In a significant escalation of tensions, Pakistan’s armed forces retaliated on Wednesday after Indian missile strikes killed at least 26 civilians and injured 46 others in various parts of Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
The Pakistani military responded by shooting down five Indian Air Force (IAF) jets and a combat drone. Additionally, Pakistan destroyed an Indian brigade headquarters and several checkposts along the Line of Control (LoC).
Details of the Indian Attacks
India launched missile strikes on multiple locations in Pakistan, including Ahmedpur East, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, and Muridke. In Ahmedpur East, 13 civilians were killed, including two 3-year-old girls, seven women, and four men. Thirty-seven others were injured. In Muzaffarabad, three people were killed, and two children were injured. Kotli saw the deaths of a 16-year-old girl and an 18-year-old boy, with a mother and her child injured. In Muridke, three men were killed, and one person was injured.
Pakistan’s Retaliation
In response to the Indian strikes, Pakistan’s military launched retaliatory attacks, shooting down five Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, one Su-30MKI, and one MiG-29. A combat drone was also downed. The Pakistani forces destroyed multiple enemy posts and an Indian brigade headquarters along the LoC.
International Reactions
The United States expressed concern over the escalating situation. President Donald Trump termed the rising tension between India and Pakistan a shame, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to officials in both countries, urging them to avoid escalation and keep lines of communication open.
China also expressed regret over India’s military operation and voiced concern about the escalating situation between the two nations. The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for maximum military restraint from both nuclear-armed neighbors.
Pakistan’s Official Stance
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Indian attacks, stating that the “treacherous enemy” had launched a cowardly attack on multiple locations within Pakistan. He emphasized that this act of aggression would not go unpunished and that Pakistan reserves the absolute right to respond decisively to the unprovoked Indian attack.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that the Pakistan Air Force had shot down at least five Indian fighter jets in response to India’s recent cross-border aggression. He stated that Pakistan had gained the upper hand in its retaliatory action, responding to the Indian forces’ strikes with strength and precision.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar strongly condemned India’s air strikes, describing them as an “unprovoked and blatant act of aggression.” He noted that the IAF had targeted civilian areas using stand-off weapons while remaining within Indian airspace.
Communication with the United Nations
Islamabad has informed the United Nations Security Council about the evolving situation between Pakistan and India, following the overnight military escalations across the border. In its communication to the UN, Pakistan raised serious concerns over what it described as India’s unprovoked aggression, which has further heightened tensions in the region. The Security Council has also been told that Pakistan reserves the right to respond to the Indian strikes.
Foreign Office Statement
The Foreign Office stated that in an unprovoked and blatant act of war, the Indian Air Force, while remaining within Indian airspace, violated Pakistan’s sovereignty using standoff weapons, targeting civilian populations across the international border in Muridke and Bahawalpur, and across the Line of Control in Kotli and Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
“India’s act of aggression has resulted in the martyrdom of civilians, including women and children. This act of aggression has also caused a grave threat to commercial air traffic,” said FO Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan.
He added, “We strongly condemn India’s cowardly action, which is a flagrant violation of the UN Charter, international law, and established norms of inter-state relations.”
Read: Trump Reacts to Indian Strikes, Calls It ‘A Shame’ — Karachi on High Alert Amid Airstrike Threat
Airspace Restoration
The Pakistan Airports Authority has restored the airspace for Lahore and Karachi, according to a newly issued NOTAM (Notice to Airmen). The authority stated that the airspace had been suspended for eight hours during operational restrictions. However, the affected air routes are now fully available for flight operations following the lifting of the overnight suspension. The NOTAM further advised passengers to remain in contact with their respective airlines in view of the regional situation.
Background of the Escalation
The military escalation along the LoC comes after India launched strikes on multiple locations in Pakistan in the early hours of Wednesday. India claimed it took the measures in response to the killing of more than two dozen tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, for which India blames Pakistan—a claim that Islamabad has vehemently denied.
The two nuclear-armed neighbors are experiencing a period of heightened tensions since the April 22 attack on tourists in the scenic resort town, in which at least 26 people were killed. New Delhi linked Islamabad to the attack without offering any evidence and took a flurry of punitive measures to downgrade ties, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, revoking visas of Pakistanis, and closing the Wagah-Attari border crossing, among others.
Islamabad, in response, ordered the expulsion of Indian diplomats and military advisers, canceling visas for Indian nationals, with the exception of Sikh pilgrims, and closing the main border crossing from its side. Pakistan also denies its involvement in the attack and offered to take part in a credible and transparent investigation.
Current Situation
An intense exchange of fire is ongoing along the de facto border, with the Pakistan Army engaging Indian troops’ positions. The situation remains volatile, with both nations on high alert. The international community continues to urge both sides to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue to prevent further escalation.
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