In what Pakistan has termed an unprovoked and blatant act of war, the Indian Air Force launched airstrikes using standoff weapons, targeting civilian areas in Muridke and Bahawalpur across the international border, and in Kotli and Muzaffarabad in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
According to the Foreign Office, India remained within its own airspace during the assault, but its weaponry crossed into Pakistani territory, violating the country's sovereignty and airspace.
The attack resulted in the martyrdom of several civilians, including women and children, and has raised serious concerns over the safety of commercial air traffic operating in the region, it added.
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Terming the incident as a cowardly and reckless act, the FO issued a strongly worded statement condemning India’s actions as a flagrant violation of international law, the United Nations Charter, and norms governing inter-state conduct.
“India’s aggression is not only a breach of our sovereignty, but a direct threat to regional peace and security,” the statement read.
The government accused Indian leadership of exploiting the recent Pahalgam attack—in which several Indian citizens were killed—as a pretext to launch a military strike and propagate its “sham narrative of victimhood.”
Officials warned that this reckless provocation has brought two nuclear-armed neighbours dangerously close to the brink of major conflict, risking the stability of the entire South Asian region.
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Citing Article 51 of the UN Charter, Pakistan declared that it reserves the right to respond at a time and place of its choosing, in line with international law and its right to self-defence.
“The government, armed forces, and people of Pakistan stand united. We will act with iron resolve to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, talking to CNN, the ISPR director general said Pakistan's integrity will be protected at all costs and that Pakistan condemned all forms of terrorism. He added that the government has called the National Security Committee meeting on Wednesday morning.
The DG further stated that thousands of lives has been lost to terrorism and billions of dollars lost. "Pakistan sought evidence of Pahalgam attack," he stated.
