The new Pope, Leo XIV, has called for the Catholic Church to "desperately" counter a lack of faith in his first mass at the Vatican.

Speaking on Friday, the day after he was elected the first US leader of the Catholic Church, he warned that people were turning to "technology, money, success, power, or pleasure" for security instead of the Church.

Pope Leo also called for cardinals to extend missionary outreach.

The ascension of Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost, 69, has been widely celebrated by 1.4 billion Catholics across the world, with joyous outbursts in particular in Peru, where he was stationed for 20 years, and in his US homeland.

In his speech, the new pope said he had been elected to be a "faithful administrator" of the Church and to steer it as a "beacon" to reach areas suffering a "lack of faith".

"A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society," he said in Italian.

Pope Leo wore a white robe trimmed in gold as he addressed the seated cardinals in the Sistine Chapel address broadcast live by the Vatican administration.

On Thursday evening, Prevost was introduced to the world as the new Pope Leo XIV to rousing cheers from crowds gathered in St Peter's Square.

Appearing on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, his first words to the tens of thousands of worshippers gathered outlined a vision of a "missionary" Church which "builds bridges, which holds dialogues, which is always open".

• Live: Follow the latest updates after new Pope chosen
• Profile: Who is Robert Prevost, the new Pope Leo XIV?
• Watch: Oh my God, it's Rob! - Pope's brother speaks of joy
• Analysis: Continuity the key for Pope seen as unifier in the Church

He echoed his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, in calling for peace.

"Help us, and each other, to build bridges through dialogue, through encounter, to come together as one people, always in peace," he said.

World leaders have rushed to congratulate Prevost on his election, pledging to work with him on global issues. US President Donald Trump called it a "great honour" to have the first American pope.

Prevost, who also holds Peruvian citizenship, only became an archbishop and then cardinal in 2023. He was elected leader by his fellow cardinals in just two days of voting in the secret conclave that took place two weeks after Francis died.

He is seen as being aligned with the late Pope, who was viewed as a progressive champion of human rights and the poor and celebrated for his charismatic style that sought to make the Catholic Church more outward-facing.

Vatican watchers have noted that Francis appeared to have brought Prevost to Rome in recent years, perhaps to set him up as a potential successor.

Pope Leo's upcoming remarks, which include Sunday's midday Regina Coeli prayer and a Monday press conference with journalists, will be closely scrutinised for hints as to which direction he intends to lead the Church and what kind of Pope he will be.

Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers have been found guilty of cutting down the iconic Sycamore Gap tree. The deliberate felling of the tree on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland angered people around the world. For the man who was first on the scene, it was a moment that changed his life forever.

Park ranger Gary Pickles was in shock.

Where once had stood arguably England's favourite tree, there was now just air.

When the call had come through earlier that morning, Gary had thought it was a prank.

His working day on 28 September 2023 had barely started when a farmer called his office to report the tree was down.

"I doubted a farmer would be telling us a silly story so I thought 'oh my god, I think this might be true'."

The team of park rangers were alerted by email and Gary got in his van to drive to the tree.

With every passing minute of the short journey, his anxiety levels increased.

"As I got nearer and nearer, I just thought 'it's gone, it's gone'."

He'd arrived at the road adjacent to the tree and had to "double take" as he saw it for the first time lying on its side.

"It was shock," said Gary, who was met with a gaping hole in the landscape.

At this stage, he presumed the tree had been damaged in Storm Agnes, which had brought strong winds overnight.

"When you look and it's gone, it's just....oh my god," he said.

"It's a landmark. It's a piece of the landscape."

Gary needed to investigate further. He parked his van in a nearby car park and rushed on foot to the fallen tree.

The sadness he was feeling soon turned to anger and panic.

"When I got there I realised it had been chopped down and not blown down.

"There was a clean cut so that escalated it up.

"Once you realise it's been chopped down, then it's going to become a massive worldwide story."

