Pakistan and India accused each other of launching drone attacks, and Islamabad’s Defence Minister said further retaliation was “increasingly certain”, on the second day of major clashes between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

Pakistan’s air defense system shot down an Indian drone early Thursday in the eastern city of Lahore, according to Pakistani officials, as India evacuated thousands of people from villages near the two countries' highly militarized frontier in the disputed region of Kashmir.

Amid fears of further escalation, Pakistan said it shot down 16 drones Thursday, while India said it targeted an air defense system in Lahore.