- The Indian Army launched a sudden and aggressive military campaign this evening, striking nine locations in Pakistan, leaving a devastating trail of civilian casualties.
- The Pakistan Air Force retaliated, shooting down two Indian fighter jets.
In a series of coordinated airstrikes, Indian forces targeted nine locations within Pakistan, including Kotli in Azad Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, and Bahawalpur. The attacks occurred in places of worship, including Masjid-e-Tayyeba in Muridke; three other mosques were completely destroyed in the missile strikes, drawing immediate international concern.
The human toll has been harrowing. Eight people have lost their lives, among them two women, a three-year-old girl, and a 16-year-old girl, innocent civilians whose lives were cut short in an instant. Another 35 individuals sustained injuries, including seven women and two young children. Two more remain missing, their fates unknown as rescue efforts continue amidst the rubble. This tragic information was publicly confirmed by DG ISPR in a sombre address to the media.
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, chaos unfolded. Lahore Airport was closed, and a masjid issued a desperate announcement over the loudspeakers, urging citizens to keep children and the elderly indoors, and calling the nation to prayer in the face of sudden terror and uncertainty.
In a swift military response, the Pakistan Air Force retaliated, asserting that they shot down two Indian fighter jets, including one of India’s most advanced Rafale aircraft, near Bahawalpur.
The Indian Army justified the operation in a post on X, claiming it targeted “terrorist sites”. On the ground, the facts paint a different picture—mosques reduced to ash, civilians killed in their homes, and entire families shattered.
The international reaction has so far been relatively muted. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, in a brief statement, said, “It’s a shame we just heard about it. I hope it ends quickly.” His words offered little solace to a nation mourning its dead and fearing what might come next. Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney and Labour MP Stella Creasy said they were “deeply” concerned by the escalation in violence while former Tory minister Lord Ahmad warned the “potential for war tonight is real”.
For countless Pakistani families, this was a night of terror that robbed them of their children, their mothers, their sanctuaries, and their sense of safety. As dawn breaks, Pakistan grieves, and the world watches—some in silence, others in disbelief. It is uncertain what the next 24 hours will bring.
The Indian strikes follow the recent Pahalgam incident, which tragically claimed the lives of 26 individuals. However, India are yet to substantiate its claims, which link Pakistan to the attack. Notably, within just 10 minutes of the incident in Kashmir, a police station located six kilometres away had already registered an FIR (First Information Report)—a speed that has raised serious questions about the credibility and objectivity of the investigation. Moreover, India’s claims.
The Indian army wrote on X: “Justice is served.”
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the “deceitful enemy has carried out cowardly attacks at five locations in Pakistan” and that his country would retaliate.
“Pakistan has every right to give a robust response to this act of war imposed by India, and a strong response is indeed being given,” he said.
