Indian shelling leaves 13 civilians martyred, more than 50 injured in AJK
Photo: Reuters
The region’s disaster management authority confirmed that Indian shelling had resulted in at least 13 civilians being martyred in Azad Jammu and Kashmir(AJK) during the past 12-hour span leading up to Saturday noon, Reuters reported.
Over 50 people were also injured during the exchanges, with emergency teams deployed to assist the affected population, offcials said.
The Indian attack as two nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours tand pon the brink of war, following New Delhi's missile and drone strikes on Pakistan since May 7.
The flared up tensions have raised international concern with global leaders reaching out to Pakistan’s leadership to help defuse the rising tensions.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has initiated retaliatory action in response to the ongoing Indian aggression in the wee hours of Saturday, according to security sources. The operation has been officially named Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos
As part of the operation, all bases identified as launch points for attacks on Pakistani civilians and mosques are being specifically targeted.
Multiple strategic targets are being engaged simultaneously as the operation progresses, security sources confirmed.
They stated that Pakistan launched its Al-Fatah missile as part of the ongoing retaliatory operation, naming it in honour of the Pakistani children who lost their lives in recent Indian aggression.
They added that Pakistan has neither forgotten nor will ever forget the sacrifice of these innocent children, who were martyred during cross-border attacks by Indian forces earlier this week.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has stated that no meeting of the National Command Authority (NCA) has taken place, nor is one planned.
“There has been no meeting of the National Command Authority, nor is any such meeting scheduled,” Asif told ARY News,
Earlier today in a press conference held in New Delhi, Indian Air Force Wing Commander Vyomika Singh stated that India remained committed to de-escalation, but only if Pakistan took reciprocal steps.
The briefing was held alongside Indian Army Colonel Sophia Qureshi and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. Colonel Qureshi confirmed that Pakistan’s strikes had caused damage to equipment and injuries to personnel at five airbases — Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur, Bhuj, and Bathinda — after targeting more than 26 sites.
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated sharply following the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, located in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which left 26 people dead. India blamed Pakistan-based elements for the attack without presenting evidence. Islamabad categorically rejected the accusations.
In response, India closed the Wagah land border, revoked Pakistani visas, and announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty on April 23. Pakistan labelled any disruption to the treaty as an “act of war” and subsequently sealed the Wagah crossing on its side.
The situation further deteriorated on May 6 and 7, with explosions reported in several Pakistani cities including Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Muridke, and Bahawalpur. Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, confirmed that Indian airstrikes had targeted multiple locations. Pakistan responded with air and ground operations under a new military campaign named Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos.
Within the first hour of retaliation, Pakistan claimed to have downed five Indian fighter jets, including four Rafale aircraft. Lt Gen Chaudhry stated that Pakistan had the capability to down more but exercised restraint. Indian media provided limited coverage, with one report by The Hindu later retracted.
International observers, including analysts on CNN, noted the downing of Rafale jets has challenged India’s narrative of regional air superiority. A senior French intelligence official also confirmed the loss of one Rafale aircraft to CNN—the first combat loss for the jet.
In addition, Pakistan’s armed forces reported intercepting and neutralising 77 Israeli-made Harop drones allegedly launched by India. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the drones were brought down using a mix of electronic warfare and conventional air defence systems.