By Hanay
Islamabad, May 8, 2025 — Pakistan’s military announced Thursday that it had shot down twelve Indian drones over the past 24 hours, accusing India of repeated violations of its airspace amid a sharp escalation in hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
According to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the drones were Israeli-made Harop models, reportedly flown across the eastern border into key urban centers, including Lahore and Karachi. Military officials stated that one of the drones struck a site near Lahore, injuring four soldiers, while debris from another killed a civilian in Sindh province.
“These drone incursions are a clear breach of our sovereignty and part of a broader campaign of aggression,” the ISPR said in a statement. “Pakistan reserves the right to respond with full force.”
The incidents come just a day after India launched airstrikes inside Pakistani territory, targeting what it claimed were militant training camps responsible for the April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. That bombing killed 26 people, primarily Hindu pilgrims visiting a temple near the border.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated that its actions were “measured and intelligence-driven,” targeting militant infrastructure. However, Pakistan strongly denied involvement in the Kashmir attack and condemned the Indian strikes as unprovoked, claiming they resulted in the deaths of at least 31 civilians and left 57 others injured.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif responded by labeling India’s actions “an act of war” and warned that Pakistan would retaliate. In a televised address, he vowed that “every violation will be met with a decisive and proportionate response.”
Pakistan’s military also claimed to have downed five Indian aircraft, a claim that Indian defense officials dismissed as “false propaganda.”
Tensions have surged along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, where both sides have engaged in intense cross-border shelling over the past 48 hours. Several civilian casualties have been reported in both Indian and Pakistani-administered territories.
The international community has expressed growing alarm over the rapidly deteriorating situation. U.S. President Donald Trump offered to mediate between the two countries, citing his “longstanding relationships with both New Delhi and Islamabad.” Iran has also signaled its readiness to facilitate peace talks.
Meanwhile, several international airlines have begun rerouting flights to avoid Pakistani airspace, fearing further military activity. Aviation authorities in the region have warned of potential disruptions to commercial routes across South Asia.
As both countries increase troop deployments along the border, calls for restraint are intensifying. Analysts warn that without immediate diplomatic intervention, the region risks sliding into a broader and more dangerous conflict.
