The attack: New Delhi strikes and informs the US
India’s military operations in Pakistan have grabbed global attention. Following targeted raids on alleged terrorist bases, Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval swiftly informed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as acting US National Security Advisor.
The Indian embassy in Washington released a statement calling the attacks “targeted and precise“, reinforcing New Delhi’s stance that it was acting in self-defense against terror threats.
Islamabad’s response: “An act of war, we will retaliate”
The Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned India’s strikes as “cowardly attacks”, declaring them an act of war against Pakistan’s sovereignty.
On social media platform X, Sharif said Pakistan reserves the right to respond with force, emphasizing that the entire nation stands behind its armed forces in deciding how to confront the enemy.
Civilian casualties mount: eight killed, dozens injured
According to Pakistani military spokesman Lieutenant General Ahmed Chaudhry, the Indian military launched 24 strikes across six different locations, killing eight civilians.
Among the victims was a three-year-old girl killed in a mosque in Bahawalpur, Punjab. 35 others were injured, and two people are currently missing. The spokesman emphasized the indiscriminate nature of the attacks.
Strategic targets or war crimes?
While India maintains that it hit only terrorist sites, Pakistan accuses it of targeting a hydroelectric plant, damaging a dam and affecting critical water reserves.
“A nation’s water cannot be a target in war,” said a Pakistani spokesman. The line between counter-terror operations and war crimes has rarely been so thin.
The UN intervenes: “The world cannot afford this war”
As tensions escalate, the United Nations is calling for immediate de-escalation. UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarricwarned, “The world cannot afford a military conflict between India and Pakistan.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged both nations to show military restraint and open channels of diplomatic dialogue before the situation spins out of control.
This latest flare-up between India and Pakistan shows just how quickly border tensions can spiral into deadly confrontations. With civilian lives lost and accusations flying on both sides, the international community must act fast. Will cooler heads prevail before this becomes a full-blown war?
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