Ten explosions near international airport in India-administered part of Kashmir, officials say

Ten explosions have been heard near Srinagar International Airport in India-administered parts of Kashmir, officials have said.

The blasts followed blackouts caused by multiple projectiles, which were seen in the sky above the city of Jammu earlier on Friday. Explosions were also heard in the Sikh holy city of Amritsar, in the neighbouring Indian state of Punjab, according to Reuters.

An Indian military official told the agency that "drones have been sighted" and "they are being engaged". It comes as tensions between India and Pakistan across the line of control around the region of Kashmir have boiled over this week, leading to fears of a wider conflict.

The Indian army said in a statement late on Friday that drones were sighted in 26 locations across a wide area of the country's west and northwest, from Kashmir and states bordering Pakistan to the edge of the Arabian Sea. In response, Indian Air Force officer Vyomika Singh said the country responded with drones on targets in Pakistan and destroyed one air defence system.

A Pakistan Army spokesman said that India had launched missiles at key Pakistani military installations including Noor Khan Airbase, Shorkot Airbase, and Murid Airbase - but the missiles were intercepted and there were no casualties. Earlier, Pakistan claimed ballistic missiles fired by India landed in India's own territory.

In a short video statement on state TV, the spokesman said: "I want to give you the shocking news that India fired six ballistic missiles from Adampur. "One of the ballistic missiles hit in Adampur, the rest of the five missiles hit in Indian Punjab area of Amritsar." On Wednesday morning, India carried out missile strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered parts of the disputed region.

The retaliation came weeks after 26 people, mainly Indian tourists, were shot dead by gunmen in an India-administered part of Kashmir last month. The government in India said it hit nine "terrorist infrastructure" sites, while Pakistan said it was not involved in the April attack and the sites were not militant bases.

Around 48 people have been killed since Wednesday, according to casualty estimates on both sides - which have not been independently verified. India also suspended its top cricket tournament, the Indian Premier League, as a result of rising tensions, while the Pakistan Super League moved the remainder of its season to the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a press conference on Friday that the US is in constant contact with both India and Pakistan..