Sirens blare in Amritsar as India reports Pakistani attacks along western border, Islamabad denies allegations

Nevin Al Sukari - Sana'a - Local residents stand outside their house that was destroyed by Pakistani artillery shelling as they prepare to evacuate at the Lagama village in Uri, about 100kms from Srinagar May 9, 2025. India and Pakistan accused each other on May 8 of carrying out waves of drone attacks, as deadly confrontations between the nuclear-armed foes drew global calls for calm. — AFP pic

SRINAGAR, May 9 — Pakistan’s armed forces launched “multiple attacks” using drones and other munitions along India’s entire western border last night and early today, the Indian army said, as conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours intensified.

The old enemies have been clashing since India struck multiple locations in Pakistan on Wednesday that it said were “terrorist camps” in retaliation for a deadly attack in its restive region of Kashmir last month, in which it said Islamabad was involved.

Pakistan denied the accusation but both countries have exchanged cross-border firing and shelling and sent drones and missiles into each other’s airspace since then, with nearly four dozen people dying in the violence.

A deserted street is pictured after overnight artillery shelling in the Indian-run town of Poonch on May 9, 2025. — AFP pic

The army also said Pakistani troops had resorted to “numerous cease fire violations” along the countries’ de-facto border in Kashmir, a region that is divided between them but claimed in full by both.

“The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs (ceasefire violations),” the army said, adding all “nefarious designs” would be responded to with “force”.

There was no immediate response from Pakistan to the Indian statement.

Islamabad had earlier denied attacking Pathankot city in India’s Punjab state, Srinagar in the Kashmir valley, and Rajasthan state’s Jaisalmer, saying the accusations were “unfounded” and “politically motivated”.

Soldiers inspect the debris of a missile at a field on the outskirts of Amritsar on May 8, 2025. — AFP pic

Sirens in Amritsar

A “major infiltration bid” was “foiled” in Kashmir’s Samba region last night, India’s Border Security Force said, and heavy artillery shelling persisted in the Uri area today, according to a security official who did not want to be named.

“Several houses caught fire and were damaged in the shelling in the Uri sector...one woman was killed and another injured in overnight shelling,” the official said.

Sirens blared for more than two hours on Friday in India’s border city of Amritsar, which houses the Golden Temple revered by Sikhs, and residents were asked to remain indoors.

Ansab, a student at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture, Science and Technology in Jammu city, which was among the places where blasts were heard overnight, said the explosions were “more violent and louder” around 4 am (2230 GMT Thursday).

“For two to three minutes it became very loud, windows started shaking as if they will break,” she said, adding the air was “smoggy” later — a mixture of smoke and fog.

World powers from the US to China have urged the two countries to calm tensions, and US Vice President JD Vance on Thursday reiterated the call for de-escalation.

“We want this thing to de-escalate as quickly as possible. We can’t control these countries, though,” he said in an interview on Fox News show “The Story with Martha MacCallum.”

The relationship between Hindu-majority India and Islamic Pakistan has been fraught with tension since they became separate countries after attaining independence from colonial British rule in 1947.

Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region, has been at the heart of the hostility and they have fought two of their three wars over the region. — Reuters