Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated following missile and bomb strikes by India on targets in Pakistan and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir. The attacks have been labeled as acts of war by Pakistan’s leader, fueling the conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Details about the targets hit have varied, with both countries withholding specific information. The situation is further convoluted by the spread of misinformation and manipulated media online.
According to the Soufan Center think tank, the conflicting information is exacerbated by both sides’ desire to save face. Despite the lack of clarity, some insights can be gathered from official statements. Pakistan claims to have shot down five Indian aircraft involved in the attack, including French Rafales, a Russian SU30MKI, and a Russian MiG-29. Pakistan’s military spokesperson asserted that no casualties were suffered on their side, and all their aircraft returned safely.
In response, India has not acknowledged any losses, although debris from three aircraft was found in various locations. Both countries have asserted that the aerial confrontation took place within their respective airspaces, hinting at long-distance missile engagements rather than close combat over Kashmir. While Pakistan reported using Chinese-built missiles in the incident, India’s arsenal includes a variety of fighter jets capable of ground attacks.
The conflict underscores the military capabilities of both nations, with Pakistan’s air force equipped with American, French, and Chinese aircraft and missiles. The use of advanced technology in the skirmish, including Chinese-built jets and missiles, raises questions about the involvement of foreign weaponry in the escalating tensions. Despite the conflicting narratives and lack of concrete evidence, the clash serves as a reminder of the volatile relationship between India and Pakistan.
Lisa Curtis, the director of the Indo-Pacific security program at the Center for a New American Security in Washington, found it intriguing that Pakistan claimed to have used Chinese jets acquired from China to engage Indian aircraft. She noted the shift in reliance on Chinese equipment compared to using a Pakistani F-16 provided by the United States in a previous military confrontation in 2019. This development led to significant gains for traders with shares in AVIC Chengdu Aircraft, the manufacturer of the J-10C and J-17, on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Conversely, the stock of Dassault Aviation, the maker of the Rafale jet that Pakistan alleges to have shot down, experienced a sharp decline on the Paris Stock Exchange before rebounding.
India did not disclose details about the assets involved in the attacks, but the Indian Defense Ministry stated that the strikes targeted nine sites where terrorist activities against India were planned. Pakistan reported civilian casualties, including women and children, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Punjab province, with damage to two mosques among the buildings hit.
Video footage presented by India during a briefing showed eight strikes in total, four each in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and Pakistan. Both countries discussed missile strikes, but the video indicated the use of bombs on some targets, potentially from drones. Pakistan claimed to have shot down five Indian aircraft and an unspecified number of drones.
The situation escalated as India deployed multiple attack drones into Pakistan, with Pakistan asserting it had downed 29 of them. The drones were identified as Israeli-made Harop, causing damage to military sites near Lahore and Rawalpindi. India confirmed the drone operations, targeting air defense radars and systems in various locations in Pakistan, but did not comment on the claims of drones being shot down. Pakistan also claimed to have inflicted casualties on Indian soldiers along the Line of Control.
Amid the escalating tensions, Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar denied Indian allegations of firing missiles toward Amritsar, asserting that an Indian drone had fallen in the city.
