Three Civilians, Including Child, Killed in Indian Strikes, Says Pakistan Minister

At least three civilians, including a child, were killed after India launched missile strikes on Pakistani territory early Wednesday, according to Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, who spoke to AFP.

“They have targeted multiple locations, all civilian,” said Asif, adding that “we have confirmed reports of three civilian deaths, including one child.”

The strikes, part of India's newly launched Operation Sindoor, targeted nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Ministry of Defence said the operation was in response to the April 22 militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that left 26 tourists and one Nepali citizen dead — the deadliest civilian assault in over a decade. India has blamed Pakistan for facilitating the attack, an accusation Islamabad has firmly denied.

According to Pakistani officials, missiles hit areas in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and eastern Punjab province. One strike reportedly hit a mosque in Bahawalpur, killing a child and injuring two others. Officials also said multiple explosions were heard in cities including Muzaffarabad and Bahawalpur, where power outages were reported. Reuters confirmed the blackout in Muzaffarabad.

Pakistan responded by scrambling its air force and clearing national airspace, resulting in widespread flight cancellations and diversions. FlightRadar24 maps showed a sharp drop in aerial traffic over the country, while social media users at Lahore and Sialkot airports posted videos of grounded flights.

India’s Ministry of Defence emphasized that its actions were “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” stressing that no Pakistani military facilities were targeted and that “considerable restraint” was used in selecting targets and executing the strikes.

A press release from India’s Press Information Bureau stated that Operation Sindoor was launched to hold perpetrators of the Pahalgam terrorist attack accountable. A detailed briefing on the operation is expected later today.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's military has vowed to respond. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General accused India of indulging in "temporary pleasure" that would be "replaced by enduring grief."

“All strikes were made by India from its own airspace,” ISPR confirmed, identifying Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad as targeted locations. All Pakistani Air Force aircraft remain on high alert.

As tensions rise between the two nuclear-armed rivals, regional observers warn of a potential escalation unless diplomatic backchannels are urgently engaged.