ISLAMABAD: Amid growing hostilities following the deadly Pahalgam attack, the Pakistan Army on Tuesday shot down an Indian surveillance quadcopter that had entered Pakistani airspace near the Line of Control (LoC) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), according to state media.
Security officials reported that the drone was intercepted in the Manawar sector of Bhimber district, where it was attempting aerial surveillance. “The Pakistan Army acted swiftly to neutralize the threat, demonstrating its high alertness and defensive readiness,” the report stated.
The incident reflects escalating tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours after the April 22 attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists. While a group initially took responsibility, it later retracted, and Pakistan has firmly denied involvement. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for an impartial international investigation.
Indian authorities, without presenting evidence, have hinted at cross-border links, while Pakistan has warned against baseless allegations. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan was fully prepared for any incursion. “Some strategic decisions have already been made in anticipation,” he told Reuters, adding that military briefings had highlighted a potential Indian attack.
Cross-border skirmishes have continued for five consecutive nights along the LoC, breaking four years of relative calm. Indian forces claimed mutual gunfire took place in areas facing Kupwara, Baramulla, and Akhnoor, but there were no reports of casualties and no confirmation from Pakistan.
Diplomatic Fallout and Threats Escalate
Following the Pahalgam incident, relations between India and Pakistan have further deteriorated. India suspended the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty on April 23, and Pakistan retaliated by threatening to suspend the Simla Agreement and close its airspace to Indian flights. Islamabad’s National Security Committee also urged India to avoid reckless accusations.
India reportedly set Tuesday as the deadline for Pakistani citizens to leave the country, and calls for military action against Pakistan have intensified in Indian political circles. Experts fear that escalating rhetoric could lead to direct confrontation.
UAE, Other Nations Urge Dialogue
Amid the rising tensions, the United Arab Emirates joined the international chorus calling for calm and dialogue. UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan spoke with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to stress the need for restraint and peaceful conflict resolution.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, Dar briefed his counterpart on Pakistan’s recent diplomatic responses to India’s actions and emphasized the importance of regional peace.
Both leaders reaffirmed strong bilateral ties and a shared commitment to stability and sustainable development. Other global powers, including the United States, United Kingdom, China, Qatar, and Turkiye, have also urged both sides to de-escalate.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday called for the crisis to be diffused quickly, warning against the outbreak of a new conflict in the region. The United Nations also called on both countries to show “maximum restraint” and resolve differences through meaningful dialogue.
Meanwhile, Iran has offered to mediate, and Saudi Arabia has said it is actively working to prevent further escalation. U.S. President Donald Trump, commenting on the situation, said the conflict would be “figured out, one way or another.”
