Pakistan Responds with Missile Strikes Following Indian Attacks

On Saturday, Pakistan alleged that India launched missile attacks on three of its airbases, claiming that most were successfully intercepted and that it had begun counterattacks. This incident is part of an ongoing conflict that India attributes to Pakistani actions.

The Pakistani military reported it deployed medium-range Fateh missiles targeting Indian facilities, specifically a missile depot and airbases located in Pathankot and Udhampur.

Speaking to the nation, Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif conveyed that Pakistani air assets remained unscathed after the Indian offensive, though some Indian missiles also impacted regions within India's Punjab.

"This marks a severe provocation," Sharif declared.

Following these developments, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has summoned a session of the National Command Authority, the agency in charge of the country's missile systems and other strategic capabilities, as reported by Pakistan's state television.

According to the Pakistani military spokesperson, the Indian missiles also struck Nur Khan air base in Rawalpindi, Murid air base in Chakwal, and Rafiqui airbase in the Jhang district of Punjab province. India has not yet issued any statements in response.

Sharif mentioned missiles inadvertently reaching Afghanistan, emphasizing, "India launched six ballistic missiles from Adampur city; one landed back in Adampur, while the rest hit Amritsar in Indian Punjab."

The Indian army later disclosed spotting drones at 26 locations across Indian states sharing borders with Pakistan and Indian-administered Kashmir, including the city of Srinagar. The army asserted that the drones were monitored and engaged.

In their statement, India assured that they are closely monitoring the situation and responding swiftly wherever needed.

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the issue on Friday with Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, encouraging both sides to de-escalate tensions while offering American assistance to initiate dialogue aimed at preventing future hostilities.

The animosity between the nuclear-armed neighbors escalated following a deadly incident in Indian-controlled Kashmir on April 22, which resulted in 26 deaths, primarily of Hindu tourists. New Delhi implicated Pakistan in supporting the assault, which Islamabad denies.

On a previous occasion, India carried out aerial bombardments on locations in Pakistan claiming they were linked to militants, resulting in 31 civilian deaths as per Pakistani officials. Pakistan responded by downing five Indian fighter planes.

Subsequently, India announced thwarting Pakistani drone and missile attempts targeting military installations in multiple cities including Jammu, a major city in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Contrarily, Pakistan denied executing any drone strikes. Meanwhile, India reported attacks against Pakistani air defenses near Lahore. These reports have not been independently corroborated.

Historical tensions over Kashmir—a territory both nations fully claim but only partially control—have already led to three wars. Additionally, a northeastern section is managed by China, adding further complexity to the regional dynamics between Delhi and Beijing.