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India cricket board officials were reported to be meeting Sunday to discuss a quick resumption of the IPL, following India and Pakistan agreeing a ceasefire in their deadly border conflict.Nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan called a halt to hostilities on Saturday and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia told website cricbuzz they were “closely monitoring the evolving situation.”Saikia added they will “take a call on IPL resumption after consulting all stakeholders of IPL and the concerned government authorities.” Rajeev Shukla, vice-president of the BCCI, told Indian media that officials would meet on Sunday to decide the future course of action.The Indian Premier League was on Friday suspended for a week, a day after a match  between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capital was abandoned in Dharamsala, less than 200 kilometres (125 miles) from the northern city of Jammu, where explosions were reported hours earlier.A special train was arranged for players to return to Delhi on Friday as airspace was closed, while overseas stars began to head home on Saturday.Teams on Sunday were reported to be contacting their overseas players and coaching staff about returning, with website ESPNcricinfo saying the IPL could restart around May 15 if given the go-ahead by the government.There are 12 regular season games remaining to be played followed by three playoff matches and the final, originally scheduled for May 25.India and Pakistan have fought two of their three full-scale wars over Kashmir, a disputed territory that both claim in full but administer separate portions of since gaining independence from British rule in 1947.New Delhi launched missile strikes on Wednesday morning in retaliation for a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-run Kashmir two weeks ago that India blames on Pakistan.Islamabad has denied any involvement.At least 60 people have been killed on both sides of the border since Wednesday, in the worst violence in decades between the South Asian neighbours.

India and Pakistan traded accusations of ceasefire violations early Sunday, hours after US President Donald Trump announced that the nuclear-armed neighbours had stepped back from the brink of full-blown war.India’s foreign secretary said it retaliated after Pakistan’s “repeated violations” of the truce, while Pakistan said it “remains committed” to the ceasefire and that its forces were handling violations by India with “responsibility and restraint”.AFP staff in Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir reported hearing loud explosions. A senior official in Pakistani-run Kashmir told AFP that “intermittent exchange of fire is ongoing” across the de facto border in the contested region, the Line of Control (LoC). More details were not immediately available, and it was not possible to independently verify the claims. On Saturday, Pakistan and India had agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire after days of deadly jet fighter, missile, drone and artillery attacks which killed at least 60 people and saw thousands flee their homes along the border as well as in divided Kashmir.The news had been surprisingly announced by Trump on Saturday.”After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence,” Trump posted.Late Saturday, Trump posted again on Truth Social, praising the leaders of India and Pakistan for understanding that “it was time to stop the current aggression”, and also pledging to increase trade “substantially” with both nations.The US president also said he would work with New Delhi and Islamabad to “see if, after a ‘thousand years,’ a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir”.India’s foreign secretary Vikram Misri had said earlier that both sides would “stop all firing and military action on land, air and sea” with effect from 5:00 pm (1130 GMT).He then accused Pakistan of “repeated violations” and said the Indian armed forces “are giving an adequate and appropriate response”.Meanwhile, the foreign ministry in Islamabad said Pakistan “remains committed to faithful implementation” of the truce. “Notwithstanding the violations being committed by India in some areas, our forces are handling the situation with responsibility and restraint,” it said.- ‘Vigilant’ -The conflict was touched off by an attack last month in the Indian-administered side of Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly male Hindu tourists, which New Delhi blamed on Islamabad.India accused the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba — a UN-designated terrorist organisation — of carrying out the attack, but Islamabad has denied any involvement and called for an independent probe.Indian former foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said Sunday that the ceasefire “seems to be a temporary situation.”The Pakistanis were prompted by the Americans,” he said, adding that India’s “Operation Sindoor was a huge success in terms of targeted strikes against terrorists”. Militants have stepped up operations in Kashmir since 2019, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government revoked its limited autonomy and took the state under direct rule from New Delhi.The countries have fought several wars over the territory, which both claim in full but administer separate portions of since gaining independence from British rule in 1947.”The ceasefire is a positive step,” said Bilal Shabbir, an IT consultant in Muzaffarabad, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.”In war, it’s not just soldiers who die, it’s mostly civilians — and in this case, it would have been the people of Kashmir.” In Srinagar, resident Sukesh Khajuria was more cautious.”The ceasefire is welcome, but it’s difficult to trust Pakistan. We have to be vigilant,” he said.