Pakistan Vows Retaliation for Indian Strikes That Killed Dozens of Civilians

By Staff, Agencies

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the recent Indian airstrikes and border shelling that claimed the lives of at least 31 civilians and wounded 46 others in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

In a televised address on Wednesday night, Sharif vowed that Islamabad would respond decisively to what he called a “grave mistake” by New Delhi.

“We will avenge every drop of blood spilled. India must pay the price for this heinous act,” he declared, while reaffirming his government's commitment to defending the nation.

The Pakistani premier praised the armed forces for what he described as a swift and effective military response, noting that five Indian Air Force jets and one drone were shot down in "self-defense."

“This is a cowardly enemy that attacks unarmed civilians, believing it gives them strength,” Sharif said. “But we showed them Pakistan's resolve and capability. The nation proudly salutes the courage of our military.”

In a separate development, Pakistan’s National Security Committee convened on Wednesday and granted full authority to the armed forces to take appropriate and proportionate action in response to the Indian aggression.

The Committee also warned that India's strikes endangered regional air traffic, including flights operated by airlines from the Persian Gulf, putting thousands of passengers at risk. Following the escalation, several commercial carriers announced changes to flight routes or suspended services to and from both India and Pakistan.

The crisis adds to decades of tension over Kashmir, a majority-Muslim region claimed in full by both India and Pakistan but divided between the two. The disputed territory has remained a constant flashpoint since the partition of British India in 1947.