After a long-drawn posture of bluster and theatrics over the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan's armed forces delivered a fitting blistering midnight riposte to the naked Indian aggression, striking military installations and shooting down at least three fighter jets, including two Rafale jets, deep inside enemy lines, security sources said in the early hours of Wednesday.
Pakistan's jaw-breaking response came moments after the coward enemy fired missiles from inside its territory on five cities, targeting mosques in Ahmedpur East in Bahawalpur district, Muzaffarabad, Kotli and Bagh in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), as well as Muridke in Punjab. The sources said three civilians embraced martyrdom during the strikesone child died in Ahmedpur East in Bahawalpur district, sources said. Another child and a woman were martyred in Kotli, AJK Prime Minister Anwarul Haq said.
The sources said that Pakistani forces were giving a befitting reply to the naked Indian aggression, while damage assessment was being carried out. "According to initial reports, Pakistan Air Force has shot down three enemy aircraft, and all the PAF planes are safe," a source said.
Pakistan Army also shot down an Indian drone in Barnala sector, the sources added.
"Our valiant forces are giving a befitting reply to the enemy at several places. They have destroyed an enemy brigade headquarters in retaliation, and an army missile strike blew up in an enemy post in Dadyal sector along the LoC [Line of Control]."
According to the sources, India launched a cowardly attack in the wee hours of Wednesday targeting civilians in Masjid Subhanullah in Ahmedpur East and another mosque in the AJK capital. Videos of the spots clearly showed that only innocent and unarmed Pakistanis were targeted.
Earlier, the military spokesperson, confirmed that India had conducted missile strikes. "The Indian aircraft from their airspace have hit cities of Bahawalpur, Kotli and Muzaffarabad," Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) told a private television channel. He added that the airborne fighter jets of the PAF did not let the Indian aircraft enter the Pakistani airspace.
The DG ISPR said that this cowardly and shameful attack would be met with a befitting reply and the choice of place and time for it will be at the discretion of Pakistan. The sources said that India had targeted innocent Pakistanis in a cowardly attack in the dark of night, adding that "the blood of innocent Pakistanis will be avenged at all costs".
Following the strikes, the authorities closed the Islamabad airspace for all commercial flights, diverting three incoming planes to Peshawar. An emergency has been imposed in Rawalpindi hospitals and doctors and paramedics have been alerted.
After the cowardly attack by the vile enemy India at five places in the dark of night, the airspace of New Islamabad International Airport was closed and three flights in the air were diverted to other airports including Peshawar.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a statement in the wake of India's attack, condemned the aggression, saying Pakistan reserves all rights to respond forcefully.
"The devious enemy has carried out cowardly attacks at five locations in Pakistan," he said, adding that a forceful response was being delivered.
"The entire nation stands with the Pakistan Armed Forces, and the morale and spirit of the Pakistani people are high," he said.
He added that the people of Pakistan and the armed forces know well how to deal with the enemy. "We will never allow the enemy to succeed in its nefarious designs."
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced closure of educational institutions in the province.
In a related development, a key meeting of the National Security Committee has been convened, according to Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.
The minister said PM Shehbaz has summoned a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) at 10 am today. High-level consultations on the national security situation will be held, with major decisions regarding national security expected.
"A crucial meeting has been called to thwart the enemy's designs," the minister added.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif delivered a clear warning from the headquarters of the country's premier spy agency that any Indian attempt to violate Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity would be get a decisive response.
Shehbaz visited the headquarters of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in Islamabad along with senior cabinet members amid ongoing tensions with India.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, and the Services Chiefs in a carefully crafted move to convey a loud message to India that Pakistan was ready to deter any misadventure from across the border.
A statement issued by the Prime Minister Office said, at the ISI head office, a detailed briefing was given to participants on the prevailing security environment, with a particular focus on preparedness for conventional threat in the light of India's increasingly aggressive and provocative posture along Pakistan's Eastern border.
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