Naveed Ahmad Khan
Islamabad: Pakistan on Wednesday confirmed that 26 civilians were martyred and 46 injured in Indian missile strikes targeting six locations across Pakistan, including Ahmadpur Sharqia, Muridke, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Bagh and Shakargarh.
Addressing the second news conference hours after the first one, ISPR Director General Lt-General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that the Indian attacks also targeted the Neelum Jhelum Power Project.
In Ahmadpur Sharqia, 13 civilians, including three little girls, lost their lives. At least 30 injured are under treatment at Bahawalpur’s Victoria Hospital, where a dedicated emergency ward has been established. Over 300 doctors are on duty to manage the crisis.
In Muzaffarabad, three civilians—including a young boy—were martyred when an Indian missile struck Bilal Masjid. The mosque was also destroyed in the attack.
In Muridke, three citizens lost their lives while one person was injured. The Indian forces targeted Subhan Mosque located in the area.
Kotli reported two children martyred and one injured. No casualties were reported from Shakargarh and Sialkot, according to the DG ISPR.
He further said that five civilians were martyred in unprovoked firing by the Indian army along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir.
Pakistan’s military responded swiftly, shooting down five Indian fighter jets and a combat drone, DG ISPR stated.
Medical personnel and local residents in Ahmadpur Sharqia have shown unwavering courage and determination, with emergency teams working tirelessly to aid the victims.
The government and the military leadership has vowed a firm response to what they termed a “cowardly and unprovoked Indian act of aggression.”
During his first statement hours earlier, the Pakistan Army spokesperson said eight people were martyred and 33 wounded in Indian missile strikes at six places inside Pakistan late Tuesday night.
According to Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Indian Army carried out missile strikes in Azad Kashmir and Punjab.
In Ahmedpur East, he said, three people were martyred and 31 wounded in the Indian missile strikes. Here, India attacked Subhan Mosque. Family quarters near the mosque were also damaged in the airstrike.
In Muzaffarabad, India again targeted a mosque where they carried out seven strikes. A child was martyred in this strike.
In Kotli, Azad Kashmir, India carried out missile strikes on a mosque. Two people were martyred and two others wounded in these strikes.
In Muridke, the Indian Army struck a mosque, leaving one person martyred and one wounded.
In Kotli Lohara, Sialkot, Indian Army carried out two strikes but their were no reports of any damage.
In Shakargarh too, no casualties were reported in two strikes.
The ISPR DG said that India targeted civilians, including women and children in these strikes.
The ISPR DG said a hydropower plant on its side of the Kashmir border was damaged in early morning strikes by India on Wednesday.
“India also targeted the Neelum Jhelum Hydropower project,” said military spokesman Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, adding that it damaged part of the dam’s structure. “What international norms and war laws and customs allow this — that you target water reserves, dams and hydropower structures of another country?”
Sharing further details of the damage, DG ISPR said India targeted the Nauseri Dam structure of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project, terming the actions an “unacceptable and a dangerous escalation”.
“Is India trying to damage the water of Pakistan’s people? Does it know the consequences and meaning of this? Do international norms and war laws allow you to target the water reservoirs, dams and hydropower structures?” he asked.
“During this cowardly act, many national and international flights were in the air and thousands of lives were put in grave danger,” the military spokesperson highlighted.
“At that time, there were 57 international flights operating inside Pakistan’s airspace,” he stated, adding that the consequences of any of those being hit “perhaps did not cross the minds of those who were undertaking this senseless aggression”.
DG ISPR Gen Ahmed Chaudhry clarified that no Indian aircraft was allowed to enter Pakistan’s airspace and none of Pakistan’s jets went into the airspace. “At no time, any of their aircraft was allowed to enter Pakistan’s airspace and also at no time, none of Pakistan’s aircraft went into Indian airspace,” he said, adding all the PAF aircraft and assets are safe.
Stating that the Pakistan Army responded fully to the Indian aggression and destroyed “several” Indian checkposts and showed footage of a brigade headquarters from where he said India was violating the LoC ceasefire.
The ISPR DG said the targeting of mosques and worship places by India reflects the growing Hindutva ideology under the Modi government. He mentioned that under this ideology, the religious freedom of minorities especially Muslims is being usurped in India.
He said Pakistan’s armed forces gave a befitting and strong response within minutes to the Indian aggression.
The DG ISPR confirmed that Pakistan has shot down five Indian fighter jets including three Rafale as well as a combat drone. He said these were downed in Bhatinda, Jammu, Awantipur, Akhnoor and Srinagar.
He said the PAF shot down the Indian fighter jets when they attacked Pakistan. The PAF engaged and shot them down after they released the weapons. He said Pakistan’s armed forces could have shot even more than 10 of the Indian aircraft but we exercised restraint.
Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry mentioned that when India was resorting to the cowardly and senseless aggression, several national and international flights were in Pakistan’s airspace, thus putting the lives of thousands of civilians in grave danger.
He said Pakistan is responding and will continue to respond to the Indian aggression. He said we are a battle-hardened army and we love to embrace martyrdom while defending the borders and the motherland. He said nobody can be allowed to attack the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan.
The DG ISPR once again made it clear that Pakistan responded in self-defence. He said Pakistan reserves the right and will respond to this aggression at a time, place and means of its own choice.
