Pakistan says shot down 5 Indian jets; Delhi dismisses claim
Tariq Butt, Correspondent / Reuters
Pakistan said on Wednesday that it shot down five Indian fighter jets, destroyed an Indian brigade headquarters, a drone and several checkposts in retaliatory strikes after at least 26 people were killed and 46 others injured in Indian strikes on different mosques/religious seminaries in Azad and Jammu Kashmir (AJK) and Pakistan.
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said at a news briefing that all Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets are safe after engaging the Indian jets. He said that among the destroyed Indian Air Force (IAF) jets are three French-made Rafales, one Su30MKI and one MIG-29 Fulcrum.
Later during the day, the Indian embassy in China dismissed as "disinformation" a social media post on X by China's state-run Global Times, which said that Pakistan had shot down Indian fighter jets.
The embassy's statement followed the Global Times post, which said that the Pakistan Air Force had downed Indian fighter jets in response to Indian missile strikes on Pakistan. (Reporting by Surbhi Misra;
Gen Chaudhry said that the armed forces also destroyed multiple enemy posts in several sectors along the Line of Control (LoC). An intense exchange of fire is ongoing at the LoC with the Pakistan Army engaging Indian army positions.
He said India's attacks resulted in the killing of 26 innocent civilians, while 46 others have sustained injuries.
A member of media films a portion of mosque building damaged by suspected Indian missile attack in Kotli, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Reuters
India hit Masjid Subhanullah in Ahmedpur East in Bahawalpur district in which 13 persons including two 3-year-old girls, seven women and four men were killed and 37 others including nine women and 28 men were injured.
Masjid Bilal in Muzaffarabad (AJK) also became a target of Indian attack in which three persons were killed. One girl and one boy were injured.
In Kotli (AJK), Masjid Abbas was hit in which a 16-year-old girl and an 18-year-old boy were killed. One woman and her child were injured.
In Muridke [district Sheikhupura], Masjid Ummul Qura was targeted in which three men died and one was injured. In the Sialkot strike, no damages were reported. Same was the case in Shakargarh. However, one dispensary was damaged here.
In a statement on X, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the "treacherous enemy" has launched a cowardly attack on multiple locations within Pakistan. "This heinous act of aggression will not go unpunished. Pakistan reserves the absolute right to respond decisively to this unprovoked Indian attack - a resolute response is already underway. The entire nation stands united behind its armed forces, and our morale and resolve remain unshaken. Our thoughts and prayers are with the brave officers and soldiers of Pakistan."
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that the PAF shot down at least five Indian fighter jets in response to India's recent cross-border aggression.
He told a TV channel that Pakistan had gained the upper hand in its retaliatory action, while responding to the Indian forces' strikes with strength and precision. He stressed that the Pakistani armed forces acted decisively to defend the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has strongly condemned India's air strikes, describing them as an "unprovoked and blatant act of aggression."
In a statement shared on social media, the minister said the IAF had targeted civilian areas using stand-off weapons while remaining within Indian airspace.
Information Minister Ata Tarar told reporters that India had waved a white flag at the LoC and "accepted defeat.' He said this as footage of a white flag played in the background. "They have been forced to wave a white flag,' he said and added that the white flag was hoisted by the Indian army at the Chora Complex along the LoC.
He said that "several' posts of the Indian army across the border had been destroyed by the armed forces.
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