### Escalating Tensions: India and Pakistan Exchange Blame Over Drone Strikes

The ongoing military confrontations between India and Pakistan have reached a new peak, with both nations trading accusations regarding drone strikes aimed at military installations. The Indian Army contended that it thwarted drone and missile attacks from Pakistan targeting bases in Jammu, Udhampur, and Pathankot, which has been firmly denied by Pakistani officials, including Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. He reiterated Pakistan's non-involvement, stating, "We deny it; we have not mounted anything so far." These developments come on the heels of India launching air strikes on Wednesday against what it termed terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan in retaliation for a recent militant attack on Indian tourists in Kashmir.

Pakistan condemned these actions as aggressive, sparking international calls for de-escalation, particularly from the UN. The heightened military actions fuel fears of a broader conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, both of whom claim Kashmir as their own and have fought wars over the territory. The situation is exacerbated by recent violence, including casualty reports from both sides, with Pakistan claiming 31 fatalities and India reporting 16 deaths amid ongoing exchanges of fire along their shared border. Amid these tensions, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has vowed to respond to the Indian strikes, claiming to have downed five Indian jets, a statement India has not commented on.

As the world closely watches the evolution of this situation, the historical context of India and Pakistan's rivalry over Kashmir remains critically relevant, as both nations brace for the potential ramifications of military escalations.