PAKISTAN says it has launched a military operation against India with missile and drone strikes on 25 targets.
It is the latest esclation in tensions between the two nuclear-armed rivals after a week of clashes on the border and in Kashmir.
Indian paramilitary soldier patrols along the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar
APPakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir, third standing on tank, delivers his speech[/caption]
Pakistan’s military said it used medium-range Fateh missiles to strike more than 25 military sites.
They claimed to have attacked airbasess and weapons depots in the Indian states of Gujarat, Punjab and Rajasthan, as well as locations in India-administered Kashmir.
Pakistan dubbed the attack “Operation Bunyan ul Marsoos”.
India military officials called Pakistani’s strikes a “blatant escalation” and said they had come under attack by drones and “other munitions”.
The US has already called on both sides to step back from the edge of a potentially devastating war.
Trump’s secretary of state Marco Rubio said Washington would help starting “constructive talks in order to avoid future conflicts” .
Islamabad blamed New Dehli for “continuous provocation” – with the attack coming after Indian missiles hit targets in late on Tuesday.
India claimed it had been hitting back over the deaths of 26 tourists in a terror attack in Kashmir.
New Dehli blames Islamabad for the attack – and has repeatedly accused Pakistan of being a haven for terrorists.
In response, India launched “Operation Sindoor” on Wednesday, blitzing nine targets across Pakistan and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir.
Pakistan’s media wing confirmed its forces had launched attacks on “multiple targets” across India in retaliation for the Indian strikes on three of its airbases – Noor Khan, Murid and Shorkot.
Military spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said most incoming Indian missiles had been intercepted, but confirmed damage to facilities.
Footage posted by Pakistan’s military on X appeared to show Fateh missiles being fired from mobile launchers.
The strikes triggered loud explosions in Indian-administered Kashmir, with blasts reported in Srinagar, Jammu and the garrison town of Udhampur.
Five people were confirmed dead in the Jammu region, Indian police told Reuters.
On Saturday, both countries had ramped up troop movements near the border, accusing Islamabad of “offensive intent to further escalate the situation”.
An Indian military spokesperson warned: “Indian armed forces remain in a high state of operational readiness.
“Indian armed forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is reciprocated by the Pakistan military.”
India confirmed it targeted multiple Pakistani military bases after Islamabad launched high-speed missile strikes at Indian air bases in Punjab state.
Col. Sofiya Qureshi claimed Pakistan had even struck schools and health facilities during the early-morning barrage.
Befitting reply has been given to Pakistani actions,” she added.
Pakistan claimed its forces hit Indian missile storage site and key bases in Pathankot and Udhampur, while denying any damage to its own air force assets.
“This is a provocation of the highest order,” said Pakistan Army spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif.
There was no immediate response from Indian authorities to confirm or deny the Pakistani account.
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Why are India and Pakistan enemies?
DISPUTES between India and Pakistan over the region of Kashmir date back decades.
The Muslim-majority territory was fought over in the aftermath of both countries’ independence following the partition of India in 1947.
War between India and Pakistan would break out again in 1965 – which ended in a ceasefire.
Kashmir’s control remains divided to this day, and tensions frequently flare up over the region.
India also fought Pakistan wars in 1971 and 1999 – with the conflict in the 70s resulting the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan.
And the current conflict stems from how the region was split up as the two countries were gaining independence.
Indian troops took two-thirds of Kashmir, while Pakistan seized the northern third.
Since then, the row has developed into one of the most intense geopolitical rivalries on earth.
There are about 16 million people in Kashmir, split between the Indian-controlled and Pakistani-controlled zones.
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