India launches airstrikes, Pakistan vows retaliation, world leaders urge restraint

Airstrikes launched by India have killed at least 31 Pakistani civilians and injured 57 others including women and children, according to the media wing of its military.

Pakistan called the strikes an act of war and claimed it downed several Indian fighter jets.

Already, it’s their worst confrontation since 2019, when they came close to war and leaders around the world are urging the two sides to refrain from escalating tensions.

Authorities across India already began carrying out drills to ensure civil preparedness amid fears of retaliation.

Mixed reaction among Indian citizens Wednesday after the country fired missiles at Pakistan, in what it said was retaliation.

India said it struck nine “terrorist infrastructure” sites, some of them linked to an attack by Islamist militants on Hindu tourists that killed 26 people in Indian Kashmir last month.

Officials argue the strikes were necessary to stop further attacks, but Pakistan’s defense minister adamantly denied the claims.

Video showed showed the damage to a mosque and school after the strike, the roof and walls of the concrete building crumbled under the impact and household items were scattered on the floor.

According to reports, Pakistan’s military says there were 57 flights in the air when the attack was launched putting thousands of lives in danger.

The country said India “had ignited an inferno in the region” and that it would respond “at a time, place and manner of its choosing to avenge the loss of innocent Pakistani lives and blatant violation of its sovereignty.”

India’s defence minister said their chosen targets avoided harming any civilians but Pakistan’s military said dozens were killed and even more injured.