Pakistan has shot down five Indian fighter jets, destroyed Indian brigade headquarters, a drone and several checkposts in retaliatory strikes after at least 26 people were martyred and 46 others injured in Indian strikes on Pakistani cities of Punjab and Azad Kashmir.
In his press conference on Wednesday, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed that all Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets are safe after engaging Indian jets.
The DG ISPR also added that among the destroyed Indian Air Force (IAF) jets are three French-made Rafales, one Su30MKI and one MIG-29 Fulcrum.
The Pakistan armed forces also destroyed multiple enemy posts in several sectors along the Line of Control (LoC). An intense exchange of fire is ongoing at the LoC with the Pakistan Army engaging Indian army positions.
India's attacks on Pakistani soil have resulted in the martyrdom of 26 innocent civilians, while 46 others have sustained injuries, according to the military's spokesperson.
The military escalation along the Line of Control comes after India launched strikes on multiple locations in Pakistan in the wee hours of Wednesday.
India says 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.
Quick recap
Ahmedpur East, Masjid Subhanullah — 13 martyred | two 3-year-old girls, seven women, four men. 37 injured | nine women, 28 men.
Muzaffarabad, Masjid Bilal — 3 martyred. One girl and one boy injured
Kotli, Masjid Abbas — 16-year-old girl, 18-year-old boy martyred. One mother and her child injured
Muridke, Masjid Ummul Qura — 3 men martyred. One injured
Sialkot — No damages reported
Shakargarh — No damages were reported, one dispensary damaged
US President Donald Trump termed rising tension between India and Pakistan a shame, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to officials in the nuclear-armed rivals.
"It's a shame, we just heard about it," Trump told reporters at the White House. "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."
China, meanwhile, has expressed regret over India’s military operation early this morning, voicing concern about the escalating situation between India and Pakistan.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was very concerned about Indian attacks in Pakistan, his spokesperson said while calling for maximum military restraint from both nuclear-armed Asian neighbours.
'Acted decisively in defence'
In a statement on X, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the "treacherous enemy" has launched a cowardly attack on multiple locations within Pakistan.
"This heinous act of aggression will not go unpunished. Pakistan reserves the absolute right to respond decisively to this unprovoked Indian attack — a resolute response is already underway."
"The entire nation stands united behind its armed forces, and our morale and resolve remain unshaken. Our thoughts and prayers are with the brave officers and soldiers of Pakistan."
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also confirmed that the PAF has shot down at least five Indian fighter jets in response to India’s recent cross-border aggression.
Speaking to Geo News, the defence minister said Pakistan had gained the upper hand in its retaliatory action, while responding to the Indian forces' strikes with strength and precision.
He stressed that the Pakistani armed forces acted decisively to defend the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has strongly condemned India’s air strikes, describing them as an "unprovoked and blatant act of aggression".
In a statement shared on social media, the minister said the IAF had targeted civilian areas using stand-off weapons while remaining within Indian airspace.
Pakistan notifies UNSC
Islamabad has informed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) 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 UNSC has also been told that Pakistan reserves the right to respond to the Indian strikes.
‘Pakistan reserves right to respond appropriately’
In a statement, the Foreign Office said in an unprovoked and blatant act of war, the Indian Air Force, while remaining within Indian airspace, has violated Pakistan’s sovereignty using standoff weapons, targeting civilian population across international border in Muridke and Bahawalpur, and across Line of Control in Kotli and Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
“India’s act of aggression has resulted in martyrdom of civilians, including women and children. This act of aggression has also caused grave threat to commercial air traffic,” FO Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said.
“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.”
In the wake of Pahalgam attack, the Indian leadership has once again used the bogey of terrorism to advance its sham narrative of victimhood, jeopardising regional peace and security, the FO said adding that India’s reckless action has brought the two nuclear-armed states closer to a major conflict.
“The situation continues to evolve. Pakistan reserves the right to respond appropriately at a time and place of its choosing, in accordance with the Article-51 of the UN Charter, and as enshrined in international law.”
It further said: “The government, armed forces and people of Pakistan stand united in the face of Indian aggression. They will always act with iron resolve to protect and preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan.”
The two nuclear-armed neighbours 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 Wagah-Attari border crossing among others.
Islamabad, in response, ordered the expulsion of Indian diplomats and military advisers, cancelling 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.
Pakistan has been warning that it had credible intelligence reports regarding military action by India in the next few days.
