Pakistan Says India Hit Troops in New Drone Attack: 'Serious Provocation'

Pakistan's army spokesman accused India of hurting four soldiers in a drone attack near Lahore, an incident he described as a "serious, serious provocation" and one that "is further escalating" the unfolding conflict.

India sent drones to "multiple locations" in Pakistan and 12 were shot down, said Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, spokesperson for the Pakistan Armed Forces, in a briefing on Thursday.

But he said one drone broke through and "managed to engage a military target near Lahore, partially," leading to the soldiers' injuries. He also said one civilian had been killed and another hurt by falling debris in the southern Sindh province.

It is "yet another blatant act of military aggression by India," Chaudhry said.

The Indian government accused Pakistan of attempting to engage military targets with drones and missiles, prompting this latest response, which it said was focused on Pakistani air defense radars and systems.

"It has been reliably learnt that an air defence system at Lahore has been neutralized," the Indian government said in its statement, adding: "Indian Armed Forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is respected by the Pakistani military."

Fears of India-Pakistan War

The two nuclear-armed powers are clashing in the aftermath of the Pahalgam massacre, in which 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists, were killed by gunmen attacking a popular beauty spot in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

India called it a terror attack and accused the Pakistanis of having a hand in the incident, but Pakistan has denied any involvement.

There is a serious risk of escalation that leads to all-out war between the neighbors, and global powers such as the U.S. and China are urging restraint.

India Strikes After Pahalgam

Overnight from May 7 to 8, India launched a number of strikes on what it said was terrorist infrastructure in Pakistani territory linked to Pahalgam, and at the center of plans for more attacks.

The Indian government said its strikes were targeted and precise, and not directed at the Pakistani military, characterizing them as "non-escalatory" as it sought to contain Islamabad's potential response.

But Pakistan said India struck civilians in the strikes, killing dozens of people, including some at a mosque. It denied hosting terror camps and responded to the strikes with shelling into Indian-controlled Kashmir, also claiming to have shot down five Indian jets.

Indian authorities evacuated civilians from dozens of villages living close to the highly militarized Line of Control overnight into Thursday, while some living in border towns such as Uri and Poonch left their homes voluntarily, local officials told The Associated Press.

India's Foreign Ministry said that 13 civilians were killed and 59 wounded the previous day during exchanges of fire across the de facto border. An Indian soldier was also killed by shelling Wednesday, according to the Indian army.

What People Are Saying

President Donald Trump has called on Pakistan and India to stop their escalating "tit for tat" conflict. "It's so terrible, I get along with both and I want to see them work it out," Trump said when asked about the issue.

"Hopefully they can stop now, they going tit for tat," he added before offering U.S. assistance: "If I can do anything to help, I will be there."

Lin Jian, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, called India's strikes "regrettable" in a press briefing and said that China is "concerned about the evolving situation."

"India and Pakistan are and will always be each other's neighbors. They're both China's neighbors as well," he said. "China opposes all forms of terrorism. We urge both sides to act in the larger interest of peace and stability, remain calm, exercise restraint, and refrain from taking actions that may further complicate the situation."

This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.

Update, 5/8/25, 5:25 am ET: A statement by the Indian government was added.