Pahalgam Terror Attack: ‘Targeted’ Strike by India in Pakistan, PoK

New Delhi: As India gets set to launch a countrywide “civil defence drill”, tension has escalated between the two neighbours. Following the late night ‘Operation Sindoor’ launched by Indian forces striking nine terrorist locations in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir or PoK, the neighbouring country claimed counter-attacks, leaving seven people dead in Kashmir and close to 40 injured, as per reports citing PTI.

A report by NDTV, however, claimed that India had killed “70 terrorists in 24 missile strikes”, though there was no official confirmation of this.

At a press briefing in New Delhi, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, along with Colonel Sophia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, said the operation was a "measured and proportionate" response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, NDTV said.

The action by Indian forces came after 27 tourists were gunned down in a terror attack in the picturesque Pahalgam of Kashmir about two weeks ago.

According to an Indian Army release, the late-night actions were “focussed, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India had demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of target and method of execution”.

Various agency reports said multiple explosions were heard in Pakistan and PoK.

Meanwhile, reports citing PTI on Wednesday said, seven persons were killed and close to 40 injured after Pakistan shelled Indian villages on the border along the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). The Union Territory, now under Central control, has shut down the Jammu and Srinagar airports, as well as some educational institutions.

According to a report in The Wire from Kashmir, the worst hit are villages in Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch  and Bandipura, where there were instances of ceasefire violations and massive damage of houses.

Air India has cancelled flights to and from nine airports till May 10, a PTI report said.

“Air India flights to and from the following stations, Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh, and Rajkot, are being cancelled till 0529 hrs IST on 10 May following a notification from aviation authorities on the closure of these airports," the airline said, as per the report.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has been facing questions from tourists and Opposition over “security and intelligence” lapses that led to the terror attack, on Wednesday asked all paramilitary forces to call back personnel from leave in the wake of strikes by Pakistan, PTI said citing sources.

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, commenting on Pakistan’s attacks, said it had "gone out of its way" to target civilian population in the Union Territory, even as “India had gone out of its way to ensure that no military and civilian targets were hit in the strikes.”

"As reports are coming, Pakistan has gone out of its way to target the civilian population. So I have taken stock of the situation and we are dealing with the situation as it develops," Abdullah told PTI Videos after chairing a review meeting in Srinagar.

World Reactions

Calling for “maximum military restraint”, a statement from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said:

"The Secretary-General is very concerned about the Indian military operations across the Line of Control and international border. He calls for maximum military restraint from both countries. The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan."

US President Donald Trump said he hoped that (escalation) “it ends very quickly.”

When asked about the strikes at a press conference, Trump in a remark seemingly referring to India and Pakistan, said, “"It's a shame. Just heard about it. I guess people knew something was going to happen based on a little bit of the past. They've been fighting for a long time. They've been fighting for many, many decades. I hope it ends very quickly.", as reported by Reuters.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said both the countries should “work towards a peaceful resolution.”

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson called upon both sides to “exercising restraint” in the larger interest of “peace and stability”.

 As per Reuters, he said:  

"China finds India's military operation early this morning regrettable. We are concerned about the ongoing situation. We urge both sides to act in the larger interest of peace and stability, remain calm, exercise restraint and refrain from taking actions that may further complicate the situation."

Backing India's “right for self-defence”, Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuvan Azar, posted on X: “Israel supports India’s right for self defense. Terrorists should know there’s no place to hide from their heinous crimes against the innocent.”