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the ceasefire came after he and Vice President JD Vance engaged with senior officials on both sides.Rubio also said on X that they had agreed to “start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site”.On X, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said his country — which has long sought international mediation in Kashmir — “appreciates” the US intervention.India has consistently opposed mediation, however, and observers were sceptical of the truce.”The ceasefire was cobbled together hastily, and at a moment when tensions were at their highest,” US-based South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman wrote on X after the claims of violations.”India appears to have interpreted the deal differently than did the US and Pakistan, and it’s likely not keen on the broader talks it calls for. Upholding it will pose challenges,” he warned.News of the ceasefire was met with relief from countries including Britain and Iran, as well as the United Nations.China, which borders India and Pakistan, said Beijing was “willing to continue playing a constructive role” and remained concerned with any escalation, according to state-run news agency Xinhua.burs-st-ach/sco

Bangladesh’s interim government on Saturday banned the Awami League, the political party of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, pending the outcome of a trial over its crackdown on mass protests that prompted her ouster last year.According to the United Nations, up to 1,400 protesters died in July 2024 when Hasina’s government launched a brutal campaign to silence the opposition.Hasina remains in self-imposed exile in India and has defied an arrest warrant from Dhaka over charges of crimes against humanity.”It has been decided to ban the activities — including in cyberspace — of the Awami League under the Anti-Terrorism Act until the trial of the Awami League and its leaders ends,” Asif Nazrul, a government advisor on law and justice, told reporters.Bangladesh’s interim leader, Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, has led an interim government since Hasina was overthrown. Nazrul said the decision was taken to ensure the country’s “sovereignty and security” and “the security of the protesters” along with safeguarding “the plaintiffs and the witnesses of the tribunal.”Yunus’s administration also simultaneously approved an amendment to the country’s International Crimes Tribunal Act, allowing authorities to prosecute political parties and their affiliated bodies. The Awami League rejected the administration’s move, calling it “illegitimate.”The ban comes a day after thousands of people rallied outside Yunus’s residence, demanding a ban on Hasina’s party. On Thursday, former Awami League leader Abdul Hamid — also under investigation — successfully left the country. At least three police officers responsible for overseeing airport arrivals and departures have been dismissed for negligence in the wake of Hamid’s departure, officials said.

India accused Pakistan of violating a fragile ceasefire agreement Saturday and said it was retaliating, hours after US President Donald Trump announced that the nuclear-armed neighbours had stepped back from the brink of full-blown war.There was no immediate response from Pakistan to the claim from Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri, who said there had been “repeated violations” and that India’s “armed forces are giving an adequate and appropriate response to these violations.”Earlier, AFP staff in Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir reported hearing a series of loud explosions. A senior official in Pakistani-run Kashmir told AFP that “intermittent exchange of fire is ongoing” across the de facto border in the contested region, the Line of Control (LoC). More details were not immediately available, and it was not possible to independently verify the claims. The claims came after Pakistan and India had agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire after days of deadly jet fighter, missile, drone and artillery attacks which killed at least 60 people and saw thousands of civilians flee their homes along their border as well as in divided Kashmir.The news had been surprisingly announced by Trump.”After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence,” Trump posted.Misri had said earlier that both sides would “stop all firing and military action on land, air and sea” with effect from 5:00 pm (1130 GMT).In a statement on X, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said his country “appreciates” the US intervention.”Pakistan believes this marks a new beginning in the resolution of issues that have plagued the region and prevented its journey toward peace, prosperity and stability,” he wrote.- Attacks and counter-attacks -The conflict was touched off by an attack last month in the Indian-administered side of Kashmir that killed 26 tourists, mostly Hindu men, which Delhi blamed on Islamabad.India accused the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba — a UN-designated terrorist organisation — of carrying out the attack, but Islamabad has denied any involvement and called for an independent probe.Militants have stepped up operations in Kashmir since 2019, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government revoked its limited autonomy and took the state under direct rule from New Delhi.The countries have fought several wars over the territory, which both claim in full but administer separate portions of since gaining independence from British rule in 1947.”The ceasefire is a positive step,” said Bilal Shabbir, an IT consultant in Muzaffarabad, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, before the claims the truce had been violated.”In war, it’s not just soldiers who die, it’s mostly civilians — and in this case, it would have been the people of Kashmir.” In Srinagar, resident Sukesh Khajuria was more cautious.”The ceasefire is welcome, but it’s difficult to trust Pakistan. We have to be vigilant,” he said.Both sides will pay a high price economically for the conflict.Pakistani military sources claimed its forces had shot down at least 77 Israeli-made high-tech drones — debris from some of them was seen by AFP reporters — while Indian officials said they had destroyed hundreds of Pakistani drones, many Turkish-made.Pakistan also says it downed five Indian warplanes — including three French Rafale fighter jets — although New Delhi has not confirmed any losses.Independent verification of claims by either side has been difficult.