Indian Missiles Target Pakistan Air Bases

Pakistan Accuses India of Missile Strikes on Air Bases as Tensions Escalate

Pakistan's military on Saturday accused India of launching a fresh wave of missile attacks on three of its air bases, including one near Islamabad, as hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours veer dangerously close to full-scale war. The strikes mark a significant escalation in violence that began Wednesday, when India targeted alleged terrorist sites in Pakistan following a deadly assault on Indian tourists in Kashmir.

According to military spokesperson Maj. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, most of the incoming missiles were intercepted and no aircraft were damaged. One of the targeted installations, Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi, lies just 10 kilometres from the capital and had recently hosted Saudi minister Adel Al-Jubeir. Explosions were reportedly heard in Islamabad during the night. “Now you just wait for our response,” Chaudhry warned.

The latest exchanges are among the most intense since the two countries gained independence in 1947. Over 50 civilians, mostly in Pakistan, have reportedly been killed in cross-border attacks involving missiles, drones, and artillery shelling along the Line of Control. Both sides have accused each other of initiating unprovoked strikes, and each denies the other's claims of drone incursions.

Tensions were reignited following an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that left 26 mostly Hindu tourists dead. India blamed the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, a charge Islamabad denies, calling for an international investigation.

With conflict spreading beyond Kashmir into deeper parts of Pakistan, Islamabad has condemned India's "reckless conduct," warning it has brought the two nations to the brink of major conflict. India, meanwhile, said it had repelled overnight drone attacks and responded in kind.

The hostilities have disrupted civilian life and international travel. India has shut down 24 airports, while both nations closed schools near the border. Major sporting events, including the Indian Premier League and Pakistan’s T20 league, have been suspended.

Amid growing international concern, the G7 called for immediate de-escalation, while the International Crisis Group warned that global powers appeared worryingly disengaged from a rapidly deteriorating situation.