India and Pakistan exchanged heavy artillery along their contested frontier on Wednesday, May 7th, after New Delhi launched deadly missile strikes on its arch-rival, in the worst violence between the nuclear-armed neighbours in two decades.
At least 36 deaths were reported. Islamabad said 26 civilians were killed by the Indian strikes and firing along the border, while New Delhi said at least eight died from Pakistani shelling.
Indian airforce officer Vyomika Singh said “nine terrorist camps were targeted and successfully destroyed,” days after New Delhi blamed Islamabad for backing a deadly attack on the Indian-run side of disputed Kashmir.
Military spokesman Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry at a press conference in the capital Islamabad said Pakistan had downed five Indian jets across the border, including three French Rafale fighter aircraft, after they attacked Pakistan.
Paris and Moscow on Wednesday called for both India and Pakistan to show restraint.