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the ceasefire came after he and Vice President JD Vance engaged with senior officials on both sides.He also said on X that they had agreed to “start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site.”News of the ceasefire was met with a sigh of relief internationally, after increasing calls in recent days for both countries to step back from the brink.China, which borders India and Pakistan, said Beijing was “willing to continue playing a constructive role” and remained concerned with any escalation, according to state-run news agency Xinhua, which said that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had spoken to officials in both countries.Britain, the Indian subcontinent’s former colonial master and home to a huge diaspora from both countries, also welcomed the truce, as did UN chief Antonio Guterres.Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei called on both countries “to use this opportunity to ensure a reduction in tensions and lasting peace in the region”.burs-st/sst

Pakistan and India agreed Saturday to a full and immediate ceasefire after days of deadly jet fighter, missile, drone and artillery attacks — news surprisingly announced by US President Donald Trump, who congratulated them on using “common sense”.Officials from Islamabad and New Delhi confirmed the development minutes after Trump posted the announcement on his Truth Social network, as the conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours appeared to be spiralling towards a full-blown war.”After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence,” Trump posted.Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri said both sides would “stop all firing and military action on land, air and sea” with effect from 5:00 pm (1130 GMT).In a statement on X, Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said: “Pakistan and India have agreed to a ceasefire with immediate effect.””Pakistan has always strived for peace and security in the region, without compromising on its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he added.Hours later, however, an Indian government source said Pakistan had broken the agreement, and AFP staff in Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir reported hearing a series of loud explosions.Separately, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah posted on X: “What the hell just happened to the ceasefire? Explosions heard across Srinagar!!!”Further details were not immediately available.- Attacks and counter-attacks -The ceasefire comes after four days of attacks and counter-attacks by both sides that killed at least 60 people and saw thousands of civilians flee their homes along their border as well as in divided Kashmir.The fighting was touched off by an attack last month in the Indian-administered side of Kashmir that killed 26 tourists, mostly Hindu men, which Delhi blamed on Islamabad.India accused the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba — a UN-designated terrorist organisation — of carrying out the attack, but Islamabad has denied any involvement and called for an independent probe.Militants have stepped up operations in Kashmir since 2019, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government revoked its limited autonomy and took the state under direct rule from New Delhi.The countries have fought several wars over the territory, which both claim in full but administer separate portions of since gaining independence from British rule in 1947.- Positive step -“The ceasefire is a positive step,” said Bilal Shabbir, an IT consultant in Muzaffarabad, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.”In war, it’s not just soldiers who die, it’s mostly civilians — and in this case, it would have been the people of Kashmir.” In Srinagar, resident Sukesh Khajuria was more cautious.”The ceasefire is welcome, but it’s difficult to trust Pakistan. We have to be vigilant,” he said.Both sides will pay a high price economically for the conflict.Pakistani military sources claimed its forces had shot down at least 77 Israeli-made high-tech drones — debris from some of them was seen by AFP reporters — while Indian officials said they had destroyed hundreds of Pakistani drones, many Turkish-made.Pakistan also says it downed five Indian warplanes — including three French Rafale fighter jets — although New Delhi has not confirmed any losses.Independent verification of claims by either side has been difficult.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the ceasefire came after he and Vice-President JD Vance engaged with senior officials on both sides.”I am pleased to announce the Governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site,” he said on X.Vance posted on the same platform: “My gratitude to the leaders of India and Pakistan for their hard work and willingness to engage in this ceasefire.”News of the ceasefire was welcomed in Britain, the Indian subcontinent’s former colonial master and home to a huge diaspora from both countries.”Today’s ceasefire between India and Pakistan is hugely welcome,” Foreign Secretary David Lammy wrote on X.”I urge both parties to sustain this. De-escalation is in everybody’s interest.”UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also welcomed the ceasefire, calling it a “positive step” that should lead to peace, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei called on both countries “to use this opportunity to ensure a reduction in tensions and lasting peace in the region”.burs-ach/fox/sst

