India-Pakistan Skirmishes: Brewing Tensions in the Subcontinent

In a significant escalation of long-standing tensions, India launched missile strikes on suspected terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir. The move, coming as a response to recent attacks on Indian soil, has further strained the already volatile relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

Pakistan's government, asserting heavy civilian casualties and damage to religious sites, has vowed retaliation. Indian officials, however, stress precise targeting intended to avoid harming non-combatants. The international community is voicing concerns over a potential larger conflict erupting over the disputed Kashmir region.

Economic repercussions were immediate, affecting both countries' markets, while the closure of airspace led to widespread flight disruptions. As tensions rise, global leaders are urging restraint to prevent further escalation in a region historically rife with conflict.

(With inputs from agencies.)