Explosions Spark Fire on Disputed India-Pakistan border

At dawn Wednesday on the contested border between India and Pakistan, in the usually sleepy Indian-run town of Poonch, a thumping explosion ripped the air as an artillery shell smashed into a building.

Tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan surged dramatically in the early hours of Wednesday following a series of missile strikes and artillery exchanges along the volatile Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.

Bright red flames pierced the night sky, and thick columns of black smoke rose ominously as India launched missile strikes into Pakistani territory. The offensive came two weeks after India publicly accused Islamabad of orchestrating a deadly militant attack on the Indian-administered side of Kashmir. According to Pakistani authorities, at least 26 civilians were killed in the Indian strikes, escalating already fraught relations between the two long-time adversaries.

The attacks intensified the routine nocturnal gunfire between Indian and Pakistani forces across the de facto border, known as the LoC. In the Indian border town of Poonch, located close to the frontline, the night turned into a terrifying ordeal as artillery shells thundered overhead and explosions shook buildings. Residents described a night filled with fear, as glass windows shattered and the rumble of distant detonations grew nearer.

Local government official Azhar Majid reported that at least 12 people were killed on the Indian side, with many more injured as the region descended into chaos. Around the town of Poonch, the sound of shelling and counterstrikes reverberated continuously. The roar of explosions was punctuated by air raid sirens, while flares lit up the skies as both armies exchanged heavy fire.

Electricity was knocked out during the bombardment, plunging entire neighborhoods into darkness. Loudspeakers from local mosques issued urgent warnings, urging people to remain indoors. Many residents, terrified and unsure of their safety, sought shelter in underground basements. Others made the difficult decision to flee the area altogether.

As dawn broke, the intermittent gunfire briefly subsided, offering a narrow window of escape. Hundreds of residents took to the roads, fleeing Poonch on foot and by car in a desperate bid for safety. Lines formed outside small shops and roadside stalls, where people scrambled to purchase food and supplies before continuing their uncertain journeys.

The renewed hostilities mark one of the most intense escalations in the region in recent years, raising fresh concerns over the fragile peace between the two countries. With casualties mounting and civilians caught in the crossfire, the international community is once again urging restraint and dialogue. Yet on the ground in Kashmir, fear and uncertainty continue to dominate daily life.