The seriousness of the developing situation quickly became apparent.

Gary hastily reported back to Northumberland National Park's headquarters that it appeared that the tree had been cut down deliberately. At this stage there was no time to consider who by or why.

Just after 09:00 BST, the National Park alerted colleagues at the National Trust, including general manager Andrew Poad.

"My personal phone started lighting up. Messages were coming through on my laptop.

"Once I realised it was a deliberate act, crisis mode kicked in," said Andrew, whose priority was to personally inform people before they saw it on social media.

"It was like ringing people up to tell them that someone had passed away.

"On the day I was using the expression 'it's like losing a loved one'. We all went through that grief.

"There were numerous members of staff in tears."

Viral photographs shared on social media showed the tree on its side, as the PR teams at the National Park and the National Trust frantically collaborated on an official response.

"Within the hour it was global, effectively," Andrew said.

Shortly before 11:00, a statement from the organisations confirmed the tree had been cut down.

At around midday, Northumbria Police announced it was being treated as "a deliberate act of vandalism".

Local journalists were already carrying out interviews at the scene, before reporters from around the world turned the grassy mound opposite the stump into a "sea of camera tripods".

"It is the largest press story that the National Trust has ever dealt with," Andrew said.

"It was one of the things that surprised us. The sheer scale of the global reach of the interest really took us back a bit."

The usual calming sound of the vast countryside was drowned out by the clicks of cameras and the engines of broadcast trucks.

"We knew it was popular, but we didn't know how popular," Andrew said.

The international interest also surprised Gary.

"My sister lives in France, my brother is in America, and by dinner time they'd both rung me, so it was global news at such a fast rate."

Senior management from the National Park and the National Trust spent the afternoon at the fallen tree, speaking to the crowds of emotional walkers and journalists.

Reporters gathered shocking footage of the trunk draped over a now damaged Hadrian's Wall.

This idyllic, tranquil spot that had brought peace to so many was now a crime scene wrapped in blue and white police tape. Forensic officers in white suits also gathered DNA from the stump.

Eighteen months on from its felling, Andrew and Gary regularly reflect on the day that north-east England lost "a massive local landmark."

"It's just senseless. Who or what were they trying to get at?" said Andrew.

"It's still a huge part of my life dealing with this. It's a big gap in all our lives, never mind the landscape."

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The new Pope, Leo XIV, has called for the Catholic Church to "desperately" counter a lack of faith in his first mass at the Vatican.

Speaking on Friday, the day after he was elected the first US leader of the Catholic Church, he warned that people were turning to "technology, money, success, power, or pleasure" for security instead of the Church.

Pope Leo also called for cardinals to extend missionary outreach.

The ascension of Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost, 69, has been widely celebrated by 1.4 billion Catholics across the world, with joyous outbursts in particular in Peru, where he was stationed for 20 years, and in his US homeland.

In his speech, the new pope said he had been elected to be a "faithful administrator" of the Church and to steer it as a "beacon" to reach areas suffering a "lack of faith".

"A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society," he said in Italian.

Pope Leo wore a white robe trimmed in gold as he addressed the seated cardinals in the Sistine Chapel address broadcast live by the Vatican administration.

On Thursday evening, Prevost was introduced to the world as the new Pope Leo XIV to rousing cheers from crowds gathered in St Peter's Square.

Appearing on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, his first words to the tens of thousands of worshippers gathered outlined a vision of a "missionary" Church which "builds bridges, which holds dialogues, which is always open".

• Live: Follow the latest updates after new Pope chosen
• Profile: Who is Robert Prevost, the new Pope Leo XIV?
• Watch: Oh my God, it's Rob! - Pope's brother speaks of joy
• Analysis: Continuity the key for Pope seen as unifier in the Church

He echoed his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, in calling for peace.

"Help us, and each other, to build bridges through dialogue, through encounter, to come together as one people, always in peace," he said.

