Border Civilians Brace for War Amid Artillery Exchanges

Residents along the India-Pakistan border are preparing for potential widespread conflict as artillery exchanges intensify following India’s missile strikes against nine targets in Pakistan and Pakistani-administered Kashmir. Witnesses in multiple border locations reported power blackouts, loud explosions, and the sound of fighter jets, according to The Sun, highlighting growing civilian fears of an escalating military confrontation.

The Pakistani military confirmed at least three deaths, including a child, resulting from the Indian operation code-named “Sindoor.” As both nations move military assets to forward positions, civilians in Kashmir and adjacent regions face an increasingly precarious situation, caught between warnings of imminent conflict and limited evacuation options.

“Everyone Is Worried” – Civilians Prepare Underground Shelters

“Everyone is worried,” says Muhammad Afzaal, a 37-year-old chicken farmer outside Peshawar in northwestern Pakistan, who told The Washington Post that a potential return to conflict is now the dominant topic of conversation. “We’re so close to the Afghan border that we have seen the impact of war up close before.”

Pakistan’s defense ministry had earlier warned citizens to prepare civil defense measures, with authorities closing over 1,000 religious schools in Kashmir and urging residents to ready underground shelters. On the Indian side, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced “effective civil defence” drills across seven states for the first time since 1971, according to Wikipedia.

The drills include training civilians and students on protective measures in the event of a hostile attack, indicating that Indian authorities are preparing for potential escalation beyond targeted strikes. Power outages reported in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir, suggest possible targeting of infrastructure or precautionary measures by Pakistani authorities.

Military Assets Reposition as Diplomatic Options Narrow

Military observers note that neither side appears to be mobilizing for full-scale war, despite the significant missile strikes. “We would know if they moved their tanks, strategic columns and heavy weapons,” Ijaz Awan, a Pakistani security analyst and former major general, told The Washington Post. “A major war cannot be fought with the infantry alone.”

However, both nations have significantly upgraded their military capabilities since their 2019 clash. India has acquired advanced French Rafale fighter jets while Pakistan has purchased China’s J-10 combat aircraft, according to Reuters analysis. These enhanced capabilities provide more options for limited strikes while raising the stakes of any military engagement.

The Indian Army reported that “Pakistan again violates the Ceasefire Agreement by firing Artillery in Bhimber Gali in Poonch-Rajauri area,” indicating ongoing exchanges beyond the initial missile strikes. These artillery exchanges have occurred for eight consecutive nights, according to Wikipedia documentation, steadily increasing in intensity.

Nuclear Concerns Rise Despite Calls for Restraint

The specter of nuclear conflict looms over the current crisis, though military experts believe neither side would consider nuclear weapons “unless pushed to the wall,” according to Reuters. Nevertheless, the involvement of two nuclear-armed states in active military exchanges raises global concerns about potential escalation paths.

“The clash between two nuclear powers is always worrisome,” Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif acknowledged in a recent interview with Sky News. “If things get wrong, there could be a tragic outcome of this confrontation.”

US President Donald Trump expressed hope that the fighting between the two nations “ends very quickly,” while Vice President JD Vance has urged both sides to exercise restraint. International diplomatic efforts face significant challenges, however, as both governments maintain firm positions regarding responsibility for the April 22 attack in Pahalgam that triggered the current crisis.