India launches air strike on Pakistan as hostilities escalate

Early Wednesday morning, India launched air strikes on Pakistan as “reprisal” for the killing of 26 people — mostly Indian tourists — last month.

Gunmen had stormed a scenic mountain spot in the India-administered part of Kashmir, a disputed border region, and opened fire on the tourists.

India blamed Pakistan for the attack but Islamabad denied any involvement.

New Delhi said Wednesday’s strikes were in response to the Kashmir attack.

India said it targeted nine Pakistani “terrorist infrastructure” and that civilians were avoided.

However, Pakistan denied the claims, adding that 26 people died while 46 were wounded due to Indian military action.

Jaish-e-Mohammad, Pakistan-based Islamist militant group, said 10 relatives of Masood Azhar, its leader, were among the deceased.

Pakistan also claimed it shot down five Indian air force jets. However, Indian officials acknowledged that only three jets crashed on their side of a divided Kashmir.

The missiles are an escalation that has pushed the two neighbours, with a long history of tension, to the brink of a wider conflict.

Last month, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan as part of measures to downgrade diplomatic ties after the Kashmir attack.

António Guterres, United Nations (UN) secretary-general, voiced “deep concern” over India’s strikes, warning that the world “cannot afford a military confrontation” between both nations.

The United States, China, Russia, France, Japan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Turkey, and Indonesia have also urged restraint.