Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded Pakistan’s armed forces for their swift military response to an Indian airstrike, declaring that the Pakistan Air Force turned a “dark night” into a “moonlit one” by retaliating against the attempted incursion, Express News reported.
Speaking during a session of the National Assembly, PM Shehbaz accused India of launching a cross-border attack under the cover of darkness, similar to what he described as previous “cowardly” efforts.
“The enemy state India once again tried to attack Pakistan in the dark of night,” the premier told lawmakers. “But the Pakistan Army responded fiercely, turning that dark night into a moonlit one.”
PM Shehbaz confirmed that Indian warplanes targeted areas in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, including near Sialkot, and said 80 Indian aircraft were involved. He claimed the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) responded immediately and shot down five Indian jets.
“Our eagles were on full alert,” he said. “As soon as Indian aircraft dropped payloads, our eagles swooped in and shot down five jets. Pakistan gained great honour.”
The PM said those who claimed we had fallen behind in conventional warfare must have come to their senses now. "We shot down five jets — it could have been ten — but our falcons acted with caution," said PM.
He also extended condolences to the families of civilians killed in the Indian airstrike, stating that women, children and men were among the martyrs. A prayer was held in Parliament for the souls of those killed.
PM revealed that the Indian strike followed terrorist attack in Pahalgam, in Indian Illegal Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), for which New Delhi blamed Pakistan within minutes.
“The FIR was registered within ten minutes, and Pakistan was bombarded with allegations,” he said. “We offered an international commission to investigate the Pahalgam incident.”
He also referred to an earlier terrorist hijacking of the Jaffer Express, asserting that undeniable evidence linked the attackers to India.
PM Shehbaz praised the military’s preparedness and saluted Air Chief Zaheer Babar on behalf of the nation. He mocked India’s pride in its French-made Rafale jets, stating that wars are not won with weapons alone.
“India bought Rafale jets and is proud of them,” PM Shehbaz said. “But the enemy is confronted with intelligence and bravery.”
Calling for political unity, the prime minister urged opposition leaders to sit down for talks, saying this was the only way to build a strong and united Pakistan. “I am ready to meet with my colleagues and sit in chambers,” he said. “This is the time to come together and end our differences.”
On Wednesday, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, confirmed that 26 civilians were martyred and 46 others injured in overnight Indian airstrikes targeting multiple civilian areas across Pakistan in what it called "Operation Sindoor".
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