India Launches Missile Barrage on Multiple Pakistani Sites Amid Escalating Tensions

The Indian Ministry of Defense issued a statement on Wednesday announcing the strikes, stating they targeted locations from which “terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed.” These operations were referred to as “Operation Sindoor.”

The ministry announced it will provide a comprehensive briefing on the operation later today.

According to a report by Pakistani broadcaster Geo, citing the Inter-Services Public Relations of the Pakistani military, eight Pakistani citizens, including a 16-year-old girl, have been killed in the attacks. Additionally, 35 others have suffered injuries.

A spokesperson for the Pakistani military informed the broadcaster that Indian strikes targeted locations, including two mosques.

Armed forces from both sides have reportedly engaged in intense exchanges of artillery shelling and gunfire across the de facto border separating Pakistan-administered and Indian-administered Kashmir, with confrontations occurring in at least three locations.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Islamabad is formulating a response, although he refrained from disclosing specific details.

Sharif denounced India’s aggression and pledged that Islamabad would deliver a robust response.

According to the Geo News network, he stated, “The adversary has once again demonstrated its deceptive nature.”

Pakistan has announced that it has successfully downed five Indian jets in a significant escalation of tensions between the two neighboring countries.

Pakistan recently declared on multiple occasions that it possessed “credible information” indicating imminent attacks from India and pledged to respond decisively in kind.

According to a report by Geo on Wednesday, Pakistan’s military forces allegedly downed five jets belonging to the Indian Air Force.

According to reports, the troops successfully downed a drone and demolished brigade headquarters following India’s strikes in the regions of Punjab and Azad Kashmir.

India has described recent military strikes as “surgical but non-escalatory,” signaling a precise operation intended to avoid further conflict escalation.

The Indian ministry characterized the actions as “precision strikes targeting terrorist camps” and “terrorist infrastructure” located in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

The statement indicated that their actions have been deliberate, calculated, and designed to avoid escalation.

According to reports, no military installations in Pakistan have been targeted. India has reportedly exercised significant restraint in both the choice of targets and the manner of execution.

**Pakistan: Civilian Locations Reportedly Targeted**

Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, stated to Geo News that the locations targeted by India were civilian areas and not terrorist camps.

According to the statement, India reportedly launched missiles from within its own airspace, contradicting claims of having targeted alleged “terrorist camps.”

In the wake of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, a town situated in Indian-administered Kashmir, the situation continues to unfold. The tragic incident, which occurred on April 22, 2025, resulted in the loss of at least 26 tourists.

The Indian defense ministry announced that Operation Sindoor has been launched following the “barbaric” terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen.

The pledge to ensure that those behind the attack face justice is being fulfilled.

Pakistan has firmly denied any involvement, according to Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. He recently dismissed what he described as India’s narrative about current issues, asserting that New Delhi is experiencing “diplomatic embarrassment on the global stage” concerning the matter.

**Escalating Dispute Over Water Rights**

Following the terrorist incident, both nations commenced a series of reciprocal actions.

India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a pivotal water-sharing agreement brokered by the World Bank in 1960. In a related move, India has also shut the Wagah-Attari border crossing.

On Tuesday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced intentions to halt the flow of water that has historically crossed the nation’s borders.

In a speech delivered in New Delhi, he stated, “India’s water resources, which once benefited others, will now be harnessed for the nation’s own benefit. Water that belongs to India will be retained for the interests of the country and utilized within its borders.”

Pakistan has characterized India’s actions regarding the management of its rivers as interference, labeling it as “an act of war.”

In response to ongoing tensions, Islamabad has revoked visas previously granted to Indian citizens, barred Indian airlines from its airspace, and conducted tests of multiple long-range missiles.