India fired missiles throughout the border into Pakistani-administered territory in no less than 5 places early Wednesday native time, killing no less than 19 individuals and injuring 38 others, the Pakistani Military mentioned. India mentioned it was placing infrastructure utilized by militants.
The strikes got here amid hovering tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors over final month’s militant assault on vacationers within the Indian-administered portion of Kashmir. India has blamed Pakistan for backing the militant assault, which Islamabad has denied.
A spokesperson for the Pakistani Ministry of International Affairs mentioned in a press release that the strikes hit Muridke and Bahawalpur, and throughout the Line of Management in Kotli and Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. One in every of them struck a mosque within the metropolis of Bahawalpur in Punjab, the place a toddler was killed, and a girl and man have been injured, one official informed The Related Press.
“India’s act of aggression has resulted in martyrdom of civilians, including women and children,” the spokesperson mentioned. “This act of aggression has also caused grave threat to commercial air traffic.”
Zohaib Ahmed, a health care provider at a hospital, mentioned the loss of life toll from the Indian missile strike on the Subhan Mosque in Bahawalpur has jumped to 13, bringing the general loss of life toll from the Indian strikes throughout the nation to 19.
Six individuals have been killed within the Indian strikes and shelling in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, in response to safety officers. India mentioned it struck infrastructure utilized by militants linked to final month’s bloodbath of vacationers within the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir. A minimum of three civilians have been additionally killed in Indian-controlled Kashmir by Pakistani shelling, the Indian military mentioned in a press release.
In line with a press release from the Inter-Companies Public Relations division of the Pakistan Armed Forces, the missiles have been air-launched. Witnesses in Bahawalpur reported seeing a brilliant gentle within the sky moments earlier than a robust explosion.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed assaults on 5 places, labeling them an act of cowardice.
“Pakistan has the right to fully respond to the Indian-imposed military action, and a befitting response is being given,” Sharif mentioned. “The entire nation stands with the Pakistani armed forces.”
Safety pressure officers stand outdoors a broken constructing at a web site of a suspected Indian missile assault close to Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Could 7, 2025.
M.D. Mughal / AP
Residents in Muzaffarabad mentioned they heard a number of loud explosions after midnight, adopted by a whole energy blackout throughout the realm.
State-run Pakistan Tv Company, quoting safety officers, mentioned the nation’s air pressure shot down two Indian jets in retaliation however offered no extra particulars.
The Pakistani safety officers mentioned Pakistan had launched retaliatory strikes, with out offering any particulars. The officers spoke to The AP on the situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t approved to talk to the media on the file.
“This was a cowardly attack targeting innocent civilians under the cover of darkness,” Sharif informed the broadcaster.
Chatting with reporters within the Oval Workplace on Tuesday, President Trump referred to as the strikes “a shame.”
“We just heard about it just as we were walking in the doors of the Oval,” Mr. Trump mentioned. “I guess people knew something was going to happen based on a little bit of the past. They’ve been fighting for a long time. You know, they’ve been fighting for many many decades, and centuries actually, if you really think about it. No, I just hope it ends very quickly.”
India’s Protection Ministry mentioned in a press release Wednesday that no less than 9 websites have been focused “where terrorist attacks against India have been planned.”
“Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistan military facilities have been targeted,” the ministry mentioned, including that “India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution.”
“We are living up to the commitment that those responsible for this attack will be held accountable,” it added.
A spokesperson for the State Division mentioned it was conscious of the experiences however had “no assessment to offer at this time.”
“This remains an evolving situation, and we are closely monitoring developments,” the spokesperson mentioned.
Final week, Pakistan’s authorities claimed it had “credible intelligence” that India was planning to take army motion inside hours in retaliation for the April 22 terrorist assault.
Within the wake of the escalating disaster, each nations have expelled diplomats, suspended mutual airspace utilization, and halted a key water-sharing treaty.
Sami Yousafzai
contributed to this report.
Extra from CBS Information