Pakistan downs five Indian fighter jets in retaliation for India's missile attack

Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, confirmed on Wednesday that 26 civilians were martyred and 46 others injured in overnight Indian airstrikes targeting multiple civilian areas across Pakistan.

Speaking during a briefing on Wednesday, the DG ISPR said that India carried out 24 airstrikes on six different locations inside Pakistani territory.

He said that 13 people were martyred in Bahawalpur’s Ahmedpur East area. The deceased included two three-year-old girls, seven women, and four men. In addition, 37 individuals were injured, including nine women and 28 men.

In a separate incident near Muzaffarabad, a strike on Bilal Mosque resulted in three fatalities, while two children — a girl and a boy — sustained injuries, he added.

Another attack occurred in Kotli, where the Abbas Mosque was targeted. Two teenagers, a 16-year-old girl and an 18-year-old boy, were martyred, the DG ISPR said.

He further said that Pakistan army downed five Indian fighter jets and one combat drone in response to unprovoked aggression and airspace violations.

According to the military spokesperson, the aircraft shot down included three Rafale jets, one MiG-29, one SU-series aircraft, and an Israeli-made Heron combat drone. The jets were downed in multiple locations, including Bhatinda, Jammu, Akhnoor, Srinagar, and Avantipur.

“The Pakistan Air Force engaged these aircraft only after they carried out attacks on Pakistani territory,” DG ISPR said. “Their aggression targeted the territorial integrity of Pakistan and endangered civilian lives,” he added.

The military spokesperson added that while Pakistani forces had the capability to strike more than ten aircraft, they chose to exercise restraint.

He further said that armed forces responded to Indian airstrikes in a “measured and defensive” manner, asserting that the response was carried out in self-defence and without violating Indian airspace.

In a press briefing, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated that India also targeted Nauseri Dam, part of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project. The military termed the move a “dangerous escalation” and warned of its implications.

“This is an unacceptable act,” DG ISPR said. “Targeting water infrastructure raises serious questions about compliance with international humanitarian law and war conventions.”

He also said the Indian strikes endangered civil aviation, with 57 international flights passing through Pakistani airspace at the time of the incident. “The presence of civilian aircraft highlights the recklessness of this operation,” he noted.

He added that Pakistani aircraft did not cross into Indian airspace, and no Indian aircraft were allowed into Pakistani territory.

“Pakistan has the right to respond to any act of aggression in a manner and time of its choosing,” Lt. Gen Chaudhry said, adding that the armed forces remain committed to defending the country’s sovereignty.

Earlier, security forces said that 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, security sources said.

The targeted Indian unit was the 12th Infantry Brigade, operating under the 9th Division of the Indian Army’s 15 Corps, the sources confirmed.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari denounced the Indian missile strikes, describing them as an unprovoked act of aggression and a clear breach of international law. He said the attacks reflected the true face of India’s fascist regime, which prioritises political ambitions over regional peace and international norms.

In his statement, President Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and assured that the armed forces are fully prepared to counter any further hostilities.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned India’s recent attacks on Pakistani territory, calling them cowardly strikes carried out by a "cunning enemy" at six different locations. He asserted that Pakistan reserves the right to respond decisively to the war imposed by India and confirmed that a strong and appropriate response is already underway.

Expressing solidarity with the armed forces, the Prime Minister stated that the entire nation stands united behind them. He added that both the public and the military are fully capable of confronting the enemy and will never allow hostile plans to succeed.

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.

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.

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 was 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,” DG ISPR said during a late-night press briefing on Wednesday.

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.