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International Desk, May 7, 2025 : Pakistan reported a sharp escalation in casualties following missile strikes allegedly carried out by India across multiple locations, including Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The death toll has surged to 26, with women and children among the victims, according to Pakistani media outlet Dawn.
The strikes, which targeted nine locations in the early hours of Wednesday, also left 46 people injured. In a press conference, Major General Ahmed Sharif, Director General of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), confirmed that 26 civilians were killed across six areas.
The hardest-hit region was Ahmedpur East in Bahawalpur, where 13 people, including two three-year-old girls, seven women, and four men, lost their lives. Additionally, 37 others were injured, including nine women and 28 men. In Muzaffarabad, an attack on Bilal Mosque claimed three lives and injured a boy and a girl. In Kotli, Abbas Mosque was targeted, killing a 16-year-old girl and an 18-year-old boy, while a mother and daughter were injured. In Punjab’s Muridke, an attack on Ummalqura Mosque killed three men and injured one other.
No casualties were reported in Sialkot and Shakargarh, though a dispensary in Shakargarh was damaged. Along the Line of Control (LoC), Indian forces allegedly killed five civilians, including a five-year-old child, in cross-border firing.
General Sharif accused India of deliberately targeting religious sites, including mosques, claiming it reflects the “Hindutva mindset” of the Modi government, which he alleged is oppressing minorities, particularly Muslims.
In a retaliatory move, Pakistan claimed to have shot down five Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale jets, one MiG-29, and one SU-30, within its airspace. Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, another ISPR spokesperson, confirmed that all Pakistani Air Force (PAF) aircraft remain safe. Heavy exchanges of fire continue along the LoC, escalating tensions further.
The strikes have drawn international attention, with former U.S. President Donald Trump calling India’s actions “shameful” and UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressing concern. China also voiced unease over the India-Pakistan tensions, while Pakistan claimed Indian forces raised a “white flag” along the border. Several airports in Kashmir and northern India have been shut down, causing panic among travelers.
AI/MR
