The Pakistan military claims it shot down five Indian fighter jets, and damaged two army outposts in retaliatory strikes against the killing of at least eight Pakistanis by Indian air force.
Overnight on Wednesday, India launched missiles at several locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administred Kashmir, the government said, and Pakistan promised to respond to the attacks.
Pakistan’s military said a hydropower plant on its side of the Kashmir border was damaged in early morning strikes by India on Wednesday.
Several explosions were heard in the city of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, the Reuters news agency reported on Tuesday. The missiles were fired from Indian territory and Indian forces did not violate Pakistani airspace, Pak officials said.
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated sharply between the two nuclear-powered neighbouring South Asian nations following the attack.
Pakistan confirmed the attacks and vowed military retaliation, reporting at least three civilian casualties.
In a statement issued by India’s Press Information Bureau at 1:44am IST, the operation, codenamed Operation Sindoor, was said to target nine sites used to plan and direct attacks against India.
The statement claimed the action was in response to the recent deadly assault in Pahalgam, Kashmir, that left 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen dead. Indian authorities stressed that the strikes were “focused, measured and non-escalatory,” and that no Pakistani military facilities were hit.
Source: PIB Delhi
Pakistan, however, offered a sharply contrasting version. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry called the strikes “cowardly” and confirmed that three civilians were killed and 12 injured in air strikes targeting Kotli, Bahawalpur, Muridke, Bagh, and Muzaffarabad.
Speaking on ARY News shortly after 1am Pakistan time, he said the Indian airstrikes hit sites including a mosque in Bahawalpur. He asserted that all Pakistani air force jets were airborne and that “retaliation was already under way.”
“This heinous provocation will not go unanswered,” Chaudhry said, warning that Pakistan would respond “at a time and place of its own choosing.”
The developments follow heightened hostilities after the Pahalgam incident, which India attributes to groups operating from across the border.
10, including Jaish-e-Mohammed Chief Masood Azhar’s sister, other family members, killed in India’s targeted strikes
Those killed in Indian missile strikes in Operation Sindoor included JeM Chief Masood Azhar’s elder sister and her husband, a nephew and his wife, The Economic Times reports quoting PTI.
Airlines cancel, reroute flights after India-Pakistan clashes
Clashes between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan on Wednesday sent airlines scrambling to cancel, divert or reroute flights.
The neighbours and longtime rivals exchanged heavy artillery fire along their contested frontier after India launched missile strikes in retaliation for a deadly attack last month.
Here is a round-up of what airlines are doing to avoid flying over the conflict zone.
– South Korea –
Korean Air has begun rerouting its flights from Seoul Incheon to Dubai, using a southern route that passes over Myanmar, Bangladesh and India, instead of the previous path through Pakistani airspace.
“We are currently monitoring the situation for further changes,” a Korean Air official told AFP.
– Taiwan –
Taiwan’s China Airlines said several flights have been diverted or cancelled.
“China Airlines continues to monitor the situation and will adjust flight schedules as needed,” it said.
Iran voices ‘deep concern’ over India-Pakistan clashes
Iran voiced “deep concern” Wednesday after India and Pakistan exchanged heavy fire in the worst violence between the nuclear-armed neighbours in two decades, reports AFP.
Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei “expressed deep concern over the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan” and called on both sides to “exercise restraint”. Iran, which borders Pakistan and maintains good relations with India, had offered to mediate last month.
26 killed in Pakistan, 12 in India
Pakistan said that 26 people have been killed and 46 injured in Indian air strikes and firing along the Line of Control, reports BBC.
India launched missile strikes on nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir early Wednesday.
Pakistan says six locations were attacked and claims to have shot down five Indian fighter jets.
Meanwhile, India’s army said at least 12 civilians were killed by Pakistani shelling on its side of the de facto border.
Dozens killed as India, Pakistan clash in worst violence in decades
India and Pakistan exchanged heavy artillery fire along their contested frontier on Wednesday after New Delhi launched deadly missile strikes on its arch-rival, in the worst violence between the nuclear-armed neighbours in two decades.
At least 34 deaths were reported, with Islamabad saying 26 civilians were killed by the Indian strikes and firing along the border, and New Delhi adding at least eight dead from Pakistani shelling.
Pakistan ensured neither side violates other’s airspace: ISPR
General Ahmed Chaudhry, the chief of Pakistan military press wing, on Wednesday clarified that no Indian aircraft was allowed to enter Pakistan’s airspace and none of Pakistan’s jets went into the rival country’s airspace.
“At no time, any of their aircraft were allowed to enter into Pakistan’s airspace and also at no time, none of Pakistan’s aircraft went into Indian airspace,” he told a media briefing.
