Operation Sindoor: Indian missile strikes killed 8 civilians, including a 3-yr-old, Pakistan claims; 35 injured

The death toll from Indian strikes on Pakistan has risen to eight, according to a statement from the Pakistani military on Wednesday.

"In total in at six locations there were 24 impacts in Pakistan. In these 24 impacts eight Pakistanis have been martyred and 35 have been injured and two are missing," Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said, adding one 3-year-old girl was killed in a mosque in Punjab province.

Operation Sindoor

The military strikes by India are a part of ‘Operation Sindoor’ launched by the Indian Armed Forces, targeting terrorist infrastructure in nine locations of Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, India's Ministry of Defence informed in a statement.

“A little while ago, the Indian armed forces launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed,” the statement read.

Reacting to the missile strikes, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh wrote on "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" after the terror strikes by India. The Indian Army posted on X and said, "Justice is served. Jai Hind."

Pakistan responds

Responding to the attack, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, "Pakistan has every right to give a befitting reply to this act of war imposed by India, and a strong response is indeed being given,” Sharif said in a statement.

As a response to the military strikes, Pakistan initiated artillery fire along the Line of Control in the Bhimber Gali in the Poonch-Rajauri region. The forces are "responding appropriately in a calibrated manner," the Indian Army informed.

Pakistan also claimed it had shot down five planes. Pakistan military spokesperson told news agency Reuters that the country has shot down 3 Rafale planes, 1 SU-30, and 1 Mig-29 being flown by India. There has not been any official confirmation by India on this development so far.

Pahalgam terror attack

These strikes come days after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 people, mainly tourists, were killed. On Tuesday, April 22, terrorists indiscriminately shot tourists. The attack occurred in Baisaran, also known as ‘mini Switzerland’. The 26 deceased included two foreigners, one businessman from Karnataka.