World leaders have rushed to congratulate Prevost on his election, pledging to work with him on global issues. US President Donald Trump called it a "great honour" to have the first American pope.

Prevost, who also holds Peruvian citizenship, only became an archbishop and then cardinal in 2023. He was elected leader by his fellow cardinals in just two days of voting in the secret conclave that took place two weeks after Francis died.

He is seen as being aligned with the late Pope, who was viewed as a progressive champion of human rights and the poor and celebrated for his charismatic style that sought to make the Catholic Church more outward-facing.

Vatican watchers have noted that Francis appeared to have brought Prevost to Rome in recent years, perhaps to set him up as a potential successor.

Pope Leo's upcoming remarks, which include Sunday's midday Regina Coeli prayer and a Monday press conference with journalists, will be closely scrutinised for hints as to which direction he intends to lead the Church and what kind of Pope he will be.

An art expert who has worked on the BBC's Bargain Hunt has pleaded guilty to offences related to terror financing, in the first prosecution of its kind.

Oghenochuko Ojiri, 53, admitted eight counts under the Terrorism Act 2000 of failing to make a disclosure during the course of business.

Under the legislation, it is an offence if people do not notify police if they know or suspect a business associate to have been involved in financing a proscribed group.

The Met said the alleged offences dated back to between October 2020 and December 2021.

Ojiri, also known as Ochuko Ojiri, was charged following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police's specialist arts and antiques unit, alongside the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) and HMRC.

He is listed on Bargain Hunt's website as one of the show's experts.

Ojiri is not a member of BBC staff, works as a freelance presenter and has also appeared on Antiques Road Trip and Channel 5's Storage: Flog the Lot! He has not worked on BBC programmes since 2023.

Ojiri also founded the Ramp Gallery, a contemporary art showroom now known as the Ojiri Gallery, based in east London.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.

The world's first drone war between nuclear-armed neighbours has erupted in South Asia.

On Thursday, India accused Pakistan of launching waves of drones and missiles at three military bases in Indian territory and Indian-administered Kashmir - an allegation Islamabad swiftly denied.

Pakistan claimed it had shot down 25 Indian drones in recent hours. Delhi remained publicly silent. Experts say the tit-for-tat attacks mark a dangerous new phase in the decades-old rivalry, as both sides exchange not just artillery but unmanned weapons across a volatile border.

As Washington and other global powers urge restraint, the region is teetering on the edge of escalation, with drones - silent, remote and deniable - opening a new chapter in the India-Pakistan conflict.

"The Indo-Pak conflict is moving into a new drone era - one where 'invisible eyes' and unmanned precision may determine escalation or restraint. Thus, in South Asia's contested skies, the side that masters drone warfare won't just see the battlefield - they'll shape it," Jahara Matisek, a professor at the US Naval War College, told the BBC.

Since Wednesday morning, Pakistan says Indian air strikes and cross-border fire have killed 36 people and injured 57 more in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. On the other side, India's army reports at least 16 civilians dead from Pakistani shelling. India insists its missile barrage was retaliation for a deadly militant attack on Indian tourists in Pahalgam last month - an attack Islamabad denies any role in.

Pakistan's military announced on Thursday that it had shot down 25 Indian drones across various cities, including Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi. The drones - reportedly Israeli-made Harop drones - were reportedly intercepted using both technical and weapon-based countermeasures. India claimed to have neutralised several Pakistani air defence radars and systems, including one in Lahore, which Islamabad denied.

Laser-guided missiles and bombs, drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become pivotal in modern warfare, significantly enhancing the precision and efficiency of military operations. These can relay co-ordinates for airstrikes or, if equipped, directly laser-designate targets, and help immediate engagement.

