In a serious escalation of regional tensions, twenty-six innocent Pakistani civilians were martyred and forty-six others injured following unprovoked and blatant Indian aggression on multiple locations inside Pakistan during the night of May 6–7, 2025.
According to a statement by Director General ISPR, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Indian forces launched a cowardly nighttime assault targeting six different locations, including mosques and civilian settlements. He condemned the aggression and labeled it a reflection of the extremist Hindutva ideology flourishing under the Modi-led government in India.
Details of the Attacks:
- Ahmedpur East: A mosque was targeted, leading to the martyrdom of thirteen people, including two girls aged just three. Thirty-seven others sustained injuries.
- Muzaffarabad: Bilal Mosque was hit, resulting in three martyrs.
- Kotli: Abbas Mosque was attacked, killing two civilians.
- Muridke: Three individuals were martyred and one injured in a strike on a mosque.
- Sialkot and Shakargarh: No civilian casualties were reported, but these areas were among the targets.
- Line of Control (LoC): Five more civilians were martyred due to unprovoked Indian shelling.
The DG ISPR emphasized that the targeting of religious worship sites—particularly mosques—demonstrates India’s growing disregard for international norms and rising intolerance under the Hindutva-driven agenda, which severely marginalizes Muslims and other minorities in India.
Pakistan’s Military Response:
In swift retaliation, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shot down five Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale aircraft, and a combat drone, in what has been described as a decisive and measured response. The aircraft were brought down in Bhatinda, Jammu, Awantipur, Akhnoor, and Srinagar.
Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif clarified that all Indian jets were intercepted after they released weapons and were not allowed to enter Pakistan’s airspace. He also affirmed that no Pakistani aircraft crossed into Indian airspace, maintaining Pakistan’s commitment to responsible defense.
He further noted that India’s reckless actions endangered numerous international and domestic civilian flights flying over Pakistani territory at the time, placing countless innocent lives at risk.
Additionally, the DG ISPR revealed that India had deliberately targeted and damaged the structure of Nosheri Dam, a move that constitutes a violation of international humanitarian and environmental laws.
Message to India and the International Community:
The Pakistani military spokesperson reiterated that the armed forces of Pakistan are battle-hardened and fully prepared to defend the nation. He warned that any act of aggression would be met with a fitting response, and Pakistan reserves the right to retaliate at a time and place of its choosing.
