India and Pakistan exchanged bombardments on Wednesday in the most serious military confrontation between the two countries in the last two decades. Both sides, possessing nuclear weapons, claim successful strikes, while the major powers of the planet and the UN have reacted by calling for calm.
The two armies exchanged artillery fire along the disputed border in Kashmir, following a series of Indian strikes on Pakistani territory in retaliation for the attack in Pahalgam, as reported by AFP, cited by Agerpres.
What Happened Last Night
In these strikes, "nine terrorist camps (...) were destroyed," said an Indian army spokesperson, Lt. Col. Vyomika Singh, in front of the press.
Indian missiles that hit six cities in Kashmir and Pakistani Punjab and the ensuing exchange of fire resulted in 26 civilian deaths and 46 injuries, stated the army spokesperson in Islamabad, Gen. Ahmed Chaudhry.
These artillery exchanges also damaged the Neelum-Jhelum hydroelectric dam, he added.
India also reported eight deaths and 29 injuries in the village of Poonch in Indian Kashmir following artillery shelling.
Triggered overnight, the fighting continued into the morning around the town, hit by numerous Pakistani shells, according to AFP journalists.
"We were woken up by the shelling (...). We saw shells falling (...), I'm afraid the roof might collapse," said Farooq, a resident of Poonch, to the Press Trust of India (PTI).
Violent explosions were heard earlier in the night around Srinagar, the main city in Indian Kashmir.
In the morning, an Indian security source told AFP that three Indian army fighter jets crashed, for reasons not immediately specified. The fate of the pilots was not disclosed.
Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif stated to AFP that Pakistan shot down "five enemy planes," without providing further details.
The National Security Committee, convened only in extreme emergency situations in Islamabad, began its meeting in the morning.
Why the Conflict Broke Out
India launched cross-border attacks on Tuesday, claiming to target hideouts of militant groups responsible for an attack in the disputed Kashmir region at the end of April, resulting in the deaths of at least 26 civilians.
Immediately after the Pahalgam attack, India accused Pakistan of involvement, which Pakistan immediately denied.
One of the sites hit by the Indian army during the night is the Subhan mosque in Bahawalpur, in Pakistani Punjab, which, according to Indian intelligence services, has links to groups close to the jihadist movement Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
India accuses this group, suspected of the attacks that resulted in 166 deaths in Mumbai in 2008, of orchestrating the April 22 attack.
Indian reprisals were greeted with satisfaction on the streets of New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi "has avenged the dead," said G.B. Rajakumar, a driver in the capital, to AFP.
On the other side, about 200 Pakistanis paraded Wednesday morning in the city of Hyderabad, burning Indian flags and portraits of Narendra Modi.
Global Reactions
"The escalation has reached a level higher than the last crisis in 2019, with potentially terrible consequences," expressed concern analyst Praveen Donthi from the International Crisis Group (ICG).
China's Appeal
China urged both India and Pakistan on Wednesday to show restraint after India's deadly strikes on Pakistani targets, expressing concern about the escalating tensions, as reported by dpa.
"China regrets India's military action this morning and is concerned about current developments," said a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry in a statement. "We call on both India and Pakistan to prioritize peace and stability, to remain calm, show restraint, and avoid actions that further complicate the situation," he added.
While relations between China and India remain tense due to long-standing disputes over the Himalayan border, Beijing maintains close economic ties with Pakistan. Through its Belt and Road initiative, or the New Silk Road, China finances road and rail infrastructure projects in Pakistan aimed at connecting China's western Xinjiang region with the Arabian Sea.
At the same time, previous attacks by militant groups in southwestern Pakistan have also targeted Chinese workers, and Beijing has reiterated its opposition to all forms of terrorism.
US Position
American President Donald Trump also expressed hope for a rapid de-escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan.
(India and Pakistan) "have been fighting for many, many decades," Trump recalled at an event at the White House. "I just hope it ends very quickly," he added.
"It was known that something would happen, thinking a bit about the past," Trump also said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that they are monitoring the situation between the two neighboring nuclear-armed states.
"I echo what was said earlier today (by Trump) in hoping for a quick resolution and we will continue to support both the Indian and Pakistani leadership towards a peaceful solution," Rubio stated on the X platform.
UK Reaction
The British government declared on Wednesday that it is "ready" to intervene for a "de-escalation" between India and Pakistan. "Everything we can do in terms of dialogue, de-escalation, we are ready and able to do," said British Trade Minister Jonathan Reynolds on the BBC.
At the same time, the British government advised its citizens on Wednesday not to travel to certain areas in India and Pakistan.
Russia's Stance
The Russian Foreign Ministry also expressed deep concern on Wednesday over the escalation of the military confrontation between India and Pakistan and urged both countries to show restraint, as reported by Reuters.
Russia condemns all forms of terrorism, emphasized the Moscow Foreign Ministry in a statement. Russia maintains close relations with both India and Pakistan.
UN Appeal
"The world cannot afford a military confrontation" between India and Pakistan, said the UN Secretary-General's spokesperson shortly after New Delhi launched military strikes against Pakistan, which retaliated, as reported by AFP.
Antonio Guterres "calls on both countries to exercise military restraint," added spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric in a statement.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern on Monday about the tensions between India and Pakistan, stating that they have reached "the highest level in recent years" and urged them to "step back from the brink," as noted by AFP.
What's Happening Now
Several Asian airlines stated on Wednesday that they are redirecting or canceling flights to and from Europe due to the fighting between India and Pakistan, as reported by Reuters.
Over 20 international flights have been diverted to avoid Pakistani airspace. By Wednesday morning local time, airlines had canceled 52 flights to or from Pakistan, according to FlightRadar24.
Domestic flights in both countries have also been disrupted. India has closed several airports, resulting in the cancellation of flights operated by Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air. IndiGo's shares have dropped by 1.8%.
The airlines' schedule changes will further complicate operations in the Middle East and South Asia for carriers, who are already dealing with the consequences of conflicts in both regions.