Drones can be used as decoys or suppression of enemy air defences, flying into contested airspace to trigger enemy radar emissions, which can then be targeted by other munitions like loitering drones or anti-radiation missiles. "This is how Ukraine and Russia both do it in their war. This dual role - targeting and triggering - makes drones a force multiplier in degrading enemy air defences without risking manned aircraft," says Prof Matisek.

Experts say India's drone fleet is largely built around Israeli-made reconnaissance UAVs like the IAI Searcher and Heron, along with Harpy and Harop loitering munitions - drones that double as missiles, capable of autonomous reconnaissance and precision strikes. The Harop, in particular, signals a shift toward high-value, precision-targeted warfare, reflecting the growing importance of loitering munitions in modern conflict, experts say.

The Heron, say experts, is India's "high-altitude eyes in the sky" for both peacetime monitoring and combat operations. The IAI Searcher Mk II is designed for frontline operations, offering up to 18 hours of endurance, a range of 300km (186 miles), and a service ceiling of 7,000m (23,000ft).

While many believe India's combat drone numbers remain "modest", a recent $4bn deal to acquire 31 MQ-9B Predator drones - which can can fly for 40 hours and up to an altitude of 40,000ft - from the US marks a major leap in its strike capabilities.

India is also developing swarm drone tactics - deploying large numbers of smaller UAVs to overwhelm and saturate air defences, allowing higher-value assets to penetrate, say experts.

Pakistan's drone fleet is "extensive and diverse", comprising both indigenous and imported systems, Ejaz Haider, a Lahore-based defence analyst told the BBC.

He said the inventory includes "over a thousand drones", featuring models from China, Turkey and domestic manufacturers. Notable platforms include the Chinese CH-4, the Turkish Bayraktar Akinci, and Pakistan's own Burraq and Shahpar drones. Additionally, Pakistan has developed loitering munitions, enhancing its strike capabilities.

Mr Haider said the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has been actively integrating unmanned systems into its operations for nearly a decade. A key focus is the development of "loyal wingman" drones - unmanned aerial vehicles designed to operate in co-ordination with manned aircraft, he added.

Prof Matisek believes "Israel's technical assistance, supplying Harop and Heron drones, has been pivotal for India, while Pakistan's reliance on Turkish and Chinese platforms highlights an ongoing arms race".

While the recent drone exchanges between India and Pakistan mark a significant escalation in their rivalry, they differ markedly from the drone-centric warfare observed in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, experts say. There, drones become central to military operations, with both sides deploying thousands of UAVs for surveillance, targeting and direct attacks.

"Deploying drones [in the ongoing conflict] instead of fighter jets or heavy missiles represents a lower-level military option. Drones are less heavily armed than manned aircraft, so in one sense, this is a restrained move. However, if this is merely a prelude to a broader aerial campaign, the calculus changes entirely," Manoj Joshi, an Indian defence analyst, told the BBC.

"The [India-Pakistan] drone warfare we're witnessing may not last long; it could be just the beginning of a larger conflict."

Ejaz Haider believes the recent drone activity in Jammu "appears to be a tactical response to immediate provocations, not a full-scale retaliation [by Pakistan]".

"A true retaliatory strike against India would involve shock and awe. It would likely be more comprehensive, involving multiple platforms - both manned and unmanned - and targeting a broader range of objectives. Such an operation would aim to deliver a decisive impact, signalling a significant escalation beyond the current tit-for-tat exchanges," Mr Haider says.

While drones have fundamentally reshaped the battlefield in Ukraine, their role in the India-Pakistan conflict remains more limited and symbolic, say experts. Both countries are using their manned air forces to fire missiles at one another as well.

"The drone warfare we're witnessing may not last long; it could be just the beginning of a larger conflict," says Mr Joshi.

"This could either signal a de-escalation or an escalation - both possibilities are on the table. We're at an inflection point; the direction we take from here is uncertain."

Clearly India is integrating drones into its precision-strike doctrine, enabling stand-off targeting without crossing borders with manned aircraft. However, this evolution also raises critical questions.

