India fired missiles at several locations early on Wednesday at several locations, killing at least 26 people, including children, in what Pakistani leaders called it an act of war.
India has hit infrastructure used by extremists in connection with last month’s massacre in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir, the Associated Press reported.
Pakistan claimed that they shot down several Indian fighters in retaliation as two planes fell into Indian-controlled Kashmir villages. Indian police and doctors said at least seven civilians were also killed in the area due to the fires in Pakistan.
Tensions have risen among nuclear-armed neighbors since the attack. Islamabad denied the charges.
Pakistan’s top political and military leaders on Wednesday condemned India’s airstrikes.
The National Security Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif, said in a statement that the Indian strike was “on the false pretext of the existence of an imaginary terrorist camp,” and intentionally targeted private infrastructure, including mosques.
“These unprovoked unjust attacks marched innocent men, women and children,” the statement said.
Pakistani troops responded to the strike by defeating five Indian fighters and surveillance aircraft.
The government said Pakistan reserves the right to respond “in self-defense, in its choice, in its place, location and way”, and is permitted by the military to take “responsive actions” to revenge what is called a violation of the state’s sovereignty.