Stating that the Pakistan Army responded fully to the Indian aggression and destroyed “several” Indian checkposts and showed footage of a brigade headquarters from where he said India was violating the LoC ceasefire.
Other checkposts hit included Chhatri, Jura and Sarlia-1, as well as a unit battalion headquarters.
UK says ready to help ‘de-escalation’ in India, Pakistan clashes
The UK is ready to support both India and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions, Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said on Wednesday, following the worst violence between the nuclear-armed arch-foes in two decades.
“Our message would be that we are a friend, a partner to both countries. We stand ready to support both countries. Both have a huge interest in regional stability, in dialogue, in de-escalation and anything we can do to support that, we are here and willing to do,” he told BBC radio.
France urges ‘restraint’ in India, Pakistan clashes
France on Wednesday called on India and Pakistan to show restraint as the worst violence in two decades flared between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, reports AFP.
“We understand India’s desire to protect itself against the scourge of terrorism, but we obviously call on both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint to avoid escalation and, of course, to protect civilians,” Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, said in an interview on TF1 television.
Pak PM set to address nation
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif started an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee in the capital Islamabad on Wednesday, his office announced.
The meeting was due to be followed by an address to the nation, his office added.
India strikes hydropower plant
Pakistan’s military said a hydropower plant on its side of the Kashmir border was damaged in early morning strikes by India on Wednesday.
“India also targeted Neelum Jhelum Hydropower project,” said military spokesman Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, adding that it damaged part of the dam’s structure.
“What international norms and war laws and customs allow this — that you target water reserves, dams and hydro power structures of another country?”
Pakistan military says death toll from India strikes rises to 26
The death toll from Indian missile strikes in Pakistan and firing along the border on Wednesday has risen to 26, the military said.
“Until now 26 innocent civilians have been martyred in attacks,” said military spokesman Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry.
IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet cancel multiple flights; Srinagar, other airports closed
Domestic airlines have cancelled multiple flights from various cities due to the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
Srinagar, Leh, Dhramshala, Amritsar airports have also been closed.
The Indian Air Force carried out an airstrike in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir in retaliation to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam where terrorists opened fire on civilians, mostly holidayers, at the Baisaran meadow, killing at least 26 people.
Delhi Airport also issued a statement that multiple flights have been impacted.
India hoists white flag in face of Pak retaliation: Pak media
Multiple Pakistania media outlets have reported that the Indian army has raised a white flag at a key military outpost along the border, signalling India’s surrender in the face of strong counterattacks by Islamabad’s forces.
Pakistan information minister Atatullah Tatar has confirmed the development. Though details are still emerging, Pakistan media claims, unlike the Indian ones, have rarely proved unreliable during the latest tensions.
“In a dramatic turn of events, the Indian Army raised a white flag at the Chora Complex along the Line of Control, signaling a clear admission of defeat. This move came after Pakistan’s military launched a powerful counterattack in response to India’s late-night aggression. The Pakistani response was swift and decisive, causing major losses to Indian forces,” reports Geo TV, Daily Times, and Samaa-News, among others.
According to security sources, Pakistan’s armed forces destroyed several Indian check-posts, downed five fighter jets, and targeted the Indian brigade headquarters. The impact of the strikes left Indian troops in disarray, forcing them to surrender and request a halt to the intense fighting. This retreat has been viewed as a humiliating setback for India.
11 civilians killed, 38 injured in tit-for-tat exchanges
In total, 11 civilians have been killed and 38 injured from both sides after India launched overnight strikes on Pakistan border areas on Wednesday.
Among the deceased, eight, including two minors, are from Pakistan, while three are from India-occupied Kashmir (IOK). Among the injured, 35 are from Pakistan and the rest from IOK.
In Pakistan, two people have also stayed missing following Indian strikes, the country’s military spokesperson has said.
Pakistani deaths and injuries result from Indian missile strikes fired from inside Indian territory. The casualties in India were reported after the Pakistan army launched artillery shelling along the Kashmir border.
US Senator calls for restraint, diplomacy
US Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a top member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, says she is “gravely concerned” by the “military escalation between India and Pakistan.”
“I implore the two governments to exercise restraint and prioritise diplomatic engagement,” she said.
The latest developments follow “the senseless terrorist attacks targeting innocent Indian civilians on April 22,” Shaheen added, calling for the perpetrators of those “heinous” attacks to be “brought to justice as soon as possible.”
What is ‘Operation Sindoor’?
Operation Sindoor is the military codename for what India described as a “precision strike” on Pakistan, and carried out in what New Delhi said was response to the April 22 attack on Indian tourists by suspected rebels in Indian-administered Kashmir.
• Indian forces said they struck “terrorist infrastructure” at nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistani-administered Kashmir as part of Operation Sindoor.
• Indian media said the strikes specifically targeted the Islamist militant groups Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, which are both based in Kashmir and want the region to merge with Pakistan.