Desperate crowds fought Saturday to board a special train ferrying people out of Jammu in Indian Kashmir and away from the worst fighting with Pakistan in decades.Baton-wielding policemen blew whistles to try and restore order as people — mostly poor workers from central and eastern India — furiously elbowed each other and hurled abuses to get on board.The train, sent by the federal government, took those lucky enough to secure a place to the Indian capital New Delhi, about 600 kilometres (400 miles) south of Jammu, free of charge.Hours later, officials from both countries announced they had agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire.Karan Verma, 41, originally from Chhattisgarh in central India, had been a mason in Akhnoor near Jammu for two decades and thought of it as home.But he wanted out at any cost. “There are loud explosions the entire night,” he said. “There is no choice but to leave.” Some people lifted babies and young children and flung them to family members who had managed to beat the crowd and board.”There should be more trains,” said Suresh Kumar, 43, from Madhya Pradesh state, dragging his brother away from a fight with another passenger.Nisha Devi, her three children and her husband could not get a space on the train to return to the distant eastern state of Bihar, their home province.”If I got on that train, it would have been like walking into a death trap with the children,” she said philosophically.- Civilian deaths -This latest bout of Indo-Pakistani fighting was touched off by an attack last month in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 tourists, mostly Hindu men.The nuclear-armed rivals have fought several wars over Muslim-majority Kashmir, which both claim in full but administer separate portions of since independence from Britain in 1947.India accused the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba — a UN-designated terrorist organisation — of carrying out the attack, but Islamabad has denied involvement.More than 60 civilians have been killed amid fears that the conflict will spiral into all-out war.Teklal Padmani Lala clung to metal bars at the entrance of one of the compartments as the special train prepared to depart Jammu.”I will go like this the entire way till Delhi,” he said — and further if he has to.

The death of 12-year-old twins who were killed in a Pakistani strike as they fled the town of Poonch in India-held Kashmir has helped unite a community in shock.Zian Khan and his sister Urwa Fatima were hit by an artillery shell on Wednesday as their parents tried to leave the town that has come under repeated attack.The latest clashes are the worst in decades between the nuclear-armed foes and have killed more than 60 civilians on both sides.Both sides confirmed on Saturday a full and immediate ceasefire that was surprisingly announced first by US President Donald Trump.The twins’ mother, Urusa Khan, 30, survived the attack with minor wounds.Their 46-year-old father, Rameez Khan, is in hospital with life-threatening injuries, unaware that his children are no longer alive.”None of us have ever experienced such a direct targeting of our town or civilian areas in our lifetime,” Sarfaraz Mir, 40, a cousin of the dead twins told AFP.”No one thought it could happen, but it feels like civilians and the town are being specifically targeted,” he said. “People are really afraid now.”At least 12 people have been killed and 49 others injured since shelling intensified in Poonch, about 145 miles (230 kilometres) from Jammu, the second largest city in Indian-administered Kashmir.Only a few thousand residents remain in Poonch, which was home to around 60,000 people. Most of the residents fled on Wednesday evening in cars, buses and even on foot, hours after the unprecedented overnight shelling started.-‘We regret that decision’-As the twins’ family hurriedly tried to leave their home on Wednesday, their mother briefly went back inside to pick up something she had forgotten. “At that very instant a shell exploded in the narrow lane outside their residence,” Mir said.Urwa died instantly and her brother in hospital later.”The people only got to the father later… and (he) is still in a critical condition,” he added. The family had moved from a village to Poonch to be near the dead twins’ school. “We regret that decision,” Fiaz Diwan, 30, a family friend and former neighbour in the village of Chaktroo told AFP.”The news of their death was shocking, unbelievable,” Diwan said. “They may still have been alive if not for the parents’ desire to give them the best education and future.”-‘Nerves of steel’-The twins’ death has united disparate communities grappling with loss and destruction in Poonch.  Mir said that many had suffered including “a child whose head was cut off, a victim from the local Sikh minority — but twins are hard to forget”. Poonch “is a bouquet of communities — Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims — happily living together, and it feels like an attempt to target that,” he said.A Sikh and a Hindu temple complex were damaged in the shelling.Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri on Friday raised the twins’ deaths and accused Pakistan of “targeting and shelling places of worship with a particular design”.”This includes Gurdwaras (Sikh temples), these convents, and (Hindu) temples. This is a new low, even for Pakistan.”The latest clashes follow an attack last month in the Indian-administered side of disputed Kashmir that killed 26 tourists, mostly Hindu men, which Delhi blamed on Islamabad.Pakistan has denied any involvement and called for an independent probe.Pankaj Sharma, 48, a Hindu from Poonch, bemoaned the twins’ death, saying their “entire lives (were) still ahead of them”.Right after the twins’ funeral, their mother went to hospital to be with her gravely wounded husband. “God has really given her nerves of steel to go through all of this with calm and dignity,” Mir said.

