Amritsar/Jammu – A new wave of violence between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan erupted Friday night as drone attacks and blasts rocked multiple Indian cities, including the holy city of Amritsar and the conflict-prone Kashmir region. The Indian military has labeled this the most intense fighting between the two nations since the 1999 Kargil conflict.

Explosions were heard across Jammu and Srinagar, while Amritsar—a city revered in Sikhism—experienced blackouts and air raid sirens for over two hours. The Indian army reported drones in at least 26 separate locations, spanning from Kashmir to Gujarat’s Arabian Sea coast.

“Drones have been sighted… They are being engaged,” stated an unnamed Indian military official.

The surge in conflict follows India’s retaliatory strikes earlier in the week on alleged “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan. These actions came after a deadly attack on Hindu tourists in Indian Kashmir last month, which India blames on Pakistan-based militants. Pakistan, however, has categorically denied involvement and accused India of “misleading the international community.”

In Ferozepur, Punjab, a family was critically injured by an armed drone, adding to the rising civilian toll. Pakistani Kashmir officials reported at least five deaths, including an infant, and dozens of injuries following Indian shelling.

The latest hostilities have sent waves of panic through civilian areas. Tourists scrambled to evacuate Amritsar, and authorities in Gujarat and Rajasthan initiated emergency planning. The Indian Premier League (IPL) and Pakistan Super League (PSL) were both suspended indefinitely.

The economic fallout has also been immediate. Indian markets dropped sharply, with an estimated $83 billion in lost market value, while Pakistan’s KSE index rebounded slightly amid a lull in violence on its side.

The United States has urged restraint, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio in ongoing talks with both governments. “President Trump wants to see immediate de-escalation,” the White House said in a statement.

As tensions escalate, the fear of full-scale war looms—reminding many of the devastating legacy of the India-Pakistan rivalry since 1947.

Source: Based on context and reporting; additional insights via Shomaj.one