At least 26 dead in Pakistan in overnight India attacks, military says

(LONDON and DELHI) -- At least 31 people were killed and dozens more were injured overnight in Pakistan by Indian aerial attacks, Pakistani officials said.

The Pakistani military said the airstrike amounted to a "blatant act of aggression," a characterization disputed by an Indian official, who said it was "measured, non-escalatory, proportionate and responsible."

The strike, which followed Tuesday's missile assault, came amid rising tensions as India continued to blame Pakistan for a deadly attack in April in the disputed Kashmir region, a claim that Pakistan denies. That militant attack, known as the Pahalgam incident, left 26 people dead in Indian-held Kashmir.

Pakistani military officials on Tuesday had vowed to respond from the "air and ground." Officials repeated that warning Wednesday morning, saying Pakistan "reserves the right to respond, in self-defense, at a time, place, and manner of its choosing." The Pakistan National Security Committee said in a statement following a meeting of the committee that "the Armed Forces of Pakistan have duly been authorized to undertake corresponding actions in this regard."

Pakistan's prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, said India "will pay the price" for the overnight attack on Pakistan in an address to the nation on Wednesday.

"Innocent children and women are among those martyred in India's cowardly attacks," Sharif said. "We pledge that every drop of the blood of these martyrs will be accounted for."

While addressing Pakistan's parliament on Wednesday, Sharif said the Pakistani army taught the Indian army a lesson in "conventional war" during the overnight fighting.

"This was a conventional war, not a nuclear war, and we taught them a lesson in conventional war," Sharif said.

Sharif said Pakistani fighters did not cross into Indian territory during the fighting. Sharif also claimed India did not accept Pakistan's offer to conduct an independent inquiry into last month's Pahalgam attack.

The Indian army confirmed New Delhi's latest strikes on Wednesday, saying in a statement that its forces were "responding appropriately in a calibrated manner."

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said India's strikes overnight amounted to a preemptive action, saying Pakistan did not take sufficient steps against "terrorist infrastructure on its territory or on territory under its control."

Two military officials also described the attack, which they said involved nine locations and lasted about 25 minutes. The officials claim the targets were destroyed and that the Indian military is prepared to respond to what she characterizes as "Pakistani misadventures" that would "escalate the situation."

Pakistan said the airstrikes hit numerous locations in Pakistan, not just in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Pakistan also claimed India hit a hydroelectric dam in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

At least 46 people were injured in Pakistan, military spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said in a press conference earlier Wednesday. The country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had summoned India's top diplomat in Pakistan.

The attack "constitutes a clear violation of Pakistan's sovereignty," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding, "The Indian side was warned that such reckless behavior poses a serious threat to regional peace and stability."

President Donald Trump said he wants to see the fighting between the two countries stop in remarks from the Oval Office on Wednesday.

"I get along with both. I know both very well. And I want to see them work it out. I want to see them stop," he told reporters. "They've got a tit for tat, so hopefully they can stop now."

"If I can do anything to help, I will," he added.

The U.S. Mission to Pakistan issued an alert on Wednesday, saying officials were "aware of reports of military strikes by India into Pakistan."

"This remains an evolving situation, and we are closely monitoring developments," the alert said, adding a reminder that there is a "Do Not Travel" advisory in place for areas along the India-Pakistan border "due to terrorism and the potential for armed conflict."

"We advise U.S. citizens to depart areas of active conflict if they can safely do so, or to shelter in place," embassy staff said.

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