Pakistan launched counterattacks against India Saturday after three of its air bases were struck overnight, and as the conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours spiralled towards a full-blown war that sparked calls against “miscalculation”.Indian Wing Commander Vyomika Singh told a briefing Saturday there were “several high-speed missile attacks” on air bases, but “limited damage” to equipment.Pakistan earlier accused India of targeting three of its bases with missiles — including one in Rawalpindi, some 10 kilometres (six miles) from the capital, Islamabad.Authorities in Pakistan-administered Kashmir said 11 civilians were killed by Indian shelling overnight.In a live broadcast aired by state television in the middle of the night, Pakistan’s military spokesman Ahmed Sharif warned: “Now you just wait for our response.”Later Saturday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told senior officials “we have given India a befitting response and avenged the blood of our innocent citizens”, his office said in a statement.The clashes, involving fighter jets, missiles, drones and artillery, are the worst in decades and have killed more than 60 civilians.The fighting was touched off by an attack last month in the Indian-administered side of disputed Kashmir that killed 26 tourists, mostly Hindu men, which Delhi blamed on Islamabad.India accused the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba — a UN-designated terrorist organisation — of carrying out the attack, but Islamabad has denied any involvement and called for an independent probe.The countries have fought several wars over the Muslim-majority Kashmir, which both claim in full but administer separate portions of since gaining independence from British rule in 1947.- ‘Avoid miscalculation’ -In a series of calls to senior officials in both countries, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged them to restore direct communication to “avoid miscalculation”.Rubio “emphasized that both sides need to identify methods to de-escalate and re-establish direct communication to avoid miscalculation”, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said.For the first known time since the conflict erupted, Rubio also spoke with Pakistan’s army chief, considered the country’s key powerbroker.China also made a similar appeal as did the G7 group of industrialised nations.The overnight Indian attack on the Rawalpindi air base could be heard from Islamabad.The air base is used to receive foreign dignitaries, and Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs Adel Al-Jubeir had departed just hours earlier. Separately, AFP journalists reported loud explosions in Srinagar, the capital of India-administered Kashmir.A police officer speaking on condition of anonymity said the Awantipora military airbase outside the city had been struck.”Pakistan’s blatant escalation with drone strikes and other munitions continues along our western border,” the army said on X. The army said “multiple enemy drones were spotted flying over” a military cantonment in Amritsar in Punjab, a state adjoining Kashmir, and were “instantly engaged and destroyed by our air defence units.”- Rush to leave -In Jammu, Indian-run Kashmir’s second biggest city, people scrambled to board a special train dispatched to ferry people out.”There are loud explosions the entire night,” said Karan Varma, a 41-year-old mason.”There is no choice but to leave”.The overwhelming majority were poor labourers from other parts of India seeking to return to their homes.On Friday, the Indian army said it had “repulsed” waves of Pakistani attacks using drones and other munitions overnight, and gave a “befitting reply”.Pakistan’s military spokesman denied that Islamabad was carrying out such attacks, and vowed revenge for India’s initial strikes, on Wednesday.Pakistani military sources said its forces had shot down 77 drones, with debris of many incursions seen by AFP in cities across the country.Pakistan’s military early Saturday claimed New Delhi’s forces had bombed their own territory in Amritsar, without providing evidence.Armed groups have stepped up operations in Kashmir since 2019, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government revoked its limited autonomy and took the state under direct rule by New Delhi.The countries have fought several wars over the Muslim-majority Kashmir, which both claim in full but administer separate portions of since gaining independence from British rule in 1947. The conflict has caused major disruptions to international aviation, with airlines having to cancel flights or use longer routes that do not overfly the India-Pakistan frontier.India has closed 32 airports, while schools in areas close to the border on both sides were shuttered, affecting millions of children.Pakistan’ aviation authority said its airspace would be closed until noon Sunday (0700 GMT). burs-ach-fox

