Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated following a missile attack early Wednesday, in which India fired missiles into Pakistani-controlled territory, resulting in the death of a child and injuries to two other civilians.
The missiles struck at least three locations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Punjab province, with one of the missiles hitting a mosque in the city of Bahawalpur.
According to Pakistani officials, the attack, which occurred in the aftermath of last month’s militant assault on tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir, caused widespread panic.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister for Kashmir, Waqar Noor, confirmed that the missile strikes targeted civilian areas, leading to the death of a child. Additional reports suggest that multiple people were injured, though details remain sparse.
Indian authorities have defended their actions, claiming they were targeting infrastructure used by militants who had planned attacks against India.
India’s Defense Ministry released a statement emphasizing that their strikes were “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” with no Pakistani military facilities being targeted.
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They further stressed that the missile strikes were in retaliation for the militant attacks, and that India had shown restraint in their selection of targets.
In response to the Indian missile strikes, Pakistan retaliated with their own military actions, though no specifics on the nature of those strikes have been disclosed.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, calling it an act of war, and vowed to take strong action against the aggressor.
He emphasized that Pakistan would not allow India to succeed in its “nefarious objectives” and would ensure the safety and security of its people.
In a broader context, this escalation has added to the mounting pressure between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, who have had a history of military confrontations.
While India has accused Pakistan of supporting the militants responsible for the recent attack, Islamabad has denied such claims.
