Tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad have further escalated following an attack by gunmen in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir. Amid this volatile situation, the Pakistani military conducted full-scale military drills near the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border with India.

According to a report in The Express Tribune, citing security sources, the exercises held on Thursday included live-fire drills and showcased various aspects of combat readiness.

The report stated that Islamabad aimed to send a clear message: the military is prepared to deliver an armed response to any potential aggression from the enemy.

Military units and officers participated in the drills, demonstrating tactical proficiency using advanced weaponry and technology available to the armed forces.

A day earlier, on Wednesday, the Pakistani military claimed it destroyed an Indian outpost in the Kiani and Mandal sectors in response to "provocative" fire from Indian forces.

On the same day, citing intelligence sources, Islamabad warned that India might launch a military strike within 36 hours. In response, Pakistan heightened security across its airspace and airports. Meanwhile, India has reportedly closed its airspace to Pakistan.

Expressing concern over the rising tensions, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged both countries to show restraint. The United States, the United Kingdom, and China also called for calm. According to NDTV Online, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held another key meeting with government decision-makers on Wednesday—the second session of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) since the Pahalgam attack. The first meeting had resulted in several measures, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan.

Amid concerns over a potential Indian strike, Pakistan ramped up surveillance over its airspace. The Air Traffic Control (ATC) issued orders to monitor all domestic and foreign flights traversing Pakistani skies. Flights from foreign airlines are under special scrutiny, and airports have been placed under heightened alert.

Sources reported increased monitoring of any suspicious aircraft. No flight is to be cleared without high-level approval if there are any doubts about it. For security reasons, all scheduled commercial flights to Gilgit and Skardu in Pakistan-administered Kashmir were canceled on Wednesday. Officials stated these were precautionary measures to ensure the country's airspace remains secure amid the growing regional tensions.

On Tuesday night, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on social media that Pakistan had credible intelligence indicating India might take military action within 24 to 36 hours. However, he did not clarify the basis of this information.

That same night, heavy gunfire was exchanged between Indian and Pakistani troops along the LoC for a sixth consecutive night, though no casualties were reported. Both sides blamed each other for the increased tension.

To help de-escalate the situation, UN Secretary-General António Guterres spoke with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar. Guterres expressed deep concern about the rising tensions and emphasized avoiding conflicts with potentially tragic consequences. He also offered to mediate.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also held separate discussions with the foreign ministers of both countries in an effort to ease tensions.

The violence began on April 22 when a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Indian-controlled Kashmir, killed 26 civilians. Although India blamed Pakistan for the attack, no evidence was presented. Pakistan denied the allegations and called for an international investigation. Since then, both nations have taken retaliatory actions. Indian PM Modi issued a stern warning without naming Pakistan, and Islamabad responded in kind.

According to Reuters, citing a government statement, Pakistan condemned all forms of terrorism and vowed to take a "measured and decisive" response to any Indian military action.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar echoed this sentiment in the Senate on Tuesday, stating that Pakistan would not strike first but would retaliate if attacked. He also said that Pakistan's diplomatic efforts to counter Indian allegations had been communicated to the international community.

Referring to India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty after the Pahalgam attack, Dar said India had been trying to alter the treaty for two years and that many suspected the attack was being used as a pretext to suspend it.

During the Senate session, PPP member Syed Masroor Ahsan supported inviting imprisoned PTI leader Imran Khan to an all-party meeting. He urged the government to show flexibility and listen to the opposition, saying both sides must let go of their egos. Earlier, three senators—Allama Nasir Abbas, Gurdeep Singh, and Dost Mohammad—demanded Imran Khan's release.

The News reported that PTI leader Imran Khan called for national unity on Wednesday amid the escalating situation. Speaking with lawyers in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, he said that while there may be internal differences, the nation must unite in the face of Modi’s aggression and threats of war.

According to The Express Tribune, aerial surveillance has also intensified. On Wednesday, four Indian Rafale fighter jets were patrolling the Kashmir border, which were detected and chased off by Pakistani jets.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s military accused India of supporting and provoking terrorism within its borders. In a press briefing on Tuesday, the military claimed that a Pakistan national trained in India was recently arrested, and an Indian drone, an improvised explosive device (IED), and Indian currency were recovered from him.

In India, at least 30 people were arrested in the northeastern state of Assam for posting content on social media in support of Pakistan. Assam’s Chief Minister, BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma, indicated that such arrests would continue.

As tensions mount between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, the entire South Asian region is growing increasingly uneasy about the possibility of another war.