Islamabad: Pakistan tonight confirmed that missile strikes were fired by India at Kotli, Bahawalpur and Muzaffarabad after midnight, and vowed that it will respond “at a time and place of its choosing”.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry told Ary News, that India had launched air strikes on Subhanullah mosque in Bahwalpur’s Ahmed East area, Kotli and Muzaffarabad at three places from the air.
The strikes by India come amid heightened tensions between the two sides in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were gunned down by Pakistan-linked terrorists.
Chaudhry said: “All of our air force jets are airborne. This cowardly and shameful attack was carried out from within India’s airspace.”
He noted: “Let me say it unequivocally: Pakistan will respond to this at a time and place of its own choosing. This heinous provocation will not go unanswered.”
When questioned about potential casualties, DG ISPR said that damage assessments are ongoing and that he would provide more information at a later point.
“This temporary happiness that India has achieved with this cowardly attack will be replaced with enduring grief.”
Before the explosion in Bahawalpur, a bright light covered the sky. Sources said that the sound of an explosion was heard in Muzaffarabad, while the sound of an explosion was also heard in Bahawalpur.
According to sources, there is a complete blackout in Muzaffarabad.
On the other hand, according to aviation sources, the airspace was closed and all flights were canceled. A regular NOTAM was also issued, closing the airspace for 48 hours.
In a post on X, state broadcaster PTV News, quoting security sources, said Pakistan has begun its retaliatory action.
“In the cowardly attack, one innocent child has been martyred so far, while one woman and one man are seriously injured. India targeted innocent Pakistanis in a cowardly attack under the cover of night,” the statement said.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told ARY News that civilian areas were attacked.
“The attacks were carried out on civilian areas,” Asif claimed.
Asked about Pakistan’s decisions, Asif replied that Pakistan will retaliate.
“We will give a far greater response than their own strike,” the minister said. “Not only did they attack civilians but they did it from their own airspace.”
Multiple loud explosions were heard in Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir area close to the mountains around the city of Muzaffarabad after midnight, multiple witnesses said.
After the explosions, the city’s power was blacked out, the witnesses said.
The Indian government said: “A little while ago, the Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor and hit infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir from which terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed”.
“Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution,” it said in the statement.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the headquarters of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), where he was briefed on the country’s preparations for a “conventional threat”. Asif was also part of the visit.
Speaking in an interview on Geo News on the briefing in the ISI HQ, the Defence Minister reiterated that he had already said before that a clash with India was imminent.
“That is still imminent today and can happen anytime,” he said, adding that a confrontation could be “one of the choice” India could want to adopt but “we have developed a countermeasure for every choice, whether that is a surgical strike or ground attack or air attack or naval engagement.
“We are ready for them everywhere at all times.”
He said the “crux” of today’s briefing was that “every kind of incursion or attack is being expected from them.”
Asif added that the briefing also delved into Pakistan’s strategy for responding to any situation.
