Diplomatic Correspondent :
Tensions between India and Pakistan-two nuclear-armed neighbours with a protracted history of hostility-have sharply escalated, raising regional and global concerns.
The past two days have witnessed intense aerial and ground confrontations, with significant loss of life and alarming military engagements.
Pakistani military sources confirmed on Friday that 77 Indian drones were shot down over the past 48 hours amid a series of artillery, missile, and drone exchanges across the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir region.
According to PTV News, 29 drones were intercepted on 8 May, followed by 48 more overnight. These figures were corroborated by military sources speaking to AFP.
In response to the heightened aerial activity, authorities in Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, imposed a two-month ban on all types of drones under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The local administration characterised the move as a “proactive measure” to prevent aerial surveillance and sabotage by “anti-state elements”.
Citizens have been urged to report any suspicious aerial activity to the nearest police station, underscoring the growing unease and internal security implications of the conflict.
More than 50 fatalities have been reported since Wednesday, with the majority in Pakistan.
The current flare-up was triggered by Indian airstrikes on alleged terrorist training camps in Pakistan on 8 May, which New Delhi claims were in retaliation for the 22 April attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 Indian tourists.
India has blamed Pakistan-based militants for the attack, an allegation Islamabad denies, instead calling for a neutral international investigation.
Amid escalating hostilities, India has suspended civilian air operations at 24 airports, primarily in northern regions.
Cities such as Jodhpur, Amritsar, and Ludhiana are among those affected, while major carriers including Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet have cancelled over 100 flights.
Passengers from operational airports have been advised to arrive at least three hours in advance due to heightened security measures. However, local Indian media suggest the suspension may be lifted as early as 10 May, pending further security evaluations.
Despite the hostilities, diplomatic contact has not ceased entirely. In an interview with CNN, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, confirmed that communication had taken place between the National Security Councils (NSCs) of both countries.
However, he emphasised that responsibility for de-escalation rests primarily with India.
“There have been contacts at the NSC level, but this escalation-both in action and rhetoric-must stop,” Sheikh stated.
He acknowledged growing domestic pressure in Pakistan for retaliation, while reiterating the country’s “right to respond” within the limits of responsible restraint.
The United States and other global powers have issued urgent calls for restraint. US Vice President JD Vance warned of the catastrophic consequences of a broader regional conflict-or worse, a nuclear confrontation.
“We want this to de-escalate as quickly as possible. We can’t control these countries, though,” Vance said in a Fox News interview, while also suggesting that such conflicts fall outside America’s direct sphere of responsibility.
Nonetheless, American diplomacy has remained active. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio conducted separate calls with Pakistan’s Prime Minister and India’s Foreign Minister on Thursday, urging both sides to engage in direct dialogue and seek a responsible resolution.
President Donald Trump also commented on the situation, calling it “a shame” and urging both nations to “stop now after going tit-for-tat.” The US State Department echoed this sentiment, warning against actions that would make a peaceful outcome “impossible”.
The renewed violence has revived memories of previous conflicts, including the 1999 Kargil War and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes. Analysts warn that the stakes are now significantly higher due to advancements in drone warfare, widespread disruption of civilian aviation, and direct targeting of alleged state-backed elements.
While NSC-level contact offers a narrow window for de-escalation, much depends on the political will of both sides to resist nationalist pressure, restore calm, and commit to diplomacy before the situation spirals further out of control.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, criticised India for “gagging the international media” and spreading “propaganda”.
In an interview with TRT World, he stated: “India has shut down international media and its own outlets are churning out hour-by-hour stories that are frankly amusing for us.”
He added: “In 21st-century warfare, every action has an electronic signature. If there have been attacks from Pakistan, the evidence would be there.”
In India, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a high-level security review with top military officials on Friday. In Chandigarh, air raid sirens were sounded in the morning following a warning from the Air Force regarding a possible aerial threat.
Residents living near the LoC remain on edge, with many evacuating to safer areas as fears mount over further escalation.
