NUCLEAR NEIGHBOURS ON THE BRINK: Pakistan downs three IAF jets & drone, destroys brigade HQ after India kills civilians in ‘act of war’

RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON: Responding to Indian missile strikes inside Pakistan, the Pakistan Air Force has shot down three enemy jets, while the Pak Army destroyed an Indian army brigade headquarters and a post across the Line of Control (LOC), said Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar.

Sky News and other British media reported one of the aircraft downed by the PAF was a Rafale. Geo News, quoting security sources, reported two Rafales were shot down. All Pakistani aircraft remained safe in the scramble.

Security sources said Pakistan’s armed forces are giving a “befitting reply” to the enemy from both land and air. All PAF aircraft remain safe, the sources confirmed.

Earlier, Indian forces launched attacks on Kotli, Ahmedpur Sharqia, Muzaffarabad, Bagh and Muridke, according to the Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations. The AFP reported the Indian government as saying said it had attacked nine sites, describing them as “precision strikes at terrorist camps”.

He told Geo News there are reports of two civilian deaths in Kotli, while in Ahmedpur Sharqia, a child was killed and 12 others were injured. A mosque was targeted in the area, and a nearby house was also hit during the attack. According to the DG ISPR, a child and their parents are feared to be trapped under the rubble of the collapsed house.

A mosque was also targeted in Kotli, while in Muzaffarabad, a missile landed on a road, causing damage in the surrounding area. DG ISPR said there are reports of at least two civilian deaths in Kotli. He said the attacks on mosques clearly demonstrate the approach of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindutva mindset.

Pakistan’s response is underway, the military spokesperson said, adding that the armed forces are retaliating from both the air and ground.

Sources told Geo News that the blood of innocent Pakistanis would be avenged at all costs, emphasising that so far only civilians and unarmed citizens have been targeted.

Images from the scene clearly show that only innocent and defenseless Pakistanis were targeted, the sources added.

They reiterated that the sacrifice of every innocent Pakistani will be avenged.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the “cunning enemy” carried out “cowardly attacks” on five places in Pakistan.

“Pakistan has the right to give a befitting response to the war imposed by India and a strong response is being given.”

The premier said that the entire stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Pakistani forces and the morale and spirit of the entire nation is high.

“The Pakistani nation and the forces know how to deal with the enemy very well.”

He maintained that the enemy would never be allowed to succeed in its evil objectives.

Asifa Bhutto, daughter of slain Benazir Bhutto, has also strongly condemned the cowardly attack by India, calling it a blatant violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty.

“Such acts of aggression will not go unanswered. Pakistan’s brave armed forces, including our valiant Air Force, are responding with resolve. Any misadventure will be met with full force. Pakistan stands united, “ PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto said in his immediate reaction on social media platform ‘X’. In a statement issued late night, the ministry of foreign affairs said that 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.

“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,” the ministry said.

It said, “In the wake of Pahalgam attack, the Indian leadership has once again used the bogey of terrorism to advance its sham narrative of victimhood, jeopardizing regional peace and security. India’s reckless action has brought the two nuclear-armed states closer to a major conflict.”

The ministry said the situation continues to evolve and 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.

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 statement concluded.

Since India has conceded of committing aggression and targeting civilians, Pakistan is approaching the United Nations to lodge serious protest about it. Islamabad is summoning Indian acting high commissioner in Pakistan to hand over demarch to her. Highly placed official sources told Jang late Tuesday evening that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was informed about the development, and he has discussed the officials concerned about the development. It has been decided to hold National Security Committee (NSC) meeting of the authorities concerned to take stock of the situation.

Interestingly India, in its statement, spoke of not targeting military targets and talked of against escalation.

Meanwhile, the Indian embassy told Reuters the India National Security Adviser Ajit Doval spoke with the US secretary of state after India’s strikes on Pakistan.

Meanwhile, flights are operating as normal at Karachi airport. According to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) sources, planes from Islamabad, Lahore, Sialkot, and other cities are continuing to land at Karachi without disruption.

In a statement issued from the United Nations, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was “very concerned” about Indian military strikes on Pakistan, his spokesperson said on Tuesday, hours after India said it hit nine sites in Pakistani territory.

“The Secretary-General is very concerned about the Indian military operations across the LoC and international border. He calls for maximum military restraint from both countries. The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan,” said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced the closure of all educational institutions across the province after India launched an overnight attack inside Pakistan.

In a statement, the chief minister said, “Defending every inch of Pakistan is a matter of faith for us.”

She said that the soil of Punjab is the custodian of heroes and martyrs, adding, “The innocent blood spilled on this land tonight is a debt on us.”

She also issued immediate emergency response orders to the provincial administration.

Expressing confidence in the nation’s resilience, she declared, “Victory, God willing, will be our destiny. Naara-e-Takbeer, Allah u Akbar. Pakistan Zindabad.”