Indian strikes ‘act of war’, says Pakistan PM Sharif, warns of retaliation

Following Operation Sindoor Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif early Wednesday termed the Indian missile strikes on terror targets in Pakistanoccupied Kashmir and Punjab province as an act of war and said his country has every right to give a befitting reply reported news agency PTIArmy spokesman Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry in a media interaction said at least 26 people were killed and 46 injured in the missile strikes on cities in Punjab and PoKThe six locations that India attacked last night Pakistan lost 26 people and 46 were injured he said reported PTIIn retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack Indian armed forces carried out missile strikes Operation Sindoor early Wednesday hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed the Indian Army saidHe said that 13 people were killed in Bahwalpurs area of Ahmedpur East where Subhan mosque was attacked Two girls seven women and four men while another 37 were injured including 28 men and nine women reported PTIHe said that in the attack in Muzaffarabad the Bilal mosque was targeted three persons were killed and two injured including a girl and a boy reported PTIIn the Operation Sindoor strike at Kotli where Abbat mosque was targeted a 16yearold girl and an 18yearold boy were killed while two persons were injured reported PTIHe said that in the Muridke attack where the Umalkura mosque was targeted three men were killed and one was injuredThere was no loss of life in attacks at locations in the Sialkot and Shakargarh areasThe spokesperson also said that five civilians were killed in crossLoC firing by IndiaAt no point Indian aircraft was allowed to enter Pakistan and no Pakistani aircraft entered India All PAF assets are safe he saidIn another development he said that India also targeted the Neelum Jhelum project by attacking a water storage dam which he termed a dangerous signHe also said a number of local flights and 57 international flights were operating in the Pakistan airspace at the time of attack and they could have been hit by the Indian strikes reported PTIPrime Minister Sharif said that India carried out attacks at five places in Pakistan Pakistan has every right to give a befitting reply to this act of war imposed by India and a strong response is indeed being given Sharif said in a statement reported PTISharif said his armed forces know very well how to deal with the enemyWe will never let the enemy succeed in its nefarious objectives he addedThe Prime Minister has summoned a meeting of the National Security Council at 10 amPakistan has closed its airspace for all air traffic for 48 hoursDeputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar termed the Indian strikes as a flagrant violation of Pakistans sovereignty the UN Charter amp international law reported PTIIt has jeopardised regional peace he said in a statement on XIn a statement the Foreign Office termed the strikes by the Indian Air Force while remaining within Indian airspace as an unprovoked and blatant act of warWe will respond with full force We will pay off this debt in the manner such debt is paid Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told Geo NewsHe said Pakistans response would be both kinetic and diplomatic and it would not take long to retaliate to the Indian attackAll places are open for the international media to verify if they targeted terrorists camps or civilians he saidAll of our air force jets are airborne This cowardly and shameful attack was carried out from within Indias airspace They were never allowed to come and intrude into the space of Pakistan the army spokesman said reported PTILet me say it unequivocally Pakistan will respond to this at a time and place of its own choosing This heinous provocation will not go unanswered he added reported PTIThis temporary happiness that India has achieved with this attack will be replaced with enduring grief he saidTies between India and Pakistan plummeted following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that killed 26 people mostly touristsIndia announced a raft of punitive measures against Pakistan including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty shutting down of the only operational land border crossing at Attari and downgrading of diplomatic ties following the terror attackPrime Minister Narendra Modi had told the top defence brass that the armed forces have complete operational freedom to decide on the mode targets and timing of Indias response to the attackWith inputs from PTIatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params