Pakistan Vows Response After India’s Missile Strikes \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ India launched missile strikes into Pakistan-controlled areas early Wednesday, targeting what it claims were militant facilities. Pakistani officials reported civilian casualties and condemned the attacks as acts of war. The incident has sharply escalated tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors following a recent deadly assault in Indian Kashmir.
Quick Looks
- India conducted missile strikes in Pakistan-controlled territory, citing militant targets.
- A child was killed and two civilians injured in Punjab, Pakistan says.
- Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the strikes ‘cowardly’ and vowed retaliation.
- Strikes hit multiple locations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Punjab province.
- India claims its strikes were “measured” and avoided military targets.
- Pakistan reports downing two Indian jets, though details are unclear.
- The UN urged restraint, warning against further military escalation.
- Pakistan declared a hospital emergency in affected regions.
- Tensions follow a massacre of tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir, blamed on Pakistan-backed militants.
- Both sides exchange conflicting narratives as international concern mounts.
Deep Look
Tensions between India and Pakistan have reached a critical juncture after India launched missile strikes into Pakistani-controlled territory early Wednesday, in what it described as a targeted counterterrorism operation. The move follows a deadly attack last month on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir—a massacre India has attributed to Pakistan-supported militants, an accusation that Islamabad firmly denies.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, Indian missiles struck at least five locations, including areas in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and eastern Punjab. One missile reportedly hit a mosque in Bahawalpur, killing a child and injuring two others—a woman and a man. The incident has triggered alarm both domestically and internationally, given the long history of hostility between these two nuclear-armed neighbors.
India Claims Focused Strikes on Militant Infrastructure
India’s Defense Ministry released a statement shortly after the operation, saying the strikes targeted “at least nine locations used to coordinate and plan terrorist attacks” on Indian soil. The ministry emphasized that no Pakistani military facilities were targeted, framing the strikes as “focused, measured, and non-escalatory” in nature.
“We are living up to our commitment that those responsible for the Kashmir attack will be held accountable,” said the ministry, without naming specific groups involved.
Indian forces reportedly remained within Indian airspace during the operation, signaling an effort to avoid violating international boundaries while still sending a message of deterrence.
Pakistan Decries the Attack as an Act of War
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the missile strikes as “cowardly” and “deceitful”, accusing India of violating Pakistan’s sovereignty. He declared that Pakistan has every right to respond with force.
“A strong response is indeed being given,” Sharif told reporters. “Our armed forces know how to deal with the enemy.”
The Prime Minister convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee, which includes top military and intelligence officials, to assess Pakistan’s next steps. Authorities also declared a medical emergency in regional hospitals, particularly in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, where local officials reported multiple explosions and injuries.
Civilian Impact and Ground Reports
In Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, residents described panic and blackouts following the explosions. Abdul Sammad, a local resident, said several people were wounded, and power was cut immediately after the strikes. In Bahawalpur, where a mosque was hit, the shock and anger were palpable, with community leaders condemning the attack on a religious site.
Waqar Noor, the interior minister of the region, said hospitals are on high alert, and emergency response teams have been mobilized.
Aerial Escalation and Claims of Retaliation
In an unconfirmed report, state-run Pakistan Television said that the Pakistani Air Force shot down two Indian jets in retaliation. However, the Indian government has not acknowledged any aircraft losses, and the Pakistani statement lacked specific details or visual evidence.
The potential of a tit-for-tat aerial exchange has raised fears of a broader conflict, especially given the history of skirmishes between the two nations, most notably in 2019, when a similar cycle of airstrikes and counterattacks brought the countries to the brink of war.
Global Concerns and UN Reaction
The United Nations weighed in late Tuesday, with Secretary-General António Guterres expressing “deep concern” over the escalating situation.
“The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan,” said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, urging both sides to exercise maximum military restraint.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since their independence in 1947, and the disputed region of Kashmir remains the most volatile flashpoint. While both governments claim the region in full, it has been effectively divided since a ceasefire line—known as the Line of Control (LoC)—was drawn in 1949.
This week’s events mark one of the most significant escalations in years, threatening not only bilateral ties but also regional stability in South Asia.
Strategic Calculations and Risks
From India’s perspective, the strikes serve as both retaliation and deterrence, signaling that it will no longer tolerate cross-border terrorism. But from Pakistan’s view, the strikes are an infringement of sovereignty and a provocation that demands a military response.
Analysts warn that any miscalculation or miscommunication at this stage could spiral into a larger confrontation with devastating consequences—not only for the two countries involved but for global security as well.
The international community, including allies of both countries, is likely to push for immediate de-escalation and diplomatic engagement in the coming days.
Pakistan Vows Response Pakistan Vows Response
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