Pakistan Authorizes Military Action Following Indian Strikes in Kashmir
Escalation of hostilities marks a significant increase in tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
Islamabad: The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, announced on Wednesday that the country’s highest national security body has granted authorization for the armed forces to undertake 'corresponding actions' in response to recent Indian airstrikes that reportedly killed 26 civilians in Pakistani territory.
This development represents the most severe military escalation in over two decades between Pakistan and India, both of which are nuclear-armed states.
The Indian government stated that it targeted nine sites linked to what it described as 'terrorist infrastructure' in Pakistan, which allegedly planned a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22. The attack took place near the tourist area of Pahalgam, where the fatalities occurred.
According to the Pakistani military, airstrikes were conducted on six locations within its territory, including Ahmedpur East, Muridke, Sialkot, and Shakargarh in Punjab, as well as Kotli and Muzaffarabad in Azad Kashmir, which is the region of Kashmir administered by Pakistan.
Following the strikes, Pakistani military spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry claimed that the armed forces had intercepted and shot down five Indian aircraft and one combat drone, specifically naming three Rafale jets, as well as an MiG-29 and a Su-57.
In a statement following a meeting of the National Security Committee, which Sharif chaired, the Prime Minister’s office cited Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, asserting that Pakistan reserves the right to respond in self-defense at its discretion in response to violations of sovereignty and the loss of civilian lives.
The statement accused India of provoking further conflict in the region and stated that the responsibility for any repercussions lies with New Delhi.
Pakistan's foreign ministry reported that a protest was lodged with the Indian Chargé d’Affaires in response to the strikes, emphasizing that such actions pose a significant threat to regional peace and stability.
From the Indian perspective, military officials presented a briefing asserting that the operations targeted facilities associated with militant organizations, specifically Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba.
They characterized the targeted locations as 'terrorist camps' serving as recruitment and training centers.
Indian officials claimed that advanced weaponry was utilized to minimize civilian casualties, though specific details regarding the technology or tactics employed were not disclosed.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that intelligence indicated imminent attacks from Pakistan-based terror groups, necessitating preemptive action.
Pakistan has consistently denied any involvement in the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, with Prime Minister Sharif extending an offer for a thorough investigation.
The tensions of the current situation mirror the hostile exchanges of 2019, which included airstrikes and retaliatory actions that marked a previous standoff between the two nations.
In concurrent developments, heavy shelling and gunfire were reported across the de facto border known as the Line of Control, which divides disputed Kashmir.
Reports indicated that this crossfire resulted in the deaths of at least 10 civilians and injuries to 48 individuals in the Indian-administered section, while six fatalities were reported on the Pakistani side.
Additionally, unconfirmed reports from Indian sources indicated that three fighter jets had crashed in various locations throughout the region during the night, but officials from the Indian defense ministry had not provided confirmation of this information.
This development represents the most severe military escalation in over two decades between Pakistan and India, both of which are nuclear-armed states.
The Indian government stated that it targeted nine sites linked to what it described as 'terrorist infrastructure' in Pakistan, which allegedly planned a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22. The attack took place near the tourist area of Pahalgam, where the fatalities occurred.
According to the Pakistani military, airstrikes were conducted on six locations within its territory, including Ahmedpur East, Muridke, Sialkot, and Shakargarh in Punjab, as well as Kotli and Muzaffarabad in Azad Kashmir, which is the region of Kashmir administered by Pakistan.
Following the strikes, Pakistani military spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry claimed that the armed forces had intercepted and shot down five Indian aircraft and one combat drone, specifically naming three Rafale jets, as well as an MiG-29 and a Su-57.
In a statement following a meeting of the National Security Committee, which Sharif chaired, the Prime Minister’s office cited Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, asserting that Pakistan reserves the right to respond in self-defense at its discretion in response to violations of sovereignty and the loss of civilian lives.
The statement accused India of provoking further conflict in the region and stated that the responsibility for any repercussions lies with New Delhi.
Pakistan's foreign ministry reported that a protest was lodged with the Indian Chargé d’Affaires in response to the strikes, emphasizing that such actions pose a significant threat to regional peace and stability.
From the Indian perspective, military officials presented a briefing asserting that the operations targeted facilities associated with militant organizations, specifically Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba.
They characterized the targeted locations as 'terrorist camps' serving as recruitment and training centers.
Indian officials claimed that advanced weaponry was utilized to minimize civilian casualties, though specific details regarding the technology or tactics employed were not disclosed.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that intelligence indicated imminent attacks from Pakistan-based terror groups, necessitating preemptive action.
Pakistan has consistently denied any involvement in the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, with Prime Minister Sharif extending an offer for a thorough investigation.
The tensions of the current situation mirror the hostile exchanges of 2019, which included airstrikes and retaliatory actions that marked a previous standoff between the two nations.
In concurrent developments, heavy shelling and gunfire were reported across the de facto border known as the Line of Control, which divides disputed Kashmir.
Reports indicated that this crossfire resulted in the deaths of at least 10 civilians and injuries to 48 individuals in the Indian-administered section, while six fatalities were reported on the Pakistani side.
Additionally, unconfirmed reports from Indian sources indicated that three fighter jets had crashed in various locations throughout the region during the night, but officials from the Indian defense ministry had not provided confirmation of this information.
