ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Early Wednesday morning, missile strikes launched from India struck multiple locations within Pakistani-controlled territory, resulting in the deaths of at least eight individuals, including a young child, according to officials in Pakistan. Indian authorities stated that the targets were chosen for their connections to militant operations.
Reports indicate that three civilians also lost their lives due to artillery shelling by Pakistani forces in Indian-administered Kashmir, as acknowledged by the Indian military. Tensions have risen significantly between the two nuclear-armed nations following a recent attack on tourists in the Indian portion of Kashmir, which India attributed to militant groups allegedly supported by Pakistan—a claim Islamabad vehemently denies.
In response to the assaults, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the airstrikes, labeling them as “cowardly attacks” and asserting that Pakistan has the right to retaliate. He stated that the nation and its military forces are prepared to handle the situation robustly. An emergency meeting of the National Security Committee was convened for Wednesday to discuss further actions.
Missiles reportedly targeted regions within Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Punjab province, with one strike devastating a mosque in Bahawalpur, where the child was killed. Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif, reported that the attacks spread across six separate locations, resulting in significant casualties and injuries.
State-run television in Pakistan claimed that the country’s air force intercepted five Indian jets during the confrontation, though no details regarding the incidents were forthcoming from Indian sources. India confirmed it had launched the strikes from its own airspace, targeting what it identified as centers of terrorist planning and operations.
The Indian Defense Ministry stressed that its military actions were focused and measured, aimed at specific militant bases and not directed at Pakistani military facilities. It underscored a commitment to accountability for those behind recent assaults against Indian targets.
Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry asserted that the strikes posed a severe threat to civilian air traffic, raising the alarm about the escalating situation between the two countries. The ministry characterized the action as inflammatory, warning that it could lead to a significant outbreak of conflict.
United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric expressed deep concern regarding the military actions and called for restraint from both parties, emphasizing the global implications of a potential military escalation in the region.
In the aftermath of the missile strikes, residents in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir, reported chaos and destruction. Local resident Abdul Sammad described horrifying explosions that left many injured, prompting widespread panic as people fled to safety. The subsequent power outages and the sound of sirens added to the tense atmosphere.
In response to the escalating violence, authorities in the region declared a state of emergency in local hospitals and closed schools in both Kashmir and Punjab province as a precaution. Ongoing exchanges of fire along the Line of Control, which divides the disputed region, highlighted continued hostilities as both armies engaged in heavy artillery duels.
Experts have warned that these missile strikes represent one of the highest levels of military aggression from India in years. Michael Kugelman, a South Asia analyst, noted that both nations possess powerful conventional military forces, capable of significant escalation even within the deterrent framework of their nuclear capabilities. The risk of confrontation remains substantial, raising urgent concerns among international observers.