"Drones lower the political and operational threshold for action, providing options to surveil and strike while trying to reduce escalation risks," says Prof Matisek.

"But they also create new escalation dynamics: every drone shot down, every radar blinded, becomes a potential flashpoint in this tense environment between two nuclear powers."

Ofcom has launched investigations into two pornographic sites it believes may be falling foul of the UK's newly introduced child safety rules.

The regulator said two companies - including one running a so-called "nudifying" service - had failed to detail how they were preventing children from accessing their platforms.

Ofcom announced in January that, in order to comply with the Online Safety Act, all websites on which pornographic material could be found had to introduce "robust" age-checking techniques by July.

It said the two services it was investigating did not appear to have any effective means of checking the age of users.

Firms found to be in breach of the Act face huge fines.

The regulator said on Friday that many services had, as required, provided details of "highly effective age assurance methods" they were planning to implement.

• What the Online Safety Act is - and how to keep children safe online

They added that this "reassuringly" included some of the largest services that fall under the rules.

It said a small number of services had also blocked UK users entirely to prevent children accessing them, it said.

The two companies it is investigating did not respond to its request for information or show they had plans to introduce age checks.

The "nudifying" technology one of them features involves the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create the impression of having removed a person's clothing in an image or video.

The Children's Commissioner recently called on the government to introduce a total ban on such AI apps that could be used to create sexually explicit images of children.

What changes are porn sites having to make?

All websites where a user might encounter pornographic material are required to demonstrate the robustness of the measures they are taking to verify the age of users.

These could include requiring UK users to provide photo ID or running credit card checks.

These could even apply to some social media platforms, Ofcom told the BBC in January.

The rules are expected to change the way many UK adults will use or encounter some digital services, such as porn sites.

"As age checks start to roll out in the coming months, adults will start to notice a difference in how they access certain online services," said Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom's chief executive, in January.

In April, Discord said it would start testing face-scanning as a way to verify some users' ages in the UK and Australia.

Experts said it marked "the start of a bigger shift" for platforms as lawmakers worldwide look to impose strict internet safety rules.

Critics suggest such measures risk pushing young people to "darker corners" of the internet where there are smaller, less regulated sites hosting more violent or explicit material.

A plane aborted take-off on a Gatwick runway after its co-pilot muddled up his left and right hands, investigators have found.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said the error resulted in the aircraft's brakes catching fire.

The 28 June incident - involving a British Airways flight to Vancouver, Canada - led to a 50-minute runway closure and 23 cancelled departures at the West Sussex airport.

A British Airways spokesperson said: "Safety is always our highest priority and our pilots brought the aircraft to a safe stop."

Gatwick Airport has been contacted for comment.

A 13-person crew and 334 passengers were on board during the incident, according to the AAIB report.

Investigators said the co-pilot "unintentionally" moved a lever to his left when he was supposed to move a lever to his right instead.

This reduced the Boeing 777 aircraft's thrust at a time when the aircraft's commander called for the plane to start pulling up, they said.

According to the investigation's findings, the co-pilot "momentarily" sped up again before abandoning take-off.

The plane "stopped some distance before the end of the runway" but airport firefighting crews were called to put out a fire on the right-hand landing gear.

There were no reported injuries.

Co-pilot surprised by mistake

The AAIB said British Airways analysis of the event showed the morning was otherwise "unremarkable" and there were no obvious distractions or workload problems prior to the fire.

The co-pilot, who had over 6,100 hours of flying experience, "expressed surprise" over the mistake and "could not identify a reason for it", according to the report.

He last flew two weeks before the incident.

British Airways had issued a safety notice reminding pilots to "pause before execution and cognitively consider what the required action is" four days before the incident, the AAIB said.

The agency added that the airline had "included 'mis-selections' in a new 'safety topic' section of its pre-flight briefing material for crew" and was promoting focus during regular simulator training for pilots.

