India Launches Retaliatory Air Strikes On Pakistan Over Kashmir Terror Attack

India has launched missile strikes targeting nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, according to the Indian Ministry of Defense. The attacks, which occurred early on Wednesday, are in response to a militant attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, last month that killed 26 people.

According to Pakistani officials, the strikes killed at least eight people, including a child, and injured over 35 others. Some of the attacks hit a mosque in Bahawalpur, Punjab, and several locations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir

The Indian Defense Ministry in a statement said that the strikes were aimed at "terrorist infrastructure" used to plan and launch attacks against India. It emphasized that the targets were selected with "considerable restraint" and that no Pakistani civilian, economic, or military targets were hit.

Pakistan has vowed a robust response, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemning the attacks as a "cowardly" act of war. The Pakistani military spokesperson confirmed that at least two Indian fighter jets were shot down in retaliation.

Islamabad has informed the UN Security Council (UNSC) about the "blatant aggression by India and the threat it posed to international peace and security," Pakistan's foreign ministry says in a statement.

"UNSC has been informed that Pakistan reserves the right to respond appropriately to this aggression at a time and place of its choosing, in accordance with its right to self-defence as enshrined in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter," it adds.

World leaders, including the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and U.S. President Donald Trump, have called for restraint and urged both countries to de-escalate tensions. The Secretary-General expressed concern about the potential for escalation of the military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

The current crisis stems from a militant attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which killed 26 people. India has blamed Pakistan for backing the attack, a claim Pakistan denies.

The dispute over Kashmir has been a long-standing issue between India and Pakistan since the partition of colonial India in 1947. Both countries claim the region in full, but each controls a section of the territory, separated by the Line of Control (LoC).

Authorities in Pakistan-administered Kashmir have shut more than 1,000 religious schools and are preparing for possible further military action. Residents are also readying underground bunkers for safety.

Pakistan has closed its airspace for at least 48 hours, affecting multiple flights. British nationals have been advised to stay up to date with travel advice and follow local authorities' guidance.

The situation remains highly volatile, and further developments are expected as both countries continue to respond to the escalating tensions.