KARACHI, Pakistan

Pakistan on Wednesday reiterated its commitment to peace with longtime rival India but warned that it will not allow violation of its sovereignty.

"Pakistan remains committed to peace, with dignity and honor, and reiterates that it shall never allow any violation of its sovereignty, territorial integrity, or permit any harm to its proud people," the nation’s top security body said in a statement after its emergency meeting in the capital Islamabad.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting, which was also attended by the three services chiefs and key Cabinet members.

The huddle was held hours after India said it carried out overnight missile strikes on "nine terrorist locations" across Pakistan. The Pakistan army said that the strikes and cross-border firing from the Indian troops killed at least 31 people, including five in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and injured 46 others.

At least nine people were also killed in Indian-administered Kashmir due to cross-border firing, the region’s ruling National Conference said.

The NSC statement said that Pakistan also shot down five Indian fighter jets, and a combat drone.

New Delhi didn't react to Islamabad's claim, but contended its strikes were in response to the April 22 attack in the Pahalgam area of Indian-administered Kashmir that left 26 people dead.

The Indian officials said New Delhi exercised its “right to respond and preempt as well as deter more such cross-border attacks.”

Pakistan has denied its involvement in the April 22 attack and offered a neutral probe with third-party monitoring.

The NSC statement said that it deliberated upon the "grave developments arising out of India’s unprovoked, cowardly and unlawful act of war."

The meeting accused India of targeting civilians, including women and children, aside from causing damage to the civilian infrastructure, including mosques and hydropower infrastructures.

"India’s act of aggression also caused grave danger to commercial airlines belonging to brotherly gulf countries, endangering the lives of thousands of on-board passengers," the statement further said.

Pakistan, it went on to say, has been emphatically rejecting Indian allegations claiming the presence of terrorist camps on its territory.

"It would also be recalled that immediately after 22 April 2025, Pakistan made a sincere offer for a credible, transparent and neutral investigation, which unfortunately was not accepted," the NSC said.

The meeting authorized the country's armed forces "to undertake corresponding actions in this regard."

The NSC called upon the international community to "recognize the gravity of India’s unprovoked illegal actions and to hold it accountable for its blatant violations of international norms and laws."