ISLAMABAD — At least 26 people, including five civilians, were killed in Indian airstrikes on Pakistani territory, Pakistan’s military said Wednesday, as tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors continue to rise following a deadly attack on Indian tourists last month.
Ahmed Sharif, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s military, confirmed the casualty figures in a televised statement, describing the strikes as a “provocative act of war.”
Earlier in the day, the Associated Press reported that 26 people, including a child, had been killed in Indian air raids that struck parts of Pakistan early Wednesday, May 7.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Indian strikes, calling them an “act of aggression” and warning that they would “not go unanswered.”
India, for its part, said its strikes targeted militant infrastructure linked to the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir, where 26 tourists were killed. India has blamed Pakistan-based groups for orchestrating the attack — an accusation Islamabad has firmly denied.
India’s military also acknowledged that three of its fighter jets were shot down by Pakistani air defense systems. However, Pakistan claimed earlier that it had downed five Indian aircraft during the exchange.
Meanwhile, India’s army reported that three civilians were killed in cross-border shelling in Indian-administered Kashmir, attributing the fire to Pakistani forces.
The flare-up marks the most serious escalation between the two countries since the Pulwama-Balakot crisis in 2019. Analysts warn that continued military exchanges could lead to broader conflict unless both sides exercise restraint.
Diplomatic channels between the two nations remain largely frozen, and calls for international mediation are growing.