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An unseen version of the pilot episode of Thomas & Friends, the animated children's steam train series narrated by Beatles drummer Sir Ringo Starr, is to air for the first time.

The original episode, titled Down The Mine, will be shown to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the famous tank engine franchise.

The popular character began his adventures in a book published in 1945 which was later adapted into a TV show in 1984, running until 2021.

The 40-year-old recording of the unseen pilot - shot on 35mm film in 1983 - has been rediscovered and treated, and will be made available on YouTube at 18:00 BST on Friday.

'Timeless stories'

Sir Ringo can be heard narrating in the new footage alongside a bespoke musical arrangement by longtime series composer Mike O' Donnell.

Roberto Stanichi, from toy company Mattel, said Thomas - who first appeared on ITV before moving to Cartoon Network, Nick Jr, Channel 5 and now Netflix - had "brought joy to generations, sharing timeless stories and valuable life lessons".

"As we celebrate this momentous year, we're unveiling 40-year-old footage and newly uncovered stories from the vault for the first time ever, offering longtime fans and new audiences the chance to reconnect with the beloved adventures of Thomas & Friends in new and nostalgic ways," he said.

The franchise will also put original pieces from the brand's history up for auction, to mark the anniversary, including artwork and props from the stop-motion scenes that first aired in 1984.

Collectors and fans will have the chance to bid for items signed by celebrities who have voiced characters on the long-running series down the years, including English actors Olivia Colman, Eddie Redmayne and Hugh Bonneville.

The proceeds from the auction - which is open for registration now, with bidding to commence from the 12 May - will be donated to the National Autistic Society.

The world's first drone war between nuclear-armed neighbours has erupted in South Asia.

On Thursday, India accused Pakistan of launching waves of drones and missiles at three military bases in Indian territory and Indian-administered Kashmir - an allegation Islamabad swiftly denied.

Pakistan claimed it had shot down 25 Indian drones in recent hours. Delhi remained publicly silent. Experts say the tit-for-tat attacks mark a dangerous new phase in the decades-old rivalry, as both sides exchange not just artillery but unmanned weapons across a volatile border.

As Washington and other global powers urge restraint, the region is teetering on the edge of escalation, with drones - silent, remote and deniable - opening a new chapter in the India-Pakistan conflict.

"The Indo-Pak conflict is moving into a new drone era - one where 'invisible eyes' and unmanned precision may determine escalation or restraint. Thus, in South Asia's contested skies, the side that masters drone warfare won't just see the battlefield - they'll shape it," Jahara Matisek, a professor at the US Naval War College, told the BBC.

Since Wednesday morning, Pakistan says Indian air strikes and cross-border fire have killed 36 people and injured 57 more in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. On the other side, India's army reports at least 16 civilians dead from Pakistani shelling. India insists its missile barrage was retaliation for a deadly militant attack on Indian tourists in Pahalgam last month - an attack Islamabad denies any role in.

Pakistan's military announced on Thursday that it had shot down 25 Indian drones across various cities, including Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi. The drones - reportedly Israeli-made Harop drones - were reportedly intercepted using both technical and weapon-based countermeasures. India claimed to have neutralised several Pakistani air defence radars and systems, including one in Lahore, which Islamabad denied.

Laser-guided missiles and bombs, drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become pivotal in modern warfare, significantly enhancing the precision and efficiency of military operations. These can relay co-ordinates for airstrikes or, if equipped, directly laser-designate targets, and help immediate engagement.

Drones can be used as decoys or suppression of enemy air defences, flying into contested airspace to trigger enemy radar emissions, which can then be targeted by other munitions like loitering drones or anti-radiation missiles. "This is how Ukraine and Russia both do it in their war. This dual role - targeting and triggering - makes drones a force multiplier in degrading enemy air defences without risking manned aircraft," says Prof Matisek.

