At Least 26 Killed in Overnight Indian Airstrikes on Pakistan

Indian air raids carried out overnight have resulted in the deaths of at least 26 individuals and left many others wounded across Pakistan, according to military sources in the country.

Describing the offensive as a “blatant act of aggression,” the Pakistani armed forces condemned the operation. An Indian official, however, offered a contrasting narrative, labeling the move as “measured, non-escalatory, proportionate and responsible.”

The aerial attack, which follows a missile strike from Tuesday, has further intensified hostilities. India continues to hold Pakistan accountable for an April attack in the disputed Kashmir territory—a charge Islamabad firmly denies. That earlier incident, known as the Pahalgam attack, had left 26 people dead in the Indian-administered portion of Kashmir.

In response to Tuesday’s escalation, Pakistani officials had vowed retaliation “from the air and ground.” Reaffirming that stance on Wednesday, they stated Pakistan “reserves the right to respond, in self-defense, at a time, place, and manner of its choosing.” Following a session of the National Security Committee, a government statement emphasized that “the Armed Forces of Pakistan have duly been authorized to undertake corresponding actions in this regard.”

India’s military later acknowledged the latest strikes in a statement that read its actions were “responding appropriately in a calibrated manner.”

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri defended the overnight operations as precautionary, arguing that Islamabad had not sufficiently acted against “terrorist infrastructure on its territory or on territory under its control.”

According to two Indian defense sources, the strikes targeted nine different sites and lasted roughly 25 minutes. The officials asserted that the objectives were hit and warned that India is ready to respond to “Pakistani misadventures” that could “escalate the situation.”

Pakistan claimed that the strikes affected multiple areas within its territory, not limited to Pakistan-administered Kashmir. It further alleged that a hydroelectric facility in the region was among the targets.

Military spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated during a press briefing that 46 individuals were injured during the airstrikes. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said India’s lead diplomat in Islamabad had been summoned in protest.

Calling the strike a breach of its territorial rights, the Ministry remarked, “The Indian side was warned that such reckless behavior poses a serious threat to regional peace and stability.”

The U.S. Mission in Pakistan released an alert on Wednesday, saying officials were “aware of reports of military strikes by India into Pakistan.”

“This remains an evolving situation, and we are closely monitoring developments,” the message read, noting that a “Do Not Travel” warning remains for areas near the India-Pakistan border “due to terrorism and the potential for armed conflict.”

“We advise U.S. citizens to depart areas of active conflict if they can safely do so, or to shelter in place,” the alert continued.