Pakistan’s military condemned India’s missile strikes in Azad Jammu and Kashmir as a “cowardly attack,” escalating tensions between the two countries.
The missile strikes targeted Kotli, Bahwalpur, and Muzaffarabad, with the strikes reportedly launched from within Indian airspace.
In an early morning statement, ISPR DG Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry condemned the attacks as a deliberate provocation.
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He emphasized that Pakistan’s air force was fully prepared, with jets already airborne to defend the country’s airspace.
Chaudhry made it clear that Pakistan would respond to the attack at a time and place of its choosing.
He warned India that the provocation would not go unpunished, adding that the temporary satisfaction India might feel from this attack would soon be replaced by “enduring grief.”
Witnesses in the region reported multiple explosions near Muzaffarabad, leading to widespread power outages.
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The explosions occurred shortly after midnight, creating a tense atmosphere. Authorities are still assessing the damage, and further updates on potential casualties are expected in the coming hours.
The missile strikes come amid already high tensions following a militant attack in occupied Kashmir on April 22, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists.
While India has suggested cross-border links to the attackers, Pakistan has firmly rejected the accusation and called for an independent investigation into the incident.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif reiterated that a confrontation with India was imminent and Pakistan had prepared countermeasures for any military action, including strikes, ground, or naval attacks.
He stressed that Pakistan was ready for all possible scenarios and had prepared for every kind of incursion.
