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.

India launched drone strikes in Lahore and Karachi following airstrikes on terror targets in Pakistan. Airports in Karachi and Islamabad were closed.

The attack follows a series of drone strikes by Pakistan in Rajasthan and other border areas, leading to heightened security alerts in India’s border regions.