India, Pakistan attack each other with drones, missiles

Militaries of India and Pakistan on Saturday targeted each other with drones and missiles as the situation escalated between the two neighbors.

The Indian government, in its media briefing, blamed Pakistan for "continued provocations" along India's western border and on the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, by using unmanned combat aerial vehicles, long-range weapons, loitering munitions and fighter jets to target civilian areas and military infrastructure.

"Pakistan military also resorted to air intrusions using drones and firing of heavy calibre weapons along the LoC. Along the international border and the LoC, air intrusions and several harassment attacks were also attempted from Srinagar till Naliya at more than 26 locations," Wing Commander Vyomika Singh told media during the briefing.

"There were also several high-speed missile attacks noticed subsequently after 0140 hours (local time) in the night at several air bases in Punjab," said the commander.

Singh admitted that Indian forces carried out precision airstrikes on Pakistan Air Force bases.

Reports said debris of missiles, drones and other munitions was recovered from several areas of Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat and the Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Residents in Srinagar and Jammu in the Indian-controlled Kashmir said they heard loud explosions during the night and early Saturday morning. Similar reports are pouring in from Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Authorities enforced a blackout Friday night across multiple cities near border areas due to anticipated aerial attacks. There was a power outage all night.

A local newspaper, The Tribune, on Saturday said a senior local government official and a toddler were among the five killed in overnight shelling.

The fresh deaths have taken the civilian death toll to 22 and over 50 others wounded in the Indian-controlled Kashmir. Many houses have also been damaged.

A military standoff between New Delhi and Islamabad erupted following India's deadly airstrikes on targets in Pakistan and the Pakistan-controlled Kashmir on Wednesday.

India said the strikes were in response to last month's killing of 26 people by gunmen in the Indian-controlled Kashmir.

New Delhi blames Islamabad for supporting the gunmen behind the attack, a charge denied by Islamabad.

Pakistan's airspace will remain closed for all types of flights until 12 p.m. (0700 GMT) on May 11, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority announced on Saturday.

The airspace was initially closed at around 3:15 a.m. on Saturday (GMT 2215 Friday) and was scheduled to reopen by Saturday noon time.

However, the authority extended the closure in a fresh statement issued just before the deadline.

The decision was taken in view of the current security situation, though no specific details were provided in the official announcement.

The suspension affects both domestic and international flights, with airlines advised to make necessary schedule adjustments.

Authorities said the situation is being closely monitored and further updates will be issued as needed.

The closure comes amid rising regional tensions after Pakistan launched a military operation in response to Indian missile strikes on its air force bases.

Singh and the Indian Foreign Ministry on Saturday both denied that Pakistani strikes have caused any damage to military infrastructure in India.

"Pakistan has also attempted to execute a continued malicious misinformation campaign, with claims of destruction of the Indian S-400 system at Adampur, destruction of airfields at Surat and Sirsa, Brahmos space at Nagrota, artillery gun positions in Derangyari and Chandigarh ammunitions depot, with heavy damage to other military stations being propagated on social media," Singh said.

"India unequivocally rejects these false claims being spread by Pakistan," the commander said.

(With input from agencies)