Tensions between India and Pakistan surged on Monday after Pakistan’s state-run television reported that the country’s military had shot down an Indian spy drone that allegedly violated airspace along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir region, stated Bloomberg.
Citing unnamed security officials, Pakistan Television (PTV) claimed the unmanned aerial vehicle was downed after breaching Pakistani-controlled airspace. The incident adds to already fraught relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, with no immediate response from Indian defense officials at the time of reporting.
The drone episode comes at a time of heightened alert across Jammu and Kashmir, where intense counter-terrorism operations are underway, according to Indian government sources quoted by ANI. No public details have been released yet due to the sensitive nature of ongoing missions.
The surge in security activity follows the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, including a foreign tourist. India has squarely blamed Pakistan-backed militant groups for orchestrating the assault — the deadliest in the region in over two decades.
In retaliation, New Delhi has launched a multi-pronged diplomatic and strategic offensive:
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Suspended the Indus Waters Treaty
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Cancelled visas of Pakistani nationals
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Closed the Attari-Wagah check post
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Scaled down Pakistan’s diplomatic presence in India
The developments have further strained bilateral ties, as both sides remain on high alert. Indian officials have indicated that the operations in Jammu and Kashmir are aimed at dismantling sleeper cells that intelligence reports say were activated following the Pahalgam attack.
With multiple flashpoints converging at once — including the drone incident, the terror attack, and India’s diplomatic clampdown — tensions between India and Pakistan may enter a new phase of confrontation.
