Tensions between nuclear powers India and Pakistan have erupted into the worst cross-border violence in decades, with drone and missile strikes killing at least 48 people since Wednesday.
India launched air strikes it said targeted “terrorist camps” in Pakistan, prompting drone and artillery fire.
Pakistan said it shot down 28 Indian drones, while India claimed it destroyed an air defense system in Lahore.
As the war heats up, civilians, including a 12-year-old child, are inevitably killed on both sides.
In Muzaffarabad, a 15-year-old girl was hit by shrapnel while praying in a mosque, while in Poonch, two children died after being hit by shrapnel outside their home.
The unrest follows an attack in Kashmir last month that killed 26 Indian tourists, which Delhi has blamed on Pakistan-based militants, although Islamabad has denied any involvement and demanded an international investigation.
The United States and Iran were among the countries that called for a de-escalation of tensions, but were ignored by the Pakistani Prime Minister who vowed to avenge every drop of blood that fell on their soil.
With drones hovering, missiles flying, and nuclear warheads within reach, the world watched South Asia with bated breath as the sparks of war spread further.
