Pakistan promises payback after civilian deaths in Indian airstrikes

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the country’s military vowed revenge on Wednesday after what they called an unprovoked Indian airstrike that killed 31 civilians, including women and children, and injured 57 others.

In a national address, Sharif said Pakistan’s armed forces had responded within hours, downing five Indian jets which were hailed as the ‘pride of India.’

“Last night, India made the mistake of attacking Pakistan, it should now be ready to pay the price,” Sharif said. “The people of Pakistan will fight to protect their nation till the last drop of their blood.”

The Prime Minister claimed the response was swift and professional. “It took us only a few hours to bring India to its knees,” he said. “Our Shaheens thundered through the sky and downed five Indian jets.”

Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhary, spokesperson for the military, echoed the Prime Minister’s warning. “We vow to avenge the death of our innocent civilians,” he said during a press conference.

He accused India of targeting non-combatants. “Instead of fighting the military, India resorted to targeting innocent civilians,” he said. “Are the children who were killed in the Indian strike terrorists?”

Jets down

Chaudhary claimed that three Rafale fighter jets were among the five aircraft downed. “An example of such professionalism is hardly seen today, and for this, we pay tribute to our air force.”

He added that the Pakistan military suffered no casualties and all Pakistani aircraft are safe.

“Several Indian drones were also downed, and two were forced to land and taken into custody.”

Pakistan also claimed India targeted mosques and civilian infrastructure, including the Neelum–Jhelum hydroelectric plant.

“Which religion allows you to attack mosques and holy places of other religions?” DG ISPR asked during the press conference.

Violation of international laws

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the attack was a blatant violation of international law and UN resolutions.

“India’s attack in the wake of the Pahalgam incident was irresponsible, despite Pakistan’s repeated request for an independent inquiry,” Sharif said.

The military said Indian troops were seen raising white flags at several posts along the Line of Control (LoC).

“There is a continuous engagement that is going on along the LoC,” Chaudhary added.

DG ISPR also accused India of launching the strike just before Pakistan was to host journalists at the alleged terror sites.

“These were only civilian sites where innocent civilians were living peacefully,” he said. “The visit nullified Indian claims of so-called terrorist camps.”

PM Sharif reminded the world of Pakistan’s losses to terrorism. “Pakistan is the most affected country by terrorism in the region. We gave 90,000 lives and suffered the loss of USD 152 billion,” he said.

Both the Prime Minister and the military spokesperson emphasized that Pakistan prefers peace, but will respond with force if provoked.

“We are committed to peace, but this must not be mistaken for our weakness,” Chaudhary said.

DG ISPR added that the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting has authorized the military to respond “in a time, place, and manner of its choosing,” under UN resolutions.

“The entire nation stands behind its brave armed forces,” Sharif said. “Two hundred and forty million people will stand together with their armed forces to face the enemy.”

NSC meeting

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Sharif chaired a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) to assess the fallout from the overnight strikes.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said the forum condemned India’s “cowardly and unlawful act of war” and offered prayers for the civilians killed.

According to the statement, the Indian military used missiles, drones, and aircraft to target multiple locations across Pakistan’s Punjab province and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, including Sialkot, Muridke, Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad. Civilian infrastructure, including mosques and the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project, was hit.

Pakistan claimed the Indian attacks endangered international air traffic and violated international conventions. The NSC rejected India’s justification for the strikes, describing the claims of terrorist camps as “imaginary” and pointing out that international media had visited the alleged sites just hours before the attack.

The committee called India’s military action a “heinous and shameful crime” and “a naked violation” of Pakistan’s sovereignty and international law.

“India, against all sanity and rationality, has once again ignited an inferno in the region,” the NSC said in its statement, adding that the full responsibility for the consequences shall lie squarely with India.

Pakistan reiterated that it had previously offered a transparent investigation into the April 22 attack in Kashmir, which India cited as justification for the strikes. That offer, Islamabad said, was ignored.

The NSC reaffirmed that Pakistan’s armed forces had acted in self-defense and were authorized to carry out corresponding actions.

"In consonance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, Pakistan reserves the right to respond, in self-defense, at a time, place, and manner of its choosing to avenge the loss of innocent Pakistani lives and blatant violation of its sovereignty. The Armed Forces of Pakistan have duly been authorized to undertake corresponding actions in this regard," the statement read.

The statement concluded with a call for the international community to hold India accountable and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to peace with “dignity and honor.”

Indian incursion

The Indian military action, referred to by New Delhi as “Operation Sindoor,” was launched early Wednesday. Indian officials claimed the strikes targeted nine “terrorist camps” in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

“Intelligence showed that further attacks were imminent,” Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said. “We had to take pre-emptive and precautionary action.”

Pakistan denied that any of the targeted sites were used for militant activities and said 24 weapons struck civilian areas.

The Indian strike follows the Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 tourists. India has blamed Pakistan-based militants for the incident, an allegation Pakistan has strongly denied.