Indian authorities report multiple civilian fatalities during the night, as Pakistan, according to India, launched an attack with drones and robots. India is said to have then struck back by knocking out an air defense system in Pakistani Lahore.
According to Pakistan, the country's forces have killed 40-50 Indian soldiers in a series of attacks on Indian military installations.
India threatens with further "decisive" retaliation.
Our intention is not to escalate the situation. But military attacks on us will undoubtedly be responded to very, very decisively, says Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in a speech.
Drones shot down
The nighttime shelling has, according to the Indian military, taken place across the so-called line of control between the northern parts of Kashmir, controlled by Pakistan, and the southern parts controlled by India.
13 civilians are reported to have been killed and 59 injured by Pakistani fire in the city of Poonch, in what Indian authorities call a "violation of the ceasefire" since Wednesday. Pakistan has not confirmed or commented on the reports.
According to Pakistan, the country's air defense has in turn shot down 25 Indian Israel-made drones over, among other places, Lahore early on Thursday.
Promised "revenge"
This is the second night of heavily escalated violence in the troubled region. On Tuesday night, India carried out airstrikes against Pakistan-controlled areas in Kashmir. According to Pakistan, around 30 civilians were killed, while India described it as a robotic attack on nine Pakistani "terrorist camps".
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a speech to the nation late on Wednesday that Islamabad would "avenge" those killed by India.
Tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations have increased sharply, since a massacre of tourists on April 22 in the Indian-controlled part of the long-disputed Kashmir region. India accuses Pakistan of having provided support to the perpetrators, which is denied by the country.
