airport, a small airfield in Lahore housing military facilities. Pakistani security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the drone was intercepted but did not specify whether it was armed. Local media also reported two other Indian drones were shot down in Punjab province.
This comes a day after India launched airstrikes inside Pakistan’s Punjab province and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, which Islamabad says killed 31 civilians, including women and children. In response, Pakistan claimed to have downed five Indian fighter jets and vowed retaliation.
India, meanwhile, accused Pakistan of violating the ceasefire agreement and reported that 13 civilians and one soldier were killed in artillery shelling in the Poonch region, with at least 59 others injured. Indian officials said their strikes targeted militant infrastructure linked to the April 22 attack in India-controlled Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists. Pakistan has denied involvement in the attack.
The escalation has raised fears of a wider conflict. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pledged to avenge the civilian deaths, though he provided no further details.
Amid rising hostilities, thousands of Indian civilians living near the de facto border — the Line of Control — have been evacuated or fled voluntarily. Shelters in towns like Uri and Poonch are now housing displaced residents as both sides brace for potential further military action.
The incident occurred near Waltan airport, a small airfield in Lahore housing military facilities. Pakistani security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the drone was intercepted but did not specify whether it was armed. Local media also reported two other Indian drones were shot down in Punjab province.
This comes a day after India launched airstrikes inside Pakistan’s Punjab province and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, which Islamabad says killed 31 civilians, including women and children. In response, Pakistan claimed to have downed five Indian fighter jets and vowed retaliation.
India, meanwhile, accused Pakistan of violating the ceasefire agreement and reported that 13 civilians and one soldier were killed in artillery shelling in the Poonch region, with at least 59 others injured. Indian officials said their strikes targeted militant infrastructure linked to the April 22 attack in India-controlled Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists. Pakistan has denied involvement in the attack.
The escalation has raised fears of a wider conflict. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pledged to avenge the civilian deaths, though he provided no further details.
Amid rising hostilities, thousands of Indian civilians living near the de facto border — the Line of Control — have been evacuated or fled voluntarily. Shelters in towns like Uri and Poonch are now housing displaced residents as both sides brace for potential further military action.
