Pakistan Confirms Indian Airstrikes On Its Territory; Vows Retaliation As Tensions Escalate
Pakistan army on Wednesday confirmed that Indian missile attacks hit three areas within its border — Muzaffarabad, Kotli, and Ahmed East in Bahawalpur. The incident represents a sharp escalation of regional tensions after the recent Pahalgam terror attack in India.
Speaking at a late-night media briefing, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated, “Some time ago, the cowardly enemy India launched air strikes on Subhanullah mosque in Bahawalpur’s Ahmed East area, as well as in Kotli and Muzaffarabad.”
He asserted that Indian planes had opened fire from within Indian airspace without violating Pakistani airspace. “All our air force aircraft are airborne,” he stated. “Let me say it categorically: Pakistan will retaliate at a time and place of its own choosing.” Damage assessments were still underway at the time of the briefing.
Local news outlets, such as the Express Tribune, confirmed a total blackout of power in Muzaffarabad after the strikes.
Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif further stated that a military confrontation with India was now “inevitable” and could take place “at any moment.”
Simultaneously, India’s Ministry of Defence declared the commencement of Operation Sindoor, aiming for nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing the government in an official statement, the ministry stated, “Our actions have been focused, measured, and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities were targeted.”
The strike, India alleged, was an immediate response to the “barbaric” terrorist attack at Pahalgam that martyred 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali national.
The Indian Army also updated on social media site X: “Justice is served. Jai Hind!” — indicating the military’s happiness with the high-precision operation. Another update was: “प्रहाराय सन्निहिताः, जयाय प्रशिक्षिताः” (Ready to strike, trained to win).
