Pakistan Holds Emergency Briefing, Vows Response to Indian Strikes

Pakistan바카라�s top civilian and military leadership met in Islamabad on Wednesday morning to assess the fallout of India바카라�s overnight missile strikes, which targeted nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the National Security Committee meeting, joined by General Sahir Shamshad, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the heads of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, according to Geo TV.

India has described the strikes바카라�its largest in decades바카라�as a response to last week's deadly terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam. New Delhi claims the operation was limited in scope and aimed solely at dismantling terror infrastructure. Pakistani officials, however, have responded with alarm, characterising the assault as reckless and provocative.

According to Pakistani military sources, their forces responded swiftly along the Line of Control (LoC), launching retaliatory fire that, they claim, destroyed multiple Indian Army positions. These included three posts in Shahpur, near the Neza Pir sector, and three others in the Battle Sector, one of them reportedly at Dharamsal. Mortars were used in the counter-attack, Geo TV said.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) chief Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif condemned India바카라�s actions in uncompromising terms. He said the enemy is 바카라�cowardly and weak,바카라� and accused New Delhi of attempting to sabotage Pakistan바카라�s critical water resources. He also refuted India바카라�s claims of cross-border aerial incursions, asserting that 바카라�no Pakistani aircraft entered Indian airspace at any point.바카라�

Sharif criticised the timing of the strikes, pointing out the airspace risk involved. 바카라�India had put thousands of civilian lives in grave danger as there were 57 international and several flight operations ongoing in Pakistan's airspace at the time of attack,바카라� he said.

바카라�Perhaps, the consequences of any of them being hit did not even cross the minds of those who were undertaking this senseless aggression,바카라� he added.

He also delivered a stark message to India: 바카라�Does India not know that we are a battle hardened army and we and the armed forces of Pakistan love and embrace martyrdom much more than you fear death,바카라� he said. 바카라�The Pakistani nation will not allow anyone to harm the security and independence of the country.바카라�

Later in the day, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif spoke to Bloomberg Television and adopted a more diplomatic tone. He reiterated Pakistan바카라�s stated position that it would not be the first to escalate hostilities but would retaliate if provoked.

바카라�We have been saying all along in the last fortnight that we바카라�ll never initiate anything hostile towards India. But if we're attacked, we'll respond. If India backs down, we will definitely wrap up this tension,바카라� he said. On the question of formal talks, Asif noted that he was 바카라�not aware of any such potential engagements.바카라�

Indian officials have described their actions as calibrated and necessary, following what they call a surge in cross-border terrorism. They maintain that the strikes were directed at militant bases and do not represent a broader military offensive.

Prime Minister Sharif, however, characterised the strikes as a violation of sovereignty. He warned that Pakistan 바카라�has every right to give a befitting reply to this act of war.바카라�

Unverified reports have surfaced of Pakistani air defences engaging Indian aircraft, and of potential damage to a hydropower facility. These claims remain unconfirmed and are being treated with caution by independent observers.

With tensions escalating and no formal de-escalation channel announced, the risk of further confrontation remains high. Regional watchers say both capitals are balancing domestic posturing with the growing international pressure to pull back.