• India’s military separately said “no Pakistan military facilities have been targeted” while it had “demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution” during the strike.
• The India Today news site said the name of the mission sent a “message” to Pakistan. Sindoor, is the word for vermillion, which is a mark of a married Hindu women, and is a reference to the April 22 Pahalgam attack “in which men, including those newly married, were singled out on the basis of their religion and killed by terrorists”, India Today reports.
Iran FM due to arrive in India today
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi is due to arrive in Delhi later on Wednesday. He is scheduled to meet President Droupadi Murmu and Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, the Indian foreign ministry said.
Araghchi was earlier this week in Islamabad where he held talks with Pakistani army chief Gen Syed Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The two sides discussed bilateral relations, border co-operation and enhancing security along their shared borders, according to the statement released by Tehran.
Iran has offered to mediate between India and Pakistan as tensions between the two neighbours escalate.
Rubio urges India-Pakistan talks to ‘defuse’ situation: White House
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spoken with his counterparts from India and Pakistan, encouraging both sides to engage in discussions to settle an escalating military confrontation, the White House said Tuesday.
“He is encouraging India and Pakistan to re-open a channel between their leadership to defuse the situation and prevent further escalation,” said US National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes in a statement, after India carried out air strikes on Pakistani soil.
US secretary of state holds talks with Indian, Pakistani security officials
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spoken with the national security advisors of India and Pakistan, urging the two sides to “keep lines of communication open and avoid escalation,” the US Department of State has said.
The statement made on X comes after Rubio earlier said he was monitoring the situation closely and engaging with both sides “towards a peaceful resolution.”
‘It’s a shame’: Trump reacts to Indian aggression
Asked about the Indian strikes, US President Donald Trump replies: “It’s a shame.”
Speaking at the White House in Washington DC, he says that “we just heard about it just as we were walking in the doors of the Oval [Office]”.
“I just hope it ends very quickly,” Trump adds.
3 dead in Indian-administered Kashmir: Indian army source
Reuters and the AFP news agency are reporting that India’s army sources have said three Indian civilians have been killed in military action by Pakistani troops in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Eight killed including 3-yr old child in Pakistan
Addressing a press conference at 4:08am, DG Chaudhry provided the updated damage assessment and said: “A total of 24 impacts have been reported by India, with different weapons, in six localities. In these six localities, eight Pakistanis have been slain, 35 have been injured and two are missing, based on our damage assessment.”
“In [Bahwalpur’s] Ahmedpur East, Subhan mosque was targeted,” he added. “Here, there were four strikes and five innocent Pakistanis were slain, including a three-year-old girl. Thirty-one civilians have been injured, including 25 men and six women.”
He said one mosque was destroyed, while four quarters in which people were living were also destroyed.
“In Muzaffarabad, Bilal mosque was targeted. There were seven impacts, in which one girl has been injured and a mosque was destroyed,” the DG ISPR said.
“In Kotli, Abbat mosque was targeted. There were five impacts and two people died, including a 16-year-old girl and an 18-year-old boy. A woman and her daughter are both injured,” DG Chaudhry added.
Pakistan downs 5 Indian jets in retaliation: ISPR
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shot down five Indian fighter jets and one drone in response to the overnight airstrikes carried out by India in Pakistan border areas, state broadcaster PTV News reported early Wednesday, citing security sources.
“Pakistani forces are giving a befitting reply to Indian aggression,” a military statement said, adding that all PAF aircraft involved in the operation had returned safely.
Eyewitnesses in Rawalpindi, a major city in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province, reported seeing a missile in the air, which was believed to have been launched from within Pakistani territory.
Source: Geo TV
US says it’s in touch with both Pakistan and India
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce has called on both countries to “work towards a responsible resolution that maintains long-term peace and regional stability in South Asia”.
“We remain in touch with the governments of both countries at multiple levels,” she said.
The United States has close relations with India and voiced solidarity after April’s attack. Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week called top officials from both nuclear-armed nations and advised de-escalation.
Source: Al Jazeera
UN chief calls for ‘maximum military restraint from both countries’
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, has released the following statement:
“The secretary-general is very concerned about the Indian military operations across the Line of Control and international border.
“He calls for maximum military restraint from both countries. The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan.”
Pakistan will defend its sovereignty ‘by all means’: Foreign minister
Ishaq Dar has denounced India’s attacks as a “flagrant violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty”.
“It has jeopardized regional peace,” the foreign minister wrote on X, adding that the country would defend its “sovereignty & territorial integrity by all means”.
“Pakistan strongly condemns India’s aggression, which is flagrant violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty, the UN Charter & international law. It has jeopardized regional peace. Pakistan reserves the right to respond as per Article 51 of the UN Charter. We will protect our…
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