India launched unprovoked missile strikes on multiple locations inside Pakistan late Tuesday night, resulting in the deaths of 26 civilians and injuries to at least 35 others. The attacks targeted areas including Muzaffarabad, Kotli, and Bahawalpur, with missiles striking near civilian settlements. Eyewitnesses in Kotli described terrified families fleeing their homes after explosions rocked the area. Emergency services struggled to access affected zones due to the ongoing military alert.
In a swift and decisive military response early Wednesday morning, the Pakistan Air Force shot down five Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, one Su-30, and one MiG-29, as well as an Indian drone, all of which had violated Pakistani airspace. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the aircraft were engaged and destroyed over the Line of Control. Debris from one jet fell inside Azad Jammu and Kashmir, while another crashed on the Indian side. The fate of the pilots remains unclear, though one is believed to have ejected over Pakistani territory.
Pakistan's Foreign Office condemned the attacks as a blatant violation of international law and Pakistan’s sovereignty, accusing India of reckless brinkmanship that threatens regional peace and stability. The FO stated, “This act of aggression will not go unanswered. Pakistan reserves the right to respond at a time and place of its choosing.”
India claims the strikes were in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which New Delhi blames on the Resistance Front — an allegation Islamabad categorically rejects. Pakistan maintains that it has no links to the incident and accuses India of using the tragedy to justify military adventurism and distract from internal political crises.
The situation remains tense, with both nations on high alert. Airspace closures have been reported, and international flights have been rerouted to avoid the conflict zone. The international community has expressed concern over the escalating tensions and urged both sides to exercise restraint.