Experts say India's drone fleet is largely built around Israeli-made reconnaissance UAVs like the IAI Searcher and Heron, along with Harpy and Harop loitering munitions - drones that double as missiles, capable of autonomous reconnaissance and precision strikes. The Harop, in particular, signals a shift toward high-value, precision-targeted warfare, reflecting the growing importance of loitering munitions in modern conflict, experts say.

The Heron, say experts, is India's "high-altitude eyes in the sky" for both peacetime monitoring and combat operations. The IAI Searcher Mk II is designed for frontline operations, offering up to 18 hours of endurance, a range of 300km (186 miles), and a service ceiling of 7,000m (23,000ft).

While many believe India's combat drone numbers remain "modest", a recent $4bn deal to acquire 31 MQ-9B Predator drones - which can can fly for 40 hours and up to an altitude of 40,000ft - from the US marks a major leap in its strike capabilities.

India is also developing swarm drone tactics - deploying large numbers of smaller UAVs to overwhelm and saturate air defences, allowing higher-value assets to penetrate, say experts.

Pakistan's drone fleet is "extensive and diverse", comprising both indigenous and imported systems, Ejaz Haider, a Lahore-based defence analyst told the BBC.

He said the inventory includes "over a thousand drones", featuring models from China, Turkey and domestic manufacturers. Notable platforms include the Chinese CH-4, the Turkish Bayraktar Akinci, and Pakistan's own Burraq and Shahpar drones. Additionally, Pakistan has developed loitering munitions, enhancing its strike capabilities.

Mr Haider said the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has been actively integrating unmanned systems into its operations for nearly a decade. A key focus is the development of "loyal wingman" drones - unmanned aerial vehicles designed to operate in co-ordination with manned aircraft, he added.

Prof Matisek believes "Israel's technical assistance, supplying Harop and Heron drones, has been pivotal for India, while Pakistan's reliance on Turkish and Chinese platforms highlights an ongoing arms race".

While the recent drone exchanges between India and Pakistan mark a significant escalation in their rivalry, they differ markedly from the drone-centric warfare observed in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, experts say. There, drones become central to military operations, with both sides deploying thousands of UAVs for surveillance, targeting and direct attacks.

"Deploying drones [in the ongoing conflict] instead of fighter jets or heavy missiles represents a lower-level military option. Drones are less heavily armed than manned aircraft, so in one sense, this is a restrained move. However, if this is merely a prelude to a broader aerial campaign, the calculus changes entirely," Manoj Joshi, an Indian defence analyst, told the BBC.

"The [India-Pakistan] drone warfare we're witnessing may not last long; it could be just the beginning of a larger conflict."

Ejaz Haider believes the recent drone activity in Jammu "appears to be a tactical response to immediate provocations, not a full-scale retaliation [by Pakistan]".

"A true retaliatory strike against India would involve shock and awe. It would likely be more comprehensive, involving multiple platforms - both manned and unmanned - and targeting a broader range of objectives. Such an operation would aim to deliver a decisive impact, signalling a significant escalation beyond the current tit-for-tat exchanges," Mr Haider says.

While drones have fundamentally reshaped the battlefield in Ukraine, their role in the India-Pakistan conflict remains more limited and symbolic, say experts. Both countries are using their manned air forces to fire missiles at one another as well.

"The drone warfare we're witnessing may not last long; it could be just the beginning of a larger conflict," says Mr Joshi.

"This could either signal a de-escalation or an escalation - both possibilities are on the table. We're at an inflection point; the direction we take from here is uncertain."

Clearly India is integrating drones into its precision-strike doctrine, enabling stand-off targeting without crossing borders with manned aircraft. However, this evolution also raises critical questions.

"Drones lower the political and operational threshold for action, providing options to surveil and strike while trying to reduce escalation risks," says Prof Matisek.

"But they also create new escalation dynamics: every drone shot down, every radar blinded, becomes a potential flashpoint in this tense environment between two nuclear powers."