MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan: India and Pakistan exchanged gunfire through the night into Thursday morning in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, a day after Islamabad said it shot down two Indian warplanes and captured a pilot.
There were no immediate reports of casualties, though jet fighters roared overhead through the mountainous region as villagers along the so-called Line of Control fled to safety.
Meanwhile, members of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party called for more military action, suggesting the conflict still could worsen.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan had called for talks between the two nuclear-armed rivals in a televised address Wednesday, saying: “Considering the nature of the weapons that both of us have, can we afford any miscalculation?“
World powers have called on the nations to de-escalate the tensions gripping the contested region since a Feb. 14 suicide car bombing killed over 40 Indian paramilitary personnel. India responded with an airstrike Tuesday inside Pakistan, the first such raid since the two nations’ 1971 war over territory that later became Bangladesh.
The situation escalated with Wednesday’s aerial skirmish, which saw Pakistan say it shot down two Indian aircraft, one of which crashed in Pakistan-administered part of Kashmir and the other in Indian-administered Kashmir.
India acknowledged one of its MiG-21s, a Soviet-era fighter jet, was “lost” in skirmishes with Pakistan and that its pilot was “missing in action.”
India also said it shot down a Pakistani warplane, something Islamabad denied.
Both Indian and Pakistani officials reported small-arms fire and shelling along the Kashmir region into Thursday. Government buildings in Muzafarabad, the capital of the Pakistan-administered section of Kashmir, were used to provide shelter to those who fled from border towns.
Authorities in Pakistani-administered Kashmir closed all schools and educational institutions in the region and urged parents to keep their children at home amid mounting tension with neighboring India. Pakistan’s airspace remained closed for a second day Thursday, snarling air traffic.
Kashmir has been claimed by both India and Pakistan since almost immediately after their creation in 1947. The countries have fought three wars against each other, two directly dealing with the disputed region.
Pakistan, India trade fire in Kashmir; villagers flee homes
Pakistan, India trade fire in Kashmir; villagers flee homes
- Reportedly there are small-arms fire and shelling along the Kashmir region on Thursday
- World powers have called on the nations to de-escalate the tensions
Pakistan, China discuss $2.2 billion maritime industrial complex at Port Qasim
- The proposal aligns with Pakistan’s push to modernize port infrastructure and link Central Asian trade routes to sea lanes
- The project may include shipbuilding, shipbreaking and a port-linked steel mill, as authorities streamline port operations
KARACHI: Pakistan and China discussed plans for a large maritime industrial complex at Port Qasim involving up to €2 billion ($2.2 billion) in investment on Thursday, as Islamabad seeks to modernize its ports and position itself as a regional trade and logistics hub, a government statement said.
The proposal comes as Pakistan looks to upgrade port infrastructure to handle higher trade volumes and improve connectivity between sea lanes and landlocked Central Asian states, leveraging its geographic position at the crossroads of South and Central Asia. The effort aligns with the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which has underpinned Chinese investment in Pakistan’s energy, transport and infrastructure sectors with the aim of boosting regional connectivity.
The project was discussed during a meeting between a delegation from China’s Shandong Zinxu Group and Pakistan’s Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, according to the statement.
“Proposal for a comprehensive maritime industrial complex at Port Qasim was reviewed during the meeting,” Chaudhry said in a statement circulated after the talks.
“The proposed project could involve investment of €1–2 billion,” he added.
Chaudhry said the project under discussion could include the establishment of shipbuilding and shipbreaking facilities, as well as a modern, port-linked steel mill aimed at reducing Pakistan’s reliance on imported steel.
He added that the revival of the steel jetty at Port Qasim would be critical for the project’s viability.
The minister said employment generation, value addition and environmental considerations would be prioritized as part of the proposed investment, which, if approved, could rank among Pakistan’s largest industrial projects.
Pakistan has in recent months stepped up efforts to streamline port operations, including the introduction of artificial intelligence-based technologies to improve efficiency, reduce congestion and speed up cargo handling.
Only a day earlier, the maritime affairs minister met a delegation from Pakistan’s Ministry of Railways to discuss plans to establish a railway station and modern storage facilities at Port Qasim, aimed at improving logistics and cargo movement to and from the port.
