PAK PM Sharif says Indian missile strikes terrorist targets a “act of war” and vows to respond

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier on Wednesday called India’s terrorist targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Punjab provinces “an act of war” and said his country has the right to give a “suitable reply”.

Sharif said India launched attacks on five places in Pakistan.

“The enemy will never be allowed to successfully achieve his evil goals,” he said, adding that the entire country is with the Pakistani armed forces.

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan will “go out all the money”.

“We will do our best. We will pay off this debt in such a way as to pay it back,” Asif told Geo News.

He said Pakistan's response was both dynamic and diplomatic, and was to retaliate against India's attacks very quickly.

“Everywhere is for international media to verify whether they target terrorist camps or civilians,” he said.

Army spokesman Lieutenant Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the missiles fired in India were targeting Kotli and Muzaffarabad of POK, and Bahawalpur of Punjab had targeted the marksmanship.

Three Pakistanis were killed and 12 were injured in missile strikes, Choudhury said.

However, officials said the Indian strike targeted Kotli, five locations in Muzhafarabad, Bagh in Pok, Bahwalpur and Muridek areas of Punjab.

An army spokesman told Ary News News channel that India launched air strikes at the Subhanullah mosque in Ahmed East, Kotli and Muzaffarabad in Bahwalpur.

“All our air force planes were airborne. This timid and shameful attack was carried out from Indian airspace. They were never allowed to break into Pakistan's space,” he said.

He added: “I am saying it clearly: Pakistan will respond to this when it chooses. This outrageous provocation will not be eliminated.”

He said damage assessments are underway and more information will be provided later.

He added that the “temporary happiness” that India has gained in the attack will be replaced by lasting grief.

Pakistan has closed all air traffic space for 48 hours.

Relations between India and Pakistan plummeted after the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22, mainly tourists.

India has announced a series of punitive measures against Pakistan, including a moratorium on the Indus Water Treaty, closing the border crossing of the only operating land in Attari and reducing diplomatic ties in the wake of the terrorist attacks.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi once told the Supreme Defence Force that the armed forces have “complete freedom of combat” to determine the mode, target and timing of India’s response to the attack.