Fri May 09 13:09:02 UTC 2025: ## Cross-Border Shelling Kills at Least Nine Civilians in Kashmir, Thousands Evacuated
**SRINAGAR/ISLAMABAD –** A surge in cross-border shelling between India and Pakistan in the disputed Kashmir region has claimed the lives of at least nine civilians and sent thousands fleeing their homes. Heavy artillery and gunfire exchanges raged overnight, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing military standoff.
In Pakistan-administered Kashmir, at least four civilians were killed and 12 wounded in intense shelling near the Line of Control (LoC), according to local police official Adeel Ahmad. Residents reported that the firing continued into Friday morning, describing the intensity as unprecedented.
Meanwhile, in Indian-administered Kashmir, one woman was killed and two others injured in Uri sector, bringing the total civilian death toll in India to 17 since Wednesday. Indian officials reported Pakistani troops initiated the shelling using artillery, mortars, and gunfire at multiple locations, prompting retaliatory fire from Indian forces.
Both sides reported significant civilian casualties. Pakistan claims 17 civilian deaths in the past few days due to Indian shelling, a figure that, if accurate, would bring the combined death toll to significantly higher than nine.
Tens of thousands of civilians living near the LoC in both Indian and Pakistani-controlled territories have been evacuated to government-provided shelters, with thousands spending a second night away from their homes. The escalating violence has raised serious concerns about the safety of civilians living in the volatile border region.
First Piper 