Eight killed as India launches missiles into Pakistan

At least eight people are dead and 33 others are injured after India fired missiles into Pakistani-controlled territory in several locations, Pakistani security officials say.

The missiles struck several locations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and in the country's eastern Punjab province, according to officials.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Wednesday's air strikes and said the "deceitful enemy has carried out cowardly attacks at five locations in Pakistan" and that his country would retaliate.

"Pakistan has every right to give a robust response to this act of war imposed by India, and a strong response is indeed being given," Sharif said.

He said his country and its armed forces "know very well how to deal with the enemy."

India said it attacked "terrorist infrastructure" in nine sites and Pakistani authorities vowed to respond to the attacks.

After the strikes, the Indian army said in a post on X: "Justice is served."

#PahalgamTerrorAttackJustice is Served.Jai Hind! pic.twitter.com/Aruatj6OfA? ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 6, 2025

India's offensive occurred amid heightened tensions in the aftermath of an attack on Hindu tourists in Indian Kashmir last month. Islamist assailants killed 26 men in the April 22 attack, the worst such violence targeted at civilians in India in nearly two decades.

Indian TV channels showed video of explosions, fire, large plumes of smoke in the night sky and people fleeing in several places in Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir. Reuters could not independently verify the footage.

Witnesses and one police officer at two sites on the frontier in Indian Kashmir said they heard loud explosions and intense artillery shelling as well as jets in the air.

An emergency was declared in Pakistan's populous province of Punjab, its chief minister said, and hospitals and emergency services were on high alert.

"A little while ago, the Indian armed forces launched 'OPERATION SINDOOR', hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed," the Indian statement said.

"Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution," it said.

US President Donald Trump called the situation "a shame" and added:"I hope it ends quickly."

Trump told White House reporters that he had just heard about the intensification of hostilities that had occurred in recent hours.

Pakistan closed its airspace for 48 hours following the attacks with flights at Islamabad and Lahore airports suspended until further notice, a Civil Aviation Authority spokesman said.

The name of India's military operation, Sindoor, is an apparent reference to the women who lost their spouses in the attack on Hindu tourists in Pahalgam last month.

Sindoor is the Hindi for the traditional red vermilion worn by married Hindu women on their forehead symbolising protection and marital commitment. Women traditionally stop wearing it when they are widowed.

with AP