At least two Indian aircraft had crashed after India struck six locations in Pakistan, escalating the conflict between the nuclear powers, the New York Times reports, citing officials and witnesses.

At least two aircraft were said to have gone down in India and occupied Kashmir, according to three officials, local news reports, and accounts of witnesses who had seen the debris of two.

One Indian official confirmed to NYT the crash of three aircraft, but cautioned that the reasons were not clear. Two other Indian security officials confirmed reports that some Indian aircraft had gone down, but would not elaborate on the details. They all spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details of military action.

Analysing witness photos from one wreckage site, in the village of Wuyan in occupied Kashmir, a weapons researcher identified the debris as an external fuel tank for a plane.

The analyst, Trevor Ball, of Armament Research Services, said the tank was likely from a Rafale or Mirage fighter jet, both of which are made by the French manufacturer Dassault Aviation and used by India. Ball could not confirm whether the tank had come from an aircraft that had been hit by enemy fire.

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