India carried out missile strikes on multiple locations inside Pakistan on Wednesday morning, resulting in the deaths of at least eight people, including a child. Pakistan’s leadership has denounced the assault, calling it an act of war.
According to the Indian government, the operation—dubbed “Sindoor”—targeted infrastructure allegedly used by militant groups connected to last month’s deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam, located in Indian-administered Kashmir.
The Indian army stated that three civilians were killed on its side of the Line of Control due to shelling by Pakistani forces. Tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations have sharply increased following the Pahalgam attack, which left 26 dead. India has blamed Pakistan-based groups for the violence, though Islamabad has rejected any involvement.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Indian missile strikes, describing them as cowardly attacks by “a treacherous adversary.” He further declared: “Pakistan has every right to give a robust response to this act of war imposed by India, and a strong response is indeed being given.”
Sharif has convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee to assess the situation and prepare a response.
The United Nations expressed deep concern over the hostilities. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric relayed a message from Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urging both nations to avoid further military escalation.
“The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan,” the statement said.
Missiles struck six locations across Pakistan-administered Kashmir and eastern Punjab province. According to Pakistan’s military, the strikes resulted in eight fatalities and over three dozen injuries. Among the sites hit was a mosque in Bahawalpur, where a child was killed. Other areas near Muridke and Kotli were also targeted.
Hospitals in Pakistan-administered Kashmir have been placed on emergency footing, and schools and seminaries in both Kashmir and Punjab have been shut down amid ongoing tensions.
India’s Defence Ministry said nine targets were hit, focusing on locations allegedly involved in planning attacks against Indian civilians and military assets.
“Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistan military facilities have been targeted,” the ministry stated, adding that “India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution.”
The Indian army also reported that three civilians were killed by Pakistani cross-border fire involving both gunfire and artillery. The army said it was responding proportionally and avoiding escalation.
In a separate development, a military aircraft crashed into a school building near the main city in Indian-administered Kashmir following the strikes, according to local authorities.
Pakistan’s state broadcaster cited security officials claiming the country’s air force had downed five Indian aircraft in retaliation, though no further details were provided. India has not commented on this claim. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said the attacks originated from Indian airspace.
