Armed clashes between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan entered their third consecutive day on Friday, sparking mass evacuations and panic buying across border regions. Residents in both countries rushed to secure food, fuel, and medicine as fears of full-scale war loomed, according to several media outlets.
In border towns like Amritsar and Lahore, long queues formed outside grocery stores and pharmacies. “We don’t know if the market will open tomorrow,” said Pankaj Seth, a resident of Amritsar. “I had to stock up for my family.”
Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore was rocked on Thursday by drones that were shot down near a naval base. Sirens blared, and the U.S. consulate advised staff to shelter in place. Schools were shut, and authorities warned vendors against price gouging as essentials disappeared from shelves.
Across the border, India’s Consumer Affairs Ministry urged citizens not to hoard food, assuring that national reserves were well-stocked.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian toll grew in Kashmir. In Uri and Baramulla, residents fled as homes were hit by shelling overnight. “We’ve never seen such intense fire,” said Bashir Ahmad, a local resident. “It was a nightmare.”
Over 400 people have been evacuated from Pakistan-administered Kashmir, authorities said. In Neelum Valley, villagers have taken shelter in hand-dug bunkers in the mountains. “We live in fear every night,” said Manzoor Ahmed of Jura Bandi village.
With border towns bracing for further escalation, the prospect of de-escalation appears remote. Both sides accuse each other of aggression, while international observers warn of grave consequences if diplomacy fails.