At least three people have been killed and 12 others injured following a missile strike by India into Pakistan, intensifying concerns of a potential full-scale conflict between the two nuclear powers.
India blitzed nine “terror” targets in a planned mission against Pakistan – which has shot down three Indian jets as it responds “forcefully”.
The Indian military announced it had initiated “Operation Sindoor,” targeting facilities they claim were used to plan and execute terrorist attacks against India.
According to Pakistani reports, missiles hit nine targets across three locations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and the eastern Punjab province shortly after midnight.
The military said that that at least three people had been killed, including a child at a mosque in Bahawalpur, and at least 12 more wounded.
India’s Ministry of Defence said the strikes were in retaliation to a “barbaric” mass shooting in Kashmir last month, when 26 people were killed by gunmen.
India blames Pakistan for the shooting – but the latter denies any involvement.
India also accused Pakistan of violating the ceasefire agreement, saying it has responded with “focused, measured and non-escalatory” action.
The Indian Army said: “Pakistan again violates the Ceasefire Agreement by firing Artillery in Bhimber Gali in Poonch- Rajauri area,” in a post on X.
Following the strikes, Pakistan’s Prime Minster, Shehbaz Sharif, said: “Pakistan has every right to respond forcefully to this act of war imposed by India, and a forceful response is being given.”
The military vowed to respond “at a time of [its] choosing” and slammed the attack as a “cowardly assault under the cover of night”.
President Donald Trump said he hopes the fighting between the two nations “ends very quickly”, and the US State Department said it was “closely monitoring developments”.
Power was blacked out in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir, according to witnesses.
Pakistan has closed its airspace for 48 hours and airlines diverted flights bound for the country.
Witnesses and one police officer at two sites on the frontier in Indian Kashmir said they heard loud explosions and intense artillery shelling as well as jets in the air.
Pakistan claimed to have shot down two Indian jets in Bahawalpur, according to state broadcaster PTV News.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was “very concerned” by the strikes, according to his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric.
British MP Stella Creasy said: “The world cannot stand by as this conflict escalates […] Restraint by all concerned must be sought and secured.”
Full statements from the two countries
INDIA’S Ministry of Defence issued the following statement shortly after the missile strikes were reported:
“India has launched #OperationSindoor, a precise and restrained response to the barbaric #PahalgamTerrorAttack that claimed 26 lives, including one Nepali citizen.
“Focused strikes were carried out on nine #terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, targeting the roots of cross-border terror planning.
“Importantly, no Pakistani military facilities were hit, reflecting India’s calibrated and non-escalatory approach.
“This operation underscores India’s resolve to hold perpetrators accountable while avoiding unnecessary provocation. A detailed briefing on the operation will follow later today.”
Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, released the following statement in response to the attacks:
“Pakistan has every right to respond forcefully to this act of war imposed by India, and a forceful response is being given.
“The entire nation stands with the Pakistani armed forces, and the morale and spirit of the entire Pakistani nation are high.
“The Pakistani nation and the Pakistani armed forces know how to deal with the enemy.
“We will never allow the enemy to succeed in their nefarious goals.”
Tensions between the two nuclear-armed rivals hit boiling point after 26 tourists were shot dead when gunmen opened fire at a beauty spot.
Pakistan’s defence minister previously warned that a row over the mass shooting in Kashmir could lead to an “all-out war” with India.
Khawaja Asif said his country would “respond in kind” to any attack by New Delhi and said the world should be “worried” about the prospect of a full-scale conflict.
He told Sky News: “We will measure our response to whatever is initiated by India. It would be a measured response”.
“If there is an all-out attack or something like that, then obviously there will be an all-out war.”
Asked whether the international community should be concerned, he replied: “Yes, I think so. The clash between two nuclear powers is always worrisome…
“If things get wrong, there could be a tragic outcome of this confrontation.”
But he also added: “I hope there is some reconciliation and some negotiation… some efforts to resolve this issue peacefully.”
India and Pakistan have cancelled visas for each other’s citizens as tensions flare up following a deadly militant attack in Kashmir.
The two South Asian nuclear powers have exchanged tit-for-tat measures after the horrific assault in which gunmen killed 26 people.
Most of the victims were Indian tourists visiting the mountainous region – which both counties claim and each partially controls.
India blamed Pakistan for April’s attack in Pahalgam and has downgraded diplomatic ties with its neighbour.
New Delhi also suspended a water-sharing treaty and closed a border crossing.
Why are India and Pakistan enemies?
Disputes between India and Pakistan over the region of Kashmir date back decades.
The Muslim-majority territory was fought over in the aftermath of both countries’ independence following the partition of India in 1947.
War between India and Pakistan would break out again in 1965 – which ended in a ceasefire.
Kashmir’s control remains divided to this day, and tensions frequently flare up over the region.
India also fought Pakistan wars in 1971 and 1999 – with the conflict in the 70s resulting the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan.
Both nations are nuclear armed powers.