Pakistan on Saturday launched counterattacks against India after three of its air bases were struck overnight, as the conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours spiralled toward full-blown war.The South Asian countries have exchanged fire since Wednesday, when India carried out air strikes on sites in Pakistani territory over a deadly attack on tourists on the Indian side of the divided Kashmir region.The clashes — which have involved missiles, drones, and exchanges of fire along the de-facto border in disputed Kashmir — are the worst in decades and have killed more than 50 civilians.World leaders including the G7 group of industrialised nations have called for restraint, and the United States on Saturday offered help to get both sides talking as the violence intensified.The Indian army on Saturday reported fresh Pakistani attacks along their shared border.  “Pakistan’s blatant escalation with drone strikes and other munitions continues along our western border,” the army said on X.AFP journalists reported loud explosions in Srinagar, the capital of India-administered Kashmir.The army said “multiple enemy drones were spotted flying over” a military cantonment in Amritsar in Punjab, a state adjoining Kashmir, and were “instantly engaged and destroyed by our air defence units.”Hours ahead of Pakistan’s latest operation, the country’s military spokesman Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry had accused India of having “attacked with missiles” targeting three air bases.In the live broadcast aired by state television in the middle of the night, he said a “majority of the missiles” had been intercepted and “no flying assets” had been damaged. One of the bases targeted, Nur Khan air base in Rawalpindi, the garrison city where the army is headquartered, is around 10 kilometres (6 miles) from the capital Islamabad.Several blasts were heard from the capital overnight. The air base is used to receive foreign dignitaries and Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs Adel Al-Jubeir had departed just hours earlier. “Now you just wait for our response,” Chaudhry warned India. With the violence ratcheting up, Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered US help to deescalate.Speaking with Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir on Saturday, Rubio “continued to urge both parties to find ways to deescalate and offered US assistance in starting constructive talks in order to avoid future conflicts,” said spokeswoman Tammy Bruce.- Disputed Kashmir -The fighting was touched off by an attack on the Indian-run side of disputed Kashmir that killed 26 tourists, mostly Hindu men, which Delhi blamed on Islamabad.India accused the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba — a UN-designated terrorist organisation — of carrying out the attack but Pakistan has denied any involvement and called for an independent probe. The countries have fought several wars over the Muslim-majority Kashmir, which both claim in full but administer separate portions of since gaining independence from British rule in 1947.Previous clashes have been mostly limited to the Kashmir region, separated by a heavily militarised border known as the Line of Control, but this time India has struck multiple cities deep in Pakistan.Pakistan’s foreign ministry alleged New Delhi’s “reckless conduct has brought the two nuclear-armed states closer to a major conflict”.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met top security officials on Friday, including his national security advisor, defence minister and the chiefs of the armed forces, his office said.Most of the fatalities, which included children, were in Pakistan during Wednesday’s first air strikes by India. – Drone warfare -The last days have been framed by a series of ripostes following attacks from each side.On Friday, the Indian army said it had “repulsed” waves of Pakistani attacks using drones and other munitions overnight, and gave a “befitting reply”.Pakistan’s military spokesman denied that Islamabad was carrying out such attacks, and vowed revenge for the initial Indian strikes.Pakistani military sources said its forces had shot down 77 drones, with debris of many incursions seen by AFP in cities across the country.An Indian army spokeswoman on Friday spoke of “300 to 400” Pakistani drones, but it was impossible to verify that claim independently.Pakistan has accused India of fabricating the drone strikes, and early Saturday its military claimed Delhi’s forces had bombed their own territory in Amritsar, without providing evidence.Civilians have come under fire on both sides, with Islamabad and New Delhi accusing each other of carrying out unprovoked artillery shelling, and missile and drone strikes.On Friday, shelling along the LoC killed five civilians including a two-year-old girl on the Pakistan said, officials said. Across the border, a police official said one woman was killed and two men wounded by heavy shelling.- Disruptions -Armed groups have stepped up operations in Kashmir since 2019, when Modi’s Hindu nationalist government revoked its limited autonomy and took the state under direct rule by New Delhi.The conflict has caused major disruptions to international aviation, with airlines having to cancel flights or use longer routes that do not overfly the India-Pakistan frontier. India has closed 24 airports, while schools in areas close to the border on both sides were shuttered, affecting millions of children. The mega Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament was on Friday suspended for a week, while Pakistan suspended its own T20 franchise competition indefinitely.burs-ecl/hmn/tym

