In a serious escalation of conflict, India launched missiles into regions held by Pakistan early Wednesday, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 19 lives and injuring 38 more, as reported by the Pakistani Army. India asserted that its strikes were aimed at militant positions.

This military action took place amid rising tensions between the two nuclear nations, following a recent attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, which India blames on Pakistan—a claim that Pakistan strongly denies.

A spokesperson from the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the strikes affected places like Muridke and Bahawalpur, as well as Kotli and Muzaffarabad across the Line of Control. One missile notably hit a mosque in Bahawalpur, killing a child and injuring a woman and a man, as reported to The Associated Press. The spokesperson condemned India’s actions, saying, ‘This act of aggression has led to the deaths of civilians, including women and children,’ and warned of serious dangers to commercial air traffic.

Dr. Zohaib Ahmed stated that the death toll from the missile strike on the Subhan Mosque in Bahawalpur has increased to 13, adding to a total of 19 deaths from the Indian strikes across the country. Furthermore, six people died due to Indian shelling in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, while the Indian army reported that at least three civilians were killed in Indian-controlled Kashmir from Pakistani shelling. The Pakistan Armed Forces confirmed that the missiles were launched from the air, with witnesses in Bahawalpur describing a bright light in the sky just before a loud explosion.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke out against attacks on five locations, calling them cowardly acts. He said, ‘Pakistan has the right to respond strongly to India’s military actions, and we are preparing a fitting reply.’

He pointed out that the entire nation stands with the Pakistani military. Residents in Muzaffarabad were jolted awake by loud blasts after midnight, leading to a blackout in the area. “It was terrifying,” recalled a local guy named Chaudhry Ghulam Rasool, who was preparing for bed when the huge explosion occurred.

According to Pakistan Television Corporation, security officials reported that the Pakistani air force shot down two Indian jets in response, but didn’t share more details. Pakistani security officials mentioned that they had started retaliatory strikes, but kept the specifics private. They spoke to The AP anonymously since they weren’t allowed to talk to the media. Sharif told the broadcaster, ‘This was a horrible attack on innocent people at night.’ In a statement to reporters in the Oval Office.

President Trump called the strikes ‘a disgrace.’ He said, ‘We found out just as we entered the Oval. I guess people expected something to happen, given the history. They have been in conflict for a long time. Many decades, even centuries, if you think about it. I hope this gets resolved quickly.’ India’s Defense Ministry announced that at least nine places were targeted, where terrorist activities against India have been planned.’ The spokesperson for the Pakistani army, Sharif, told News reporters that the missiles were fired from inside India and confirmed that no Indian planes entered Pakistani airspace. The ministry pointed out that “India has shown great self-control in picking its targets and how it carries out its executions

In our dedication to accountability, we guarantee that those responsible for this assault will be brought to justice,” the statement continued.

A spokesperson from the State Department confirmed they were aware of the situation but chose not to comment further at this time. “This is an evolving situation, and we are closely monitoring the developments,” the spokesperson remarked. Recently, the Pakistani government claimed to have “credible intelligence” suggesting that India was on the verge of launching military action in response to the terrorist attack on April 22. As the crisis escalates, both countries have expelled diplomats, halted airspace cooperation, and terminated a crucial water-sharing agreement.