ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Diya TV) — Pakistan on Wednesday strongly condemned what it described as a “cowardly” cross-border attack by India, accusing its neighbor of using standoff weapons to target civilian areas in Punjab province and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, escalating already high tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals.
According to a press release issued by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Indian military allegedly struck locations across the international border in Muridke and Bahawalpur, and the Line of Control (LoC) in Kotli and Muzaffarabad. The ministry claimed the attacks deliberately targeted civilian populations, a move it said could trigger a wider regional conflict.
“In the wake of the Pahalgam attack, the Indian leadership has once again used the bogey of terrorism to advance its sham narrative of victimhood, jeopardizing regional peace and security,” the statement said. “India’s reckless action has brought the two nuclear-armed states closer to a major conflict.”
The reference to Pahalgam relates to a terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which New Delhi has blamed on militants allegedly backed by Pakistan.
Islamabad said it summoned a senior Indian diplomat to lodge a formal protest, underscoring that any aggression would be met with a “resolute response.” The statement emphasized Pakistan’s “desire for peace” but warned that it retains “the capability and the will to defend its sovereignty.”
India countered Pakistan’s allegations in a press conference featuring the multitude of terrorist attacks against their homeland over the last few decades. Independent verification of the reported strikes remains unavailable due to restricted media access in the contested border areas.
Analysts note that this latest exchange marks a dangerous flashpoint between the longtime adversaries, who have fought three wars since gaining independence in 1947. The disputed region of Kashmir remains at the heart of their tensions, with frequent skirmishes along the LoC.
The alleged use of standoff weapons — systems designed to launch precision strikes from a distance — raises further concerns among defense observers about a possible escalation in military tactics. “If confirmed, this would mark a serious shift in India’s engagement protocols along the LoC and international border,” said Ahmed Qureshi, a security analyst based in Islamabad.
India and Pakistan have both significantly expanded their conventional and nuclear arsenals in recent years, even as diplomatic efforts to cool hostilities have largely stalled. A ceasefire agreement in 2021 had briefly reduced cross-border violence, but recent months have seen renewed exchanges of fire and growing rhetoric from both capitals.
Calls for restraint have emerged from international actors, with the United Nations urging both sides to avoid any steps that could inflame the situation. “We are following developments closely and call on both parties to de-escalate,” said a UN spokesperson, speaking at a briefing in New York.