Pakistan’s military on Saturday said India launched another wave of missiles targeting three air bases — including one on the outskirts of the capital — as the conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours spiralled toward full-blown war. The South Asian countries have exchanged fire since Wednesday, when India launched air strikes on what it called “terrorist” sites in Pakistani territory after a deadly attack on tourists on the Indian side of the divided Kashmir region. The clashes — which have involved missiles, drones, and exchanges of fire along the de-facto border in disputed Kashmir — are the worst in decades and have killed more than 50 civilians.Military spokesman Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry in a live broadcast aired by state television in the middle of the night said India had “attacked with missiles” targeting three air bases. He said a “majority of the missiles” had been intercepted and “no flying assets” had been damaged. One of the bases targeted, Nur Khan air base in Rawalpindi, the garrison city where the army is headquartered, is around 10 kilometres (6 miles) from the capital Islamabad.Several blasts were heard from the capital overnight. The air base is used to receive foreign dignitaries and Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs Adel Al-Jubeir had departed just hours earlier. “Now you just wait for our response,” Chaudhry warned India. – Disputed Kashmir -The fighting comes two weeks after New Delhi blamed Islamabad for backing an attack on the Indian-run side of disputed Kashmir that killed 26 tourists, mostly Hindu men. India blamed the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba — a UN-designated terrorist organisation — for the attack but Pakistan has denied any involvement and called for an independent probe. The countries have fought several wars over the Muslim-majority Kashmir, which both claim in full but administer separate portions of since gaining independence from British rule in 1947.Previous clashes have been mostly limited to the Kashmir region, separated by a heavily militarised border known as the Line of Control, but this time India has struck multiple cities deep in Pakistan.Pakistan’s foreign ministry alleged New Delhi’s “reckless conduct has brought the two nuclear-armed states closer to a major conflict”.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met top security officials on Friday, including his national security advisor, defence minister and the chiefs of the armed forces, his office said.Most of the more than 50 deaths were in Pakistan during Wednesday’s first air strikes by India, and included children. – Drone warfare -On Friday, the Indian army said it had “repulsed” waves of Pakistani attacks using drones and other munitions overnight, and gave a “befitting reply”.Pakistan’s military spokesman denied that Islamabad was carrying out such attacks, and vowed revenge for the initial Indian strikes.Pakistani military sources said its forces had shot down 77 in the last two days, with debris of many incursions seen by AFP in cities across the country.An Indian army spokeswoman on Friday spoke of “300 to 400” Pakistani drones, but it was impossible to verify that claim independently.Pakistan has accused India of fabricating the drone strikes, and early Saturday its military claimed Delhi’s forces had bombed their own territory in Amritsar, without providing evidence.Civilians have come under fire on both sides, with Islamabad and New Delhi accusing each other of carrying out unprovoked artillery shelling, and missile and drone strikes.On Friday, shelling along the LoC killed five civilians including a two-year-old girl on the Pakistan said, officials said. Across the border, a police official said one woman was killed and two men wounded by heavy shelling.- Disruptions -Armed groups have stepped up operations in Kashmir since 2019, when Modi’s Hindu nationalist government revoked its limited autonomy and took the state under direct rule by New Delhi.The conflict has caused major disruptions to international aviation, with airlines having to cancel flights or use longer routes that do not overfly the India-Pakistan frontier. India has closed 24 airports, with local media reporting the suspension would remain in place until next week. Schools have also closed on areas close to the border on both sides, affecting millions of children. The mega Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament was on Friday suspended for a week, while Pakistan suspended its own T20 franchise competition indefinitely, barely a day after relocating it to the United Arab Emirates over the violence.World powers have called for both sides to exercise “restraint”, with several offering to mediate the dispute.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met his Indian counterpart in Delhi on Thursday, days after visiting Pakistan.The International Crisis Group, however, said “foreign powers appear to have been somewhat indifferent” to the prospect of war, despite warnings of possible escalation.burs-ecl/tym