India launches missile strikes on Pakistan, Islamabad vows retaliation

Tensions escalate between nuclear-armed neighbors as Indian missiles hit Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad; Pakistan warns of befitting response

ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI (MNTV) – India launched missile strikes targeting six locations inside Pakistan—Kotli, Ahmedpur East, Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Muridke, and Sialkot—early Wednesday morning, prompting Islamabad to issue a stern warning of retaliation.

Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, confirmed the strikes in a live interview at 1:06 a.m., stating that Indian missiles struck a mosque in Bahawalpur’s Ahmed East area and inflicted damage in Kotli and Muzaffarabad.

Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), confirmed the strikes during a live interview shortly after 1:00 a.m. local time.

He said the attacks hit Subhanullah Mosque in Bahawalpur’s Ahmed East area, along with separate targets in Kotli and Muzaffarabad. The strikes, he added, were launched from within Indian airspace, and no Indian jets crossed into Pakistani territory.

“This cowardly and shameful attack was carried out from afar,” he said. “They lacked the courage to enter our airspace. Let me say it unequivocally: Pakistan will respond at a time and place of its own choosing. This heinous provocation will not go unanswered.”

The Subhanullah Mosque, located in a residential area of Bahawalpur, was struck just before morning prayers, raising fears of civilian casualties. Emergency responders and military units have been deployed to assess the damage and conduct rescue operations.

While Pakistan claims only 5 sites have been targeted, India says it targeted nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Local authorities confirmed several injuries and damage to religious infrastructure, though total casualty figures are yet to be officially released. Although Pakistani military has stated that 2 civilians have been killed and 12 injured.

In Kotli, located in Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir near the Line of Control (LoC), the missile strike reportedly hit a compound suspected by India to house militant operatives—a claim Islamabad has rejected outright.

In Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, witnesses reported loud explosions and plumes of smoke rising near a communication facility, but the precise target has not yet been confirmed by officials.

The Pakistani Air Force scrambled jets following the strikes, and all units remain on high alert. “Our airspace integrity has been maintained. We are tracking and monitoring every movement,” Gen. Chaudhry said.

The strikes come amid heightened tensions following a deadly April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 people, most of them tourists.

New Delhi quickly blamed Pakistan-based groups, citing “cross-border linkages,” though no evidence was provided. Islamabad has rejected the accusation, calling for an independent international investigation and warning against any preemptive aggression.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, speaking on national television Tuesday night, said that a military confrontation with India was “imminent.” “We are prepared for any scenario—air, land, or sea. Every possible type of attack has been anticipated, and we are ready to respond immediately,” he stated.

Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) headquarters, where he was briefed on military preparedness for a conventional war scenario. The briefing included contingency plans for air defense, missile retaliation, and rapid deployment.