ISLAMABAD

Pakistan’s military on Wednesday confirmed that at least 26 people were killed and 46 others injured in Indian missile strikes into its territory and cross-border firing along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border between the two countries.

India announced “Operation Sindoor” late Tuesday night, saying it struck “terrorist infrastructure” at nine locations in Pakistan.

Giving a breakdown on civilian casualties from the midnight strikes, Pakistan military spokesman Lt Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry told a news conference in the garrison city of Rawalpindi that 13 people were killed in Ahmedpur East, Bahawalpur district of the southern Punjab province when India targeted the Subhanullah Mosque.

He added that three more civilians were killed in the city of Muridke, Punjab where the Indian side targeted the Umul Qura Mosque.

In strikes on Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Chaudhary said three people were killed in the capital Muzaffarabad and two others in the Kotli district of the region, also known as Azad Kashmir.

Chaudhary added that another five were killed in Indian artillery firing along the LoC.

Initial reports had suggested that 31 people were killed as a result of Indian actions in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

The escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbors comes in the wake of the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir in which 26 people were killed.

India blamed Pakistan for the attack, claiming there were cross-border links. Pakistan has denied involvement.

Indian officials said New Delhi exercised its “right to respond and preempt as well as deter more such cross-border attacks.”
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Pakistan on Wednesday claimed it destroyed five Indian fighter aircraft while defending its "territorial integrity," adding that it “reserves the right to respond.”