A local resident inspects his house that was damaged by Pakistani artillery shelling in Uri, about 100km from Srinagar, on May 9, 2025. (Photo: AFP/Tauseef Mustafa)

JAMMU: India’s air force accused Pakistan of using civilian airlines as a "shield" on Friday (May 9), the third day of the worst fighting between the nuclear-armed neighbours in nearly three decades.

The old foes have been clashing since India struck several areas that it described as "terrorist infrastructure" in Pakistan in retaliation for a deadly attack on Hindu tourists in Indian Kashmir last month.

Pakistan dismissed Indian accusations that it was involved. Both countries have exchanged cross-border fire and shelling and sent drones and missiles into each other's airspace, alarming world powers who have called for restraint.

Around 48 people have been killed since Wednesday, according to casualty estimates on both sides of the border that have not been independently verified.

The relationship between India and Pakistan has been fraught with tension since they gained independence from colonial Britain in 1947. The countries have fought three wars, two of them over Kashmir, and clashed many times.

CLASHING ACCUSATIONS...