Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has confirmed that Indian forces conducted airstrikes on six locations inside Pakistan, targeting Kotli, Bahawalpur, Muzaffarabad, Bagh, and Muridke.
Speaking during a media briefing early Wednesday morning, he shared that eight civilians were martyred while 33 suffered injuries. Pakistan’s armed forces delivered a strong and coordinated response to Indian airstrikes, DG ISPR confirmed.
Pakistan has shot down five enemy aircraft in self-defence following India’s cowardly attack, according to security sources. The aircraft were downed while they were conducting strikes on Pakistani territory using Indian airspace, the sources added.
The downed aircraft include three Rafale jets, one MiG-29, and one Su-30, according to the security officials. In addition, the Pakistan Air Force has successfully shot down an Indian Heron drone, security officials confirmed.
Security sources further stated that Pakistan Army has destroyed India’s Gufdaar post along the Line of Control (LoC). Pakistani forces are successfully repelling Indian attacks along the LoC, forcing enemy troops to retreat, they added.
“It must be remembered that it was India that launched a cowardly attack on innocent Pakistani civilians under the cover of night,” the sources stated. They added that Pakistan is only defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of unprovoked hostility.
Meanwhile, Pakistani armed forces have also destroyed an Indian brigade headquarters in a retaliatory strike, according to security sources. Moreover, a missile strike by Pakistan Army has destroyed an enemy post in the Dadyal sector along the Line of Control (LoC), they added.
Furthermore, Pakistan destroyed an Indian Army infantry brigade headquarters in response to Indian aggression, according to sources. Footage of the destroyed Indian brigade headquarters has surfaced following the Pakistani strike, sources added.
The targeted Indian unit was the 12th Infantry Brigade, operating under the 9th Division of the Indian Army’s 15 Corps, the sources confirmed. Pakistan will hold India fully accountable for its aggression, the sources emphasised.
Security sources further stated that Pakistani forces have also shot down an Indian drone in Barnala, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). All PAF aircraft involved in the operations are reported to be safe.
Security officials stated that Pakistani forces are engaged in a “crushing response” to what they described as unprovoked Indian aggression, asserting that retaliatory measures are fully underway.
Meanwhile, AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq strongly condemned India’s overnight strikes, calling the action cowardly and consistent with past patterns. “As per its tradition, India carried out attacks under the cover of darkness on two locations in Azad Kashmir—Kotli and Muzaffarabad,” he stated.
He confirmed that a woman and a child were martyred in the Kotli attack. “God willing, we will give a strong and united response to Indian aggression in coordination with the Pakistan Armed Forces,” he vowed.
According to preliminary damage assessments, Indian airstrikes targeted only civilian areas, with no military installations hit. “So far, all confirmed damage points to civilian infrastructure. Innocent and unarmed Pakistanis were the sole targets,” the sources added.
Visual evidence from the affected areas reportedly confirmed that only non-combatants were struck. “The images clearly show that only innocent Pakistanis were targeted,” said the officials.
Security sources further stated that India carried out airstrikes under the cover of night at six different locations: Kotli, Ahmedpur East, Muzaffarabad, Bagh, and Muridke. “We will take revenge for every drop of innocent blood,” the sources vowed, asserting that retaliation was already underway.
The Indian Ministry of Defence has officially confirmed that it carried out airstrikes inside Pakistan. In a statement, the ministry claimed that Indian forces targeted nine separate locations across Pakistan. However, it did not provide specific details about the exact sites or the nature of the targets.
A red alert has been issued at New Islamabad International Airport, security sources added. Sources confirmed that all flight operations at the airport have been suspended, and Pakistani airspace in the region has been closed to commercial aircraft.
“Some time ago from now, the cowardly enemy India launched air strikes on Subhanullah mosque in Bahwalpur’s Ahmed East area, Kotli and Muzaffarabad at three places from the air,” Chaudhry said during a late-night press briefing.
He added that the Pakistan Air Force had scrambled jets in response to the attack. “All of our air force jets are airborne. This cowardly and shameful attack was carried out from within India’s airspace. They were never allowed to come and intrude into the space of Pakistan.”
Issuing a stern warning, the military spokesperson stated: “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 asked about possible casualties and infrastructure damage, DG Chaudhry noted that assessment efforts were ongoing and promised to share further details once confirmed.
Local sources further stated that a complete blackout occurred in Muzaffarabad following the explosions, raising concerns about the extent of damage and the ongoing security situation.
In light of recent developments, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had issued a stark warning, stating that a clash with India is now "inevitable" and could occur "at any moment." His remarks come amid growing fears of direct military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
The incident follows weeks of heightened tensions after a deadly attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which New Delhi has blamed on Pakistan—an accusation Islamabad strongly denies.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