India triggered missiles across the border towards the territory administered by Pakistan in at least five locations the local time on Wednesday, killing at least eight people and wounding another 35, said the Pakistani army. India said it was a surprising infrastructure used by militants.
The strikes arrived amid high tensions among the residents of Nuclear Alambro Militant attack last month against tourists In the portion of Kashmir administered by India. India has blamed Pakistan for supporting the militant attack, which Islamabad has denied.
Pakistan’s army spokesman, Lieutenant Gene. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said a total of eight people died, another 35 were injured and two remained missing. He said India attacked civilians in Pakistan.
A spokesman from the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the attacks hit Muridke and Bahawalpur, and through the control line in Kotli and Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. One of them hit a mosque in the city of Bahawalpur in Punjab, where he killed a child, and a woman and a man were injured, an official told Associated Press.
“The act of aggression of India has resulted in the martyrdom of civilians, including women and children,” said the spokesman. “This act of aggression has also caused serious threat to commercial air traffic.”
According to a statement from the public relations division between Pakistan’s Armed Forces services, the missiles were launched by the air. Witnesses in Bahawalpur reported having seen a brilliant light in the sky before a powerful explosion.
Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif confirmed the attacks in five locations, labeling them an act of cowardice.
“Pakistan has the right to respond completely to the military action of Indian Imposo, and an adequate response is being given,” said Sharif. “The whole nation meets the Pakistani armed forces.”
MD Mughal / AP
The residents in Muzaffrabad said they heard multiple strong explosions after midnight, followed by a complete blackout in the area.
“We were about to go to bed when a great explosion occurred, they were very large and scary explosions,” Chaudhry Ghulam Rasool told CBS, a resident who lives near the mosque.
India has not issued an official statement about alleged missile attacks.
The state Pakistan television corporation, citing security officials, said the country’s Air Force knocked down two Indian airplanes in retaliation, but did not provide adderal details.
Pakistani security officials said Pakistan had launched retaliation strikes, without providing any detail. The officials spoke with the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak with the media in the registry.
The Pakistani army spokesman, Sharif, told Ary News that the missiles were launched from the Indian territory and that no Indian plane had entered the Pakistanni airspace.
“This was a cowardly attack aimed at innocent civilians under the cover of darkness,” Sharif told the station.
Speaking to journalists in the Oval office on Tuesday, President Trump described the strikes “a grief.”
“We just listened just when we were walking through the oval doors,” Trump said. “I guess people knew that something was going to happen in a bit of the past. They have fought on their legs for a long time. You know, they have fought on the legs for many decades and centuries, if you expect it.
The Ministry of Defense of India said in a statement on Wednesday that at least nine sites were attacked “where terrorist attacks against India have been planned.”
“Our actions have been centered, measures and non -climbing nature. The military facilities of Pakistan have not been directed,” said the Ministry, added that “India has demonstrated a considerable harvest in the selection of objectives and execution methods.”
“We are up to the commitment that this response for this attack will be responsible for the hero,” he added.
A state department spokesman said he was aware of the reports, but “he didn’t have an evaluation to sacrifice right now.”
“This is still an evolving situation, and we are closely monitoring developments,” said the spokesman.
Last week, the Pakistan government He said he had “credible intelligence” That India planned to take military measures in a matter of hours for the terrorist attack of April 22.
Following the growing crisis, both countries have expelled diplomats, suspended the mutual use of airspace and stopped a key treaty to share water.
Contributed to this report.