Multiple loud explosions were heard in several places in Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir on Wednesday as India said it had attacked “terrorist infrastructure” in nine sites and Pakistan vowed to respond to the attacks.
After the explosions, power was blacked out in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir, witnesses said. It was not immediately clear what the explosions were.
“A little while ago, the Indian armed forces launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed,” the Indian government said in a statement.
“Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution,” it said.
A spokesman for Pakistan’s military told broadcaster ARY that India had attacked Pakistan with missiles in three places and that Pakistan would respond.
The development comes amid heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours in the aftermath of an attack on Hindu tourists in Indian Kashmir last month.
India blamed Pakistan for the violence in which 26 men were killed and vowed to respond. Pakistan denied that it had anything to do with the killings and said that it had intelligence that India was planning to attack.
Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif says they have ‘right to respond’
Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, said India has carried out “cowardly” attacks on five locations in Pakistan-controlled territory.
In a post on X he wrote: “The cunning enemy has carried out a cowardly attack on five locations in Pakistan.
“Pakistan fully reserves the right to respond forcefully to this warlike act imposed by India, and a robust response is being given.
“The entire nation stands with the Pakistan Armed Forces, and the morale and spirit of the entire Pakistani nation are high.
“The Pakistani nation and the Pakistan Armed Forces know well how to deal with the enemy.
“We will never allow the enemy to succeed in its nefarious objectives.”
Rebecca Whittaker6 May 2025 22:50
Pakistan’s air force shot down two jets
Pakistan’s air force has shot down two Indian jets in retaliation for the strikes on Pakistani-controlled territory, says state-run Pakistan Television.
A statement from Pakistan’s state broadcaster PTV says Pakistani forces are responding “forcefully” to India’s “aggression”.
Rebecca Whittaker6 May 2025 22:45
Indian army claims Pakistan has fired back
The Indian army has posted on X that Pakistan has fired back on Bhimber Gali in the India-administered Poonch-Rajauri area.
It added Indian forces are “responding appropriately in a calibrated manner.”
Rebecca Whittaker6 May 2025 22:34
Listen: Explosions heard in Pakistani Kashmir after India says it launched airstrikes
Rebecca Whittaker6 May 2025 22:30
‘This was a cowardly attack’
The Pakistani army spokesman, Lieutenant General Ahmad Sharif, told ARY News that the missiles were launched from within Indian territory and that no Indian aircraft had entered Pakistani airspace.
“This was a cowardly attack targeting innocent civilians under the cover of darkness,” Sharif told the broadcaster.
India’s Defense Ministry said in a statement that at least nine sites were targeted “where terrorist attacks against India have been planned.”
“Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistan military facilities have been targeted,” the statement said, adding that “India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution.”
“We are living up to the commitment that those responsible for this attack will be held accountable,” the statement said.
Rebecca Whittaker6 May 2025 22:25
Flights put on hold
All domestic and international flights on the ground have been put on hold, according to Pakistan International Airlines.
It added that all inbound and outbound flights are being diverted to Karachi.
Passengers have been advised by authorities to stay at home and not to come to the airport.
Rebecca Whittaker6 May 2025 22:20
Pictured: India carries out strikes in Pakistani Kashmir
Rebecca Whittaker6 May 2025 22:14
India launches missile strikes on Pakistan. What we know so far
Explosions were heard in several places in Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir on Wednesday as India said it had attacked “terrorist infrastructure” in nine sites and Pakistan vowed to respond to the attacks.
India fired missiles across the border into Pakistani-controlled territory in at least three locations early Wednesday, killing at a child and wounding two other people, Pakistani security officials said.
India said it was striking infrastructure used by militants.
Read more by Sheikh Saaliq here:
Rebecca Whittaker6 May 2025 22:07
Mosque struck in the city of Bahawalpur
India fired missiles across the border into Pakistani-controlled territory in at least three locations, killing a child and wounding two other people, Pakistani security officials said.
India said it was striking infrastructure used by militants.
The strikes came amid soaring tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours over last month’s militant attack on tourists in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir.
India has blamed Pakistan for backing the militant attack, which Islamabad has denied.
The missiles early Wednesday struck locations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and in the country’s eastern Punjab province, according to three Pakistani security officials.
One of them struck a mosque in the city of Bahawalpur in Punjab, where a child was killed, and a woman and man were injured, one official said.
The officials said Pakistan had launched retaliatory strikes.
Rebecca Whittaker6 May 2025 22:04
‘Justice is served’ Indian Army said following attack
The Indian army has posted on X: “Justice is Served” and “Jai Hind!”, meaning “victory to India”.
The post is accompanied by the hashtag #PahalgamTerrorAttack, referring to the deadly militant attack last month that killed 26 people.
It comes as the Indian armed forces said it targeted nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Rebecca Whittaker6 May 2025 22:00
