Explosions have been seen in the city of Bahawalpur, in Pakistan’s Punjab province, as India’s military launched attacks on Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.
The 5 places Pakistan says India targeted
- Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir
- Kotli, Pakistan-administered Kashmir
- Bagh, Pakistan-administered Kashmir
- Bahawalpur, Pakistan’s Punjab province
- Muridke, Pakistan’s Punjab province
US says it’s in touch with both Pakistan and India
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce has called on both countries to “work towards a responsible resolution that maintains long-term peace and regional stability in South Asia”.
“We remain in touch with the governments of both countries at multiple levels,” she said.
The United States has close relations with India and voiced solidarity after April’s attack. Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week called top officials from both nuclear-armed nations and advised de-escalation.
Head of Pakistan’s Punjab province tells residents to stay in their homes
Maryam Nawaz Sharif, chief minister of the Pakistani province of Punjab, has urged residents to avoid leaving their homes “unnecessarily” and to heed instructions from the authorities following India’s attacks.
In a statement shared on social media, she also instructed hospitals, rescue workers, and other state institutions to “remain on alert on an emergency basis”.
“We want peace, but with respect. If war is imposed, the entire nation will become an army,” the chief minister said.
India accuses Pakistan of firing into village in Indian-administered Kashmir.
The Indian military says Pakistan fired into Bhimber Gali, a village near the Line of Control (LoC) dividing Pakistan- and India-administered Kashmir.In a post on X, the army said it is “responding appropriately in a calibrated manner”.
PM Sharif says Pakistan responding to attacks
In a post on X, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decried the strike as an “act of war”.
“Pakistan has every right to give a befitting reply to this act of war imposed by India and a befitting reply is being given,” he said.
“The enemy will never be allowed to succeed in his nefarious objectives,” he said, adding that the morale of the Pakistani nation is high.
