26 civilians killed as India strikes Pakistani cities

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): India struck several Pakistani cities before dawn on Wednesday, killing 26 civilians and wounding 35 others, officials said.

In retaliatory attacks, Pakistani forces shot down five Indian fighter jets, destroyed a brigade headquarters and a drone – escalation that fuelled global concerns.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) lost three French-made Rafales, one Su30MKI and one MIG-29 Fulcrum, a Pakistani military spokesperson told a news conference.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said all Pakistan Air Force jets were safe after engaging Indian jets.

An Indian post in the Dhundial sector of the Line of Control (LoC) was destroyed, Pakistan claimed, saying an Indian drone was also shot down.

Troops from the two nuclear-capable countries are engaged in an intense exchange of fire on their common border — called the Line of Control.

At 2.00am, India launched a missile barrage into six Pakistani cites, including Kotli, Bahawalpur, Muridke, Bagh and Muzaffarabad, killing ordinary people, Chaudhry added.

Indian missile attacks on targets, including mosques, caused the casualties in Punjab and Azad Kashmir.

The exchange of strikes comes amid heightened tensions between the neighbours over an attack on tourists that killed 26 people in Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khwaja Asif also said the PAF had shot down at least five Indian fighter jets.

The BBC reported the Indian Army confirmed the deaths of three civilians due to Pakistani shelling along the de facto border.

India’s Defense Ministry said the strikes targeted at least nine sites “where terrorist attacks against India have been planned,” the Associated Press reported.

“Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistan military facilities have been targeted,” the statement said, adding: “India has demonstrated considerable restraint.”

India claims it has “evidence pointing towards the clear involvement of Pakistan-based terrorists” in the attack. Pakistan has denied any link.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump — the first international leader to react to the situation — called the escalation between India and Pakistan a “shame”.

After a ceremony at the White House, he said: “It’s a shame. We just heard about it as we were walking in the doors of the Oval [Office].”

While hoping the attacks would end soon, Trump said:  “I guess people knew something was going to happen based on a little bit of the past. They’ve been fighting for a long time.”

In a statement reported by the Associated Press, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Secretary General Antonio Guterres had called for restraint from both countries.

“The secretary-general is very concerned about the Indian military operations across the LoC and international border. He calls for maximum military restraint from both countries. The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan.”

In Beijing, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson voiced concern at the situation, urging both sides to focus on de-escalation.

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