According to officials who spoke with Reuters, ten blasts occurred close to Srinagar International Airport in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir.
WARNEWS
reached out to the Pakistani embassy in the U.S. by email on Friday afternoon for comment.
Why It Matters
The alleged blasts took place amidst
escalating tensions
between the nuclear-armed adversaries of
India and Pakistan
Soldiers from both factions have engaged in repeated exchanges of gunfire after an assault on tourists in the Indian-administered region of Kashmir on April 22. This incident resulted in 26 civilian deaths, with India accusing Pakistan of being responsible for the attack.
This week saw tensions rise as India carried out airstrikes within Pakistan’s borders, resulting in the deaths of 31 civilians, although authorities claimed these strikes targeted militants. The conflict intensified on Wednesday with an extensive aerial confrontation involving approximately 125 aircraft from both sides. This was succeeded by intense exchanges of artillery fire and gunshots throughout the night of Thursday.
India has about 172
nuclear warheads
, whereas Pakistan has approximately 170, as stated by the Arms Control Association.
What To Know
The blasts came after a series of blackouts triggered by multiple projectiles observed in the sky above the nearby city of Jammu earlier on Friday. The Indian military said it had shot down drones, an unnamed Indian military official told Reuters.
“The official, requesting confidentiality, stated that drones have been spotted… and are currently under engagement,” they added.
Local security analysts told
WARNEWS
A Pakistani drone was reportedly aimed at attacking the Awantipora Air Force Base in Kashmir, approximately 20 miles from Srinagar International Airport. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties.
The analysts indicated that many of these drones do not carry payloads and suggested that Pakistan might be attempting to deplete India’s ammunition reserves. However, this strategy could also assist in identifying the positions of India’s air defense systems.
In recent days, both nations have bombarded locations beyond their borders and fired missiles into each other’s airspaces. Independent confirmation of the casualty figures has not been established; however, each side has reported several dozen casualties since Wednesday.
Pakistan has accused India of “serious provocation” after a drone strike near Lahore, which killed four soldiers and a civilian and injured another civilian even as Pakistani forces shot down a dozen drones.
Despite U.S. ties to both countries, with the U.S. counting India as a Major Defense Partner and Pakistan as a Major Non-NATO Ally, Vice President
JD Vance
suggested that an impending conflict involving the nearby, nuclear-equipped nations is “not our concern.”
What People Are Saying
A State Department spokesperson
told
WARNEWS
in response to an email query: “The United States supports direct dialogue between India and Pakistan and encourages continued efforts to improve communication, reduce tensions, and put a stop to this violence,” and referred to previous statements from Trump and Secretary of State
Marco Rubio
That we want this circumstance to end.
The aim is to halt all acts of violence, and we strongly encourage both parties to avoid exacerbating the circumstances further,” stated the spokesperson, also noting, “Regardless of local disputes, the United States stays actively involved internationally via our embassies and will keep up this engagement continuously.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misra
stated at a press conference on Friday, “We did not intend to heighten tensions. As mentioned before, we are merely reacting to initial provocations. Our actions have been deliberate, exact, managed, and tempered. There were no strikes against military objectives. The attacks were solely directed at terrorist networks within Pakistan.”
A representative from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
stated at a press conference on Friday: “As we all know, there have recently been heightened tensions between Pakistan and India. Since May 7, 2025, India has been infringing upon Pakistan’s sovereignty. Regrettably, India’s attacks on Pakistan have jeopardized the security and stability of the region.”
“Pakistan unequivocally condemns these illegal acts. The Indian actions are a flagrant violation of the UN Charter, international law, and established norms governing the inter-state relations,” the spokesperson said. “It is most unfortunate that India’s reckless conduct has brought the two nuclear-armed states closer to a major conflict. India’s jingoism and war hysteria should be a source of serious concern for the world.”
Vice President JD Vance
during an interview with
Fox News
this week: “What we can do is try to encourage these folks to de-escalate a little bit, but we’re not going to get involved in the middle of war that’s fundamentally none of our business and has nothing to do with America’s ability to control it.”
Representative Ami Bera, a California Democrat,
issued a statement Friday, saying: “Tensions must not be allowed to spiral into broader conflict. I am actively working with the Administration and Congressional leaders to support a path toward de-escalation. This is not just about addressing the immediate crisis — it is an opportunity to open the door to a broader conversation about how to resolve the long-standing conflict and tensions in the region.”
He added: “I also urge both India and Pakistan to work with the State Department and international partners to support efforts for a ceasefire and begin laying the groundwork for a more permanent solution.”
What Happens Next?
Global policymakers are urging both parties to exercise caution, as
Pakistan stated earlier this week
that the government is “ready to conclude these matters” if India ceases its assaults, yet assured that “should India attack, we will retaliate.”
The article features contributions from The Associated Press.
Updated on May 9, 2025, at 3:35 PM ET: The article has been revised to include further details, context, and commentary.
Updated on May 9, 2025, at 5:05 PM ET: The piece has been revised to include remarks from the State Department.
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