While Pakistani sources initially reported three cities being struck, Indian sources cited by Al Jazeera claimed that as many as nine locations were targeted.
Al Jazeera
Tensions between India and Pakistan have sharply escalated over the past two weeks, following a deadly attack on 22 April in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir that killed 25 Indian tourists and one Nepalese citizen. India swiftly blamed Pakistan for the incident, an accusation Islamabad has strongly denied, demanding concrete evidence.
In the days that followed the attack, bilateral relations deteriorated rapidly. India downgraded diplomatic ties, suspended the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty, and closed its borders with Pakistan. The situation further escalated in the early hours of 7 May, when the Associated Press of Pakistan reported that India had conducted airstrikes targeting three locations inside Pakistan: Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad. The strikes were reportedly launched from within Indian airspace.
Shortly after the reports surfaced, Pakistan’s armed forces vowed to respond, with a military spokesperson stating, "The temporary pleasure of India will be replaced by enduring grief." Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attacks, calling them an act of war.
While Pakistani sources initially reported three cities being struck, Indian sources cited by Al Jazeera claimed that as many as nine locations were targeted. Later confirmations from Pakistani military officials listed five specific sites: Muzaffarabad, Kotli, and Bagh in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and Bahawalpur and Muridke in Punjab province.
India has justified the strikes as targeting what it described as “terrorist infrastructure.” Pakistan, meanwhile, has accused India of targeting civilian areas, including mosques.
As of 23:35 GMT, Pakistan's military reported that a response was underway and that at least two Indian aircraft had been shot down. Sources also indicated that a third fixed-wing aircraft may have been downed, though this remains unconfirmed. By 00:05 GMT, a press briefing by Pakistan’s armed forces stated that eight people were killed and 35 injured in the Indian airstrikes.
In response to the escalating situation, Pakistan closed its airspace, and major airlines began diverting flights. The government also announced the closure of all public and private educational institutions nationwide as a precautionary measure.
Heavy exchanges of fire were subsequently reported along the Line of Control, which separates Indian-administered and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. According to Indian military sources, three Indian civilians were injured in the shelling.
As of now, both nations have not signalled a de-escalation, and international observers have expressed concern about the rapid deterioration in relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours. Regional and global powers are urging restraint and a return to dialogue.
