At least 26 people have been killed after India launched missile strikes in areas controlled by Pakistan early Wednesday morning. The Pakistani leadership has described the attack as an “act of war.”
India claimed its targets were militant infrastructure used in last month’s terror attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir, which killed 26 Hindu tourists.
Pakistan responded by shooting down several Indian fighter jets, with two reportedly crashing in Indian-controlled villages in Kashmir. Indian officials reported seven civilian deaths from Pakistan’s retaliation.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the airstrikes, stating:
“Pakistan has every right to respond forcefully to this act of war imposed by India, and we are doing so.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. President Donald Trump expressed concern, saying he hopes the clashes end quickly.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged maximum restraint from both sides, warning:
“The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio contacted both nations’ top security advisors to encourage dialogue and prevent further escalation.
Analysts have urged caution, criticizing both countries for acting without credible evidence regarding last month’s attack.
One of the Indian missiles reportedly struck Subhan Mosque in Bahawalpur, killing 13, including a child. The site is near a former base of the banned militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed. Another mosque in Muridke was also hit, near an old Lashkar-e-Taiba compound.
India emphasized that its strikes were “targeted, restrained, and non-escalatory,” claiming it avoided Pakistani military installations.
