India Launches Missile Strikes on Pakistan; Islamabad Claims to Down Three Indian Jets in Retaliation
India fired missiles into Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir early Wednesday morning, targeting what it called terrorist sites.
India said the strikes, part of Operation Sindoor, hit nine locations used to launch attacks against Indian territory. The Indian Defense Ministry said no Pakistani military sites were targeted and called the operation “measured and non-escalatory.”
Indian news outlet New Delhi Television Limited reported that French-made SCALP cruise missiles and HAMMER smart bombs were launched from Rafale jets during the attack.
Pakistan has rejected India’s account of the recent strikes and said the missiles, which hit five locations: Kotli, Muzaffarabad, Bahawalpur, Bagh, and Muridke, killed three civilians, including a child, and injured 12 others.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on X: “Pakistan has every right to respond forcefully,” to what he described as an “act of war.”
In response to India’s missile strikes, Pakistan’s military claimed to have shot down three Indian fighter jets and one drone, according to Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.
Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said two were brought down near Bhatinda in Indian Punjab and Akhnoor in Indian-administered Kashmir. A third jet was reportedly downed near Awantipora.
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated following a deadly attack last month in Indian-administered Kashmir, where gunmen killed 26 people, including 25 Indian tourists, at a popular site in Pahalgam. India accused militants supported by Pakistan, while Islamabad denied any involvement.
