India launches air strikes on Pakistan; Islamabad pledges response

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated sharply on Wednesday as Indian forces carried out air strikes across the border, targeting locations in Pakistan and Pakistani-administered Kashmir. In response, Pakistan claimed to have shot down five Indian fighter jets, marking the most serious confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors in over 20 years.

Both sides reported casualties. Pakistani officials stated that at least eight people were killed in the Indian strikes, while India accused Pakistan of shelling that resulted in the deaths of three civilians on its side of the Line of Control in Kashmir.
India announced that it had hit nine sites allegedly associated with militant organizations, linking them to last month's deadly assault on Hindu pilgrims in Indian-administered Kashmir, which left 26 dead. Among the targets, according to Indian defense sources, were facilities believed to be operated by the groups Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba.
In a statement, India’s defense ministry emphasized that the operation was carefully executed, noting that targets were chosen with restraint to avoid broader escalation.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's military reported that three sites were struck by Indian missiles, denying that any of them were militant camps. A spokesperson for the Pakistan Armed Forces asserted that five Indian jets had been downed during the engagement, although India did not confirm the claim.
Independent local sources in Indian-administered Kashmir reported that three Indian aircraft crashed in separate areas overnight. All three pilots were hospitalized, though Indian authorities did not immediately comment on these reports. Images shared by local media showed debris believed to be from one of the aircraft at a crash site.
Speaking on the incident, Pakistan military spokesperson Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the country acted solely in self-defense and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to safeguarding its national sovereignty. He added, "Pakistan is a responsible nation, but we will not hesitate to take any necessary steps to defend our country."
Calling the Indian operation a "blatant act of war," Islamabad informed the United Nations Security Council of the situation and asserted its right to respond accordingly to what it described as unprovoked aggression.