Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
ISLAMABAD, May 7 (Xinhua) — At least eight civilians, including a child, were killed, 35 others were injured and two were missing after India fired missiles at six targets in Pakistan, including areas in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, on Wednesday morning, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) chief Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said in a video message.
According to him, India carried out 24 strikes on six civilian targets.
A.Sh. Choudhry noted that as a result of the Indian strikes, four mosques were destroyed, several residential buildings and a hospital were seriously damaged.
The missiles were fired at targets in Bahawalpur, Sialkot, Shakargarh and Shekhupura districts of Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province and Muzaffarabad and Kotli districts in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.
The ISPR chief said Pakistan Air Force fighter jets were in the air and ensured the country’s airspace was safe, adding that the missiles were fired from Indian airspace.
“Let me be clear: Pakistan will respond to this [attack] at a time and place it deems appropriate. This provocation will not go unanswered,” he said.
Hospitals in all affected areas have declared a state of emergency. Pakistan has closed its airspace for 48 hours and suspended educational institutions in Punjab.
A.Sh. Choudhry said Pakistan Air Force and Army are responding effectively to Indian attack.
The country’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan had shot down five Indian fighter jets and three drones.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned India’s missile strikes early Wednesday morning on civilian targets in the country, including areas in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, calling it an unprovoked and naked act of aggression.
The Foreign Ministry said the Indian Air Force had targeted civilian areas in Pakistan, killing civilians including women and children.
The ministry condemned the airstrikes as a “blatant violation of the UN Charter, international law and established norms of interstate relations” and warned that India’s actions posed a serious threat to regional stability and commercial air travel.
“India’s reckless actions have brought two nuclear-armed states closer to a major conflict,” the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said, stressing that Pakistan reserves the right to respond “at a time and place it deems appropriate.”
Condemning India’s attacks on civilians, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said the country would give a decisive and befitting response to Indian aggression.
“Indian provocations will be met with full force and unwavering commitment to defend Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the president said.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif strongly condemned the airstrikes, saying: “Pakistan has every right to respond to this act of war imposed by India and a suitable response has already been given.”
“The entire nation stands behind our armed forces. The morale and spirit of the entire Pakistani nation is high,” the prime minister added, promising that the enemy would never succeed in carrying out its